MOTM

I have to agree with John's comment.  I have a K2500 and I use the ribbon on it for
pitch bends all the time (just like the Yamaha CS-80).  Yes, it can be programmed to
send note data and with various scales but where it is really useful is sending
pitch bends and other continuous controller messages.  I'm sure you can get the same
results with the ExpressionMate and a controller keyboard.  Heck, just take the
ExpressionMate, have it output pitchbend and send that through a MIDI/CV to get you
an additional voltage into your MOTM.  If it still feels a bit like there is some
quantization error, add a small bit of lag.  The Kurzweil ribbon programmed with
relative position (zero is wherever you touch the ribbon, just like the CS-80) is
sooo much easier to use than the old Moog ribbon controllers that just put out a
voltage based on position (making it impossible to get accurate pitch bending).

I respect Ivan's opinions and concerns about MIDI but I wonder if his experience was
more one of mismatched expectations (wanting a device to send continous pitch data
instead of continuous controller data).

Eric

--- Microtonal <microtonal@...> wrote:
> 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
> >
> > 
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 


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