Thanks for all the replies everyone, looks like I have plenty of options after all.

I like this one: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SLmk2zero/

So basically I dont want any software. its gotta be a physical device such as the above that plugs into an arranger like a PSR or a Korg PA and I can use it for a wealth realtime controls to style parts and Right1, Right2, etc etc

They all seem to be well reasonably priced too.

thanks

Don't wish to dampen your enthusiasm but "wealth realtime controls to style parts and Right1, Right2, etc etc" may prove difficult.

The midi messages you need to "remotely" control your current hardware my be quite complex, also you will only be able to control aspects of the keyboard that have been explicitly designed in by the manufacturer. Some things you can do with button presses may not actually be controllable via midi.

Also, whilst it is easy enough to specify a fixed set of SysEx data to do a particular action, if you want to get sneaky (like I would like to) and embed a variable control value inside a piece of specific sysex data (in my case Yamaha MU80 parameter changes) you may find that this is not possible.

I hope this makes some sense and wish you success in finding what you are looking for!

Don't wish to dampen your enthusiasm but "wealth realtime controls to style parts and Right1, Right2, etc etc" may prove difficult.

The midi messages you need to "remotely" control your current hardware my be quite complex, also you will only be able to control aspects of the keyboard that have been explicitly designed in by the manufacturer. Some things you can do with button presses may not actually be controllable via midi.

Also, whilst it is easy enough to specify a fixed set of SysEx data to do a particular action, if you want to get sneaky (like I would like to) and embed a variable control value inside a piece of specific sysex data (in my case Yamaha MU80 parameter changes) you may find that this is not possible.

I hope this makes some sense and wish you success in finding what you are looking for!

Nick, as Mac and I said above, check:

1) whether the parameters/functions you want to control can be controlled externally

if yes
2) if the SL Zero can actually be programmed to send those kind of messages

3) always have a computer at the ready to program the thing using the Automap software

4) you will need a separate 9v adaptor to run the SL standalone.

Also, check out this controller: http://www.thomann.de/gr/cme_bitstream_3x.htm it is older than the others, may have older drivers or reduced compatibility with win vista or win 7, but it has a ribbon controller.

Nah, it's not difficult at all. With all due respect
I have used all of the arrangers and its pretty much the same on all. All the parts have a specific midi channel, so will respond to any midi messages on that channel. All the controllers send the entire list of CC numbers on whatever channel the user designates. And the latest controllers also use the CC's for GM 2.

As for the button pushes on the actual keyboard, they all link back to either sending a CC internally to the sound generator, or a Sysex message.

If Midi-Ox is used and the keyboard transmits to a PC, all these Sysex commands can be seen. They can then be copied into a sequencer, embedded into a smf, to mimic the keypress action, but "behind the scenes" as it were.

It's not as difficult as some people think. MIDI is not an arcane science, pretty much logic and common-sense.

Don't curb your enthusiasm Nick, go for it. That is the way we all learn.

As we have discussed privately, you can see what can be achieved with the Korg OS, add a controller and you will only be limited by your imagination

Dennis

If the job can be done using the generic bits of the midi specification such as continuous controllers then I'd agree it should be easy, and the controllers out there will be OK.

However, for me this isn't enough. Here's why.

I have a Yamaha MU80 module which has some really usable sounds and a very flexible performance mode. I would be overjoyed if one of the hardware controllers out there could send real-time variable performance setting sys-ex to my Yamaha MU80. This is not done via CC messages but via Yamaha paraneter change SysEx with the variable controller value embedded in the SysEx. So far nothing I've found can do this.

I appreciate this is quite a specific issue but to control any complicated piece of equipment neccesarily requires complex control codes, and these may be outside the scope of the hardware that's out there.

Maybe I've been a bit over depressing but I don't want our friend to go out there and spend hard earned cash on something that doesn't do the job!

Sorry about the doublew post, I wasn't meaning to shout!

pity about the spelling....

THe controller I recommeded can in fact send Sysyex messages....
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SLmk2zero/

I have the previous model and it can do it too...had i for 3 years.

Lee S.

The Behringer FCB 1010 alllows exactly that. The programming and storage of Sysex messages....

, the only problem is it's a footpedal. Pretty hard to sit it on the keyboard

But I do hear what you are saying...

I have to praise the manufacturers over recent years, in that they are assigning more and more of the controls to CC commands rather than Sysex. Of course GM2 with its much wider range of defined controls also made it easier.

GM 3, will be even better, if it ever sees the light of day!!

Dennis



[This message has been edited by miden (edited 12-08-2010).]