my new midi controller, mostly clothed!

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:21 pm

This will be a double necked four string midi controller, where each button controls a note. Note control will be polyphonic. This will allow 'hammer on' playing while leaving the right hand free. The buttons in the foreground send ccs, that will be used to toggle effects. I need to build the body for it.

The instrument concept and layout design is mine, the circuitry was designed and custom built in Bulgaria by http://midiboutique.com

Hatchets McGee · Post by **Hatchets McGee** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:26 pm

nice one!

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 3:48 am

I'm hoping it will be fun, that I can do a good job on the 'necks' and body casing: without transposition, Low note E1, high note E8.

LOFA · Post by **LOFA** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:39 am

sooooo jealous.....

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:43 am

duuuuuuude! NICE!

So did you send them the buttons for mounting, or did they provide all the hardware?

I'd love a bit more info reg. pricing and such. Drop me a pm

Smashed Hat · Post by **Smashed Hat** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:34 am

Most impressive, I'm green with envy.

How long has it taken to get to this stage and how long until it's 100% complete?

D K · Post by **D K** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 3:35 pm

mike you are a madman!!!

corygilbert · Post by **corygilbert** » Sat Jun 24, 2006 4:14 pm

mike, you are insane! good luck, I might need to pick your brain
after your through.
good work man!

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:59 pm

Putting the case together over the next couple of weeks. It will be wood, and last night I've figured out how I'm going to mount the neck boards.

Hope to post pics/mp3s featuring the finished item soon

Now, to be sure, I can't take any credit for putting the electronics together, just the research, concept, and general (non-electronic) design. The boards are all http://midiboutique.com

Choosing/buying the buttons took some consideration. I wanted close 'fret widths' but not too small. After shipping the buttons, the boards took about 6 weeks to ship after ordering, about a week to get here, so about 8-9 weeks total elapsed time.

eisnein · Post by **eisnein** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:02 pm

oh man that is the fricking awesomest of awesome! holy cow holy cow!

eisnein · Post by **eisnein** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:04 pm

i almost dont want it to have a clothing and for it to stay naked! maybe a lightweight welded metal spray painted thing?

mikemc · Post by **mikemc** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:48 pm

eisnein wrote:i almost dont want it to have a clothing and for it to stay naked!

you perv!

I thought about the metal frame thing-- didn't want it to be too heavy, and I like the feel of a wood neck. I think I will have the circutiry on the body be visible somehow, behind clear plastic maybe.

I'm not much of a wood worker, but I've figured out a way to build the neck out of pre-formed wood pieces, so upcoming free hours are slotted for assembling, sanding, staining and polyurethane-ing.

eisnein · Post by **eisnein** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:05 pm

yeah i just caught your post about the actualy body! wood could make it a reallly pretty instrument....easier for people to relate to it being an instrument too. plexi is really fun...no super cheap but pretty freaking awesome looking. fairly easy to work with too.

corygilbert · Post by **corygilbert** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:46 pm

I know when I was like 13 and wanted to make my own frankenstein guitar body like Eddie Van Halen, I looked into a company called Waldon or something which made replacement/ kit guitar necks for assembling your own, pretty cheap and already carved. I'll try to find the site.
c

corygilbert · Post by **corygilbert** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:48 pm

warmouth, http://www.warmoth.com/showcase/sc_guit ... ype=guitar