(Hopefully a) Small Request

a440 · Unread post by **a440** » 14 May 2007, 14:35

Hi - I have a new toy I've been playing with - the Griffin PowerMate (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powermate/). It works by sending key presses for the different events, so it pretty much "just works" with Usine. However, the most natural things to use it on are faders. Using MIDI learn to assign CC#s are fine, but when using key learn, you can only have one key assigned, so only one direction for the fader.

My request: would it be possible, when assigning keys to things like faders, to have the assigned key control it in one direction, and some modifier, like shift and that key, control it in the other direction?

Apologies if this is already possible, or there's a better way to do it (and please let me know!).

Thanks!
Steve

YouTube · Unread post by **senso** » 14 May 2007, 20:35

the powermate looks fine!

no problem for the suggestion:
[key] increase
[shift+key] decrease

next release

thanks for the feedback

a440 · Unread post by **a440** » 14 May 2007, 20:54

Excellent! Thanks - looking forward to the new release!
Best, Steve

bsork · Unread post by **bsork** » 14 May 2007, 21:05

Hello Mr Concert Pitch,

if you can't wait for the next release, I've uploaded a small patch in the add-ons; Keys2Fader. Actually, I did it earlier today - before Olivier answered - but my reply to you then must have gone astray somewhere on the net... Or maybe I just forgot to hit the Submit button.

I'll let the add-on stay in there until the next release, when it's obviously not needed anymore.

a440 · Unread post by **a440** » 14 May 2007, 21:38

Wow, such service! That's why I love this place!

Thanks!

YouTube · Unread post by **senso** » 15 May 2007, 08:35

thanks Bsork your add-on can be helpful in a lot of situations.

In fact there is a small problem about the shift key because we can make composites learn, [A] for a fader and [shift+A] for another.
So we can't use [shift], [ctrl] or [alt] as a up/down selector.

I found a compromise with the [caps lock]
[Caps Lock] off --> increase the fader
[Caps Lock] on --> decrease the fader

Next version (already implemented)

bsork · Unread post by **bsork** » 15 May 2007, 09:00

Okey-dokey - I'll just let the add-on stay then.

a440 · Unread post by **a440** » 17 May 2007, 02:41

I appreciate the work you've done, but just so you know, the PowerMate works by sending single key presses for each event. I can't tell it to send two (a capslock key, and then another key). Would it be hard to be able to assign two different keys to the one (for example) fader? (I can image that it would be harder, because it's not hacking existing functionality, it's adding new, right?).

I've been away the last few days, so I haven't had time to try the add-on yet, but in any event, that sounds like it will do the job in case this turns into a major feature request.

Thanks for your efforts!
Steve

bsork · Unread post by **bsork** » 17 May 2007, 07:25

Hi a440,

I took a quick look at docs etc on the PowerMate site, and I didn't really feel much "enlightned" by that stuff; hope the Help is better...

If the PowerMate can simulate any key command as claimed - and you can add your own - it should be possible to use the add-on. You'll of course have to edit it to use the right key and modifier. If you shouldn't be able to add modifier keys, the add-on could be rewritten to use different keys for incrementing and decrementing. I wouldn't be surprised though if your new toy can't simulate CapsLock + something. CapsLock is seldom used as a modifier in keyboard shortcuts and suchlike.

YouTube · Unread post by **senso** » 17 May 2007, 11:27

hello,
I don't think that the capslock will work in this situation.
I'll try something else, harder to implement but not impossible:
Actually, you can enter multiple key learn as: "AB", means that you have to enter the complete string "AB" to activate the control.
By this way, I'll try to create another multi-key-learn like for example "A;B" that means A is for increase, B for decrease.
Finally, it will not cost a lost of CPU to handle.

bsork · Unread post by **bsork** » 17 May 2007, 21:16

Good solution, Olivier.

Vincent · Unread post by **Vincent** » 19 May 2007, 16:03

Hi guys,

BTW, what about the numerical pad of the keyboard?
It does not work on my computer.

YouTube · Unread post by **senso** » 19 May 2007, 17:29

The numerical pad now works. next release

I have also implemented the increase/decrease key learn: the shortcut key 'A-B' means A to increase B to decrease.

jean-marc duchenne · Unread post by **jean-marc duchenne** » 19 May 2007, 20:27

Hi,

I use something that looks like the Powermate :
http://shop.3dconnexion.eu/index.php?si ... 9.57844194

It can send 6 controller axis and has two buttons.
With an additionnal driver it can send keys or standard joystick values.

By the way, it would be extremely useful if Usine has a Joystick input objects with axis and buttons (or it has already somewhere ?).
There is a lot of very interesting games controllers that could be used directly.

See also the GlovePIE from Karl Kenner which can convert nearly all things to and from MIDI, including P5 Glove, Wiimote, joypads or TrackIR :
http://carl.kenner.googlepages.com/glovepie_download

bsork · Unread post by **bsork** » 19 May 2007, 21:31

Hi Jean-Marc,

Usine doesn't have a joystick object as such, but if you have a joystick that sends MIDI or something that can be converted to MIDI or keystrokes, you could use the XY module, and add buttons or switches at will. You can't however MIDI control the XY module directly; you'll have to connect something that accepts MIDI messages to the X and Y inputs. Faders would in most cases be the natural choice for that.

jean-marc duchenne · Unread post by **jean-marc duchenne** » 19 May 2007, 23:47

Yes, I was taking of a joystick because it is a common standard for gestures data entries, not in reference to a XY controller.

A direct support of joystick inputs would allow to use a large number of various controllers without the need to have to first convert them into MIDI datas in a separeted app outside of Usine through a MIDI router...
Just a little more pratical.

bsork · Unread post by **bsork** » 20 May 2007, 01:02

Ok, I obviously misunderstood you. I have a joystick on my MIDI controller, and I didn't think beyond my own nosetip, to use a Norwegian expression.

Vincent · Unread post by **Vincent** » 20 May 2007, 01:42

bsork wrote:I didn't think beyond my own nosetip

... so you must have a very long nose, because you think just more quicker and further than all of us together, Bjørn!
Anyway, yes, I think a module that could receive any joystick or pad stuff, of course for gesture, that would be more interesting than a common control surface. And since Usine is done for stage performances...
Must be tricky to implement...

bsork · Unread post by **bsork** » 20 May 2007, 08:28

...well, my nose IS quite big...

YouTube · Unread post by **senso** » 20 May 2007, 09:38

Ok, lets go for Joystick module!
Normally should be easy to implement.

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