MOTM

The Kurzweil Expressionmate can output 14 bit pitch bend information, so I
don't understand why you say it only plays glissando.  Were you trying to
trigger notes from it while in pitch bend mode?  In that case I can
understand the problem, you would need to trigger notes from a MIDI keyboard
in addition to using the pitch bend controller.  Another possibility would
be to send the pitch bends to an envelope follower/gate unit and use the
gate output to trigger notes on your analog synthesizer.

The Expressionist manual is downloadable from the following ftp site:

ftp://ftp.youngchang.com/pub/Kurzweil/Pro_Products/Other_Pro_Products/Manual
s/

John Loffink
microtonal@...

----- Original Message -----
From: <ivancu@...>
To: <motm@egroups.com>
Sent: Friday, August 11, 2000 1:27 AM
Subject: Re: [motm] MIDI sucks (get your attention?)


>
> In a message dated 8/10/00 9:53:06 PM, elhardt@... writes:
>
> <<  I still have a possible future interest in the Kurzweil, so can
anybody
> confirm that it can actually pitch bend without glissando? >>
>
> Yes, I bought a Kurzweil Expressionmate, then sold it a month later.
Here's
> the facts about MIDI, folks (and why I don't use it to control analog
> synths):  MIDI only outputs NOTE information, not continuous pitch
> information.  The Kurzweil Expressionmate can output not information as
you
> slide your finger along the ribbon, but it comes out as a glissando.  That
> is, individual "key" notes are played.  Yes, you can program it for
different
> scales, and you can even use part of the ribbon to play notes and another
> part of it for pitch bend.  But any MIDI controller like this, including
the
> Tactex, will still only play notes, not a everything in between the notes.
> This is the reason that the Big Briar MIDI theremin and the Rosedene
theremin
> MIDI converter (http://www.fullerton.demon.co.uk/midicv.htm) are so
expensive.
>   They are using MIDI note, pitch bend, and portamento to SIMULATE a real

> continuous controller.  To quote the Rosedene info, "The pitch bend
> controller (1-48 semitones definable) is used in conjunction with RPN
(54H)
> portamento control to follow the pitch of the Theremin."
>
> This is why, in my not so humble opinion, I think that MIDI sucks.  It
really
> pisses me off that I can't play continuous pitches on my SidStation, for
> example.  I'm contemplating buying a Rosedene unit, but it is a lot of
money
> for a specialized piece of equipment (I believe around $600+).    It is
also
> why I don't think that MIDI has much of a place with analog synths.  A
whole
> facet to the beauty of analog synths is that they are continuously
variable
> instruments.  I do use MIDI for its sequencing capabilities but I look
> forward to having a MIDI-syncable analog sequencer (DoMOAS/MOAS).
>
> Ok, I would guess that I've irritated enough people for one night... back
to
> your regularly scheduled programming.
>
> Ivan
>
> 
>
>
>
>