I use a second, small keyboard as my controller. That way the bottom two octaves that exist in MIDI are always available. Not only that, but I can use the same keyswitches for all instruments, which is a real time saver as on many occasions I used to forget what octave I was supposed to be using . IMO the less time that I have to open a VST GUI the better.

DG

Dave, here's another confirmation of a second controller. Because of the transitory nature of my current studies and work, i needed a keyboard that had a small footprint, and so purchased an Edirol PCR-M1. It's got enough knobs and buttons to keep me interested, and importantly octave shift, and the usual pedal in, etc... I'm not sure if it has a controller map for DP (which from memory i believe you use), but it certainly works for Logic, as a basic 'control surface.' All the controls on one, and playing on the other.

Works a treat for keyswitching, and frees up the main keyboard for playing.
(allegedly, lol)
And like Daryl, the keyswitches remain constant for all instruments, which is a real timesaver, because like him, sometimes i forget which octave i'm in.

Regards,

Alex.

You guys might want to check out my VI KeySwitcher.

http://www.rubato-music.com/software.html

It's a really simple little app, and may seem like kind of a goofy idea, but I find it a bit of a life-saver, personally. There's a manual you can check out to get an idea of what it does. But, concerning the context of this thread, it helps keep keyswitches entirely consistent, and accessible by a user-defined name. One click, and you're switched.

If you do want to try it downloads are probably kind of slow at the moment. I will hopefully be moving to a new server in the next few days, so things should speed up.

Mac only, for now.

J.

In can see that it might be useful for some people, but for my workflow it seems to have no application.

DG

Yeah, I think if you generally play keyswitches in it doesn't really add anything.

I always found myself playing in a basic part, usually with a standard legato instrument, then going through and putting in keyswtiches to "sculpt" the performance into shape. I couldn't stand having to either punch in the keyswitch one note at a time, or trying to remember what my keyswitches were. So I designed it with that in mind—for highly programmatic tweaking! Works great for that! (Also, if you've got a midi file, say from a Finale or Sibelius export/import... which I often do.)

J.

I think that combined with a controller such as a Lemur this sort of idea would be great. Imagine only having to hit the button with the correct name and automatically the correct articulation would play. that way one could it in real time with no reason to click anything.

DG

DG, Alex,

Hadn't thought of a dedicated controller but I can see the huge benefits, particularly having identical KS's for every instrument. I don't know where I might put it but will consider that solution and maybe reconfigure things to make it work.

jbm,

I noticed your app post right away and was very interested but thought it was strictly a Logic environment thing (which I don't know anything about.) Would it work with DP? (correct on that Alex btw.) I tend to go in after the fact and change KS/controllers as well.

Thanks for help everyone.

dpcon,

No, it could theoretically be used in any sequencer. It's just that I wrote it for Logic, and it's got special little workarounds built-in for Logic's innate weirdness... (the last I heard, AUs can't send midi within the host, so you need to do some messing about to get a plugin to input data to a Logic sequence).

I will probably make a more universally applicable plugin soon, but it's just this version at the moment. Actually, if I'd been using another sequencer, it would have been much easier to make!

J.

jbm,

I would love to give that a whirl so please let me know when you have something that is universal.

Thanks

@DG said:

I think that combined with a controller such as a Lemur this sort of idea would be great. Imagine only having to hit the button with the correct name and automatically the correct articulation would play. that way one could it in real time with no reason to click anything.

DG

Will the Lemur do that now? I wonder what the real world price on that is. The list is like $2600.00 or something.