I need some buttons for pistons

Hi all,

Thought I'd ask here as I'm usually not aware of the latest and greatest in gadgets that would be an easy hook up for a MIDI controller to use as pistons. Due to the fact I used M-Audio keyboards I liberated from their cases some years back and the keys are of the waterfall type, unless I do a major tear down and reconstruction of my 3- manual key stack I put together, the overhang of the keys 'as is' doesn't provide enough room under the keys for buttons, so...........

My Allen console had tilt tabs up above the top manual which were removed during the build so I do have some space there of approximately 5 inches or so in height to mount a smaller key pad of sorts. What I'm looking for would be something along the lines of 12 to 15 buttons total contained in 1 unit if possible, the buttons arranged in horizontal rows of 4 or 5 buttons per row. It needs to be pretty compact given the room I have to work with, USB powered, and nothing fancy like being lighted or anything like that, and something reasonably priced would certainly help. Appearance I'm not too worried about as long as it isn't cheesy looking.

Any thoughts, ideas or a direction anyone could point me in would be greatly appreciated.

Marc

Here's a list: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/midi-pad-controller

But most exceed 5 inches square. If you have more width available, some are short and wide.

Here's a list: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/midi-pad-controller

But most exceed 5 inches square. If you have more width available, some are short and wide.

Thanks, sir!

Yeah, most of that stuff is way too big for where it is to be mounted, but that Korg Nanopad is of interest and is along the lines of what I'm thinking, but perhaps something even more simple than that. I do currently use a Korg Nanokey for registrations and it has worked fine, but this time I'm looking more for just a button keypad with no other functions or other buttons to accidentally hit while I play. Someone here quite some time ago pointed out some simple keypads with pictures if I recall correctly, but I don't remember who or what exactly what it was. Maybe they'll see this or someone knows of them and will direct me to them or something similar.

Keep the ideas coming, I appreciate it!

Marc

Hey Marc:

Not sure if you saw this thread
https://forum.hauptwerk.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=19514

Danny B.

Another option would be a elgato stream deck. There are three sizes now. The mini is only 6 buttons, although I’d guess you’d want the medium. You can program them all sorts of ways. Midi was implemented this last year as well. I haven’t used that particular function with mine yet, but plan to in an upcoming project. At the bare minimum I’ll program each button to be some weird key combination and point HW functions to those.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=X%20Keys%20Xk%2016&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&ap=Y&gclid=CjwKCAiAp4KCBhB6EiwAxRxbpJth8VmYGBl8O3gtMf71AsHt_hbSUHTZ2T1NvgK-2_1tBAXYCRAANBoCL_IQAvD_BwE

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PI-Engineering-X-Keys-XK-16-Programmable-XK-16-Stick-USB-Wired-Keyboard/224368291804?epid=1207447668&hash=item343d646fdc:g:8NoAAOSwCUNgOxtv

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-White-Keyboard-5x1-1x5-5-keys-Metal-Panel-SPST-Machine-Pushbutton-Switch/133596383721?hash=item1f1af709e9:g:mZEAAOSw5VFWH1CZ

With a mod, you could mount 3 of the above in this rackmount for s 15 button assembly:
https://www.markertek.com/product/xk-a-77-r/x-keys-xk-a-77-r-xk-16-rack-mount-kit-for-19-inch-rack-cabinet?ne_ppc_id=1813977582&gclid=CjwKCAiAp4KCBhB6EiwAxRxbpIIAq-mKxwbUKEhEuxYcCYG9d00o04fRGs7ROuyN2_NZMzitjNByCRoCKy4QAvD_BwE:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-White-Keyboard-5x2-2x5-10-keys-Metal-Panel-SPST-Machine-Pushbutton-Switch/143871507913?hash=item217f68fdc9:g:r90AAOSwdvpWDMHc

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-White-Keyboard-4x3-3x4-12-Keys-Metal-Panel-SPST-Machine-Pushbutton-Switch/133596379887?hash=item1f1af6faef:g:Ik8AAOSw0HVWDMlZ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pc-White-Keyboard-5x4-4x5-20-keys-Metal-Panel-SPST-Machine-Pushbutton-Switch/133596382995?hash=item1f1af70713:g:AncAAOSw5ZBWHyue

The key caps of the last 4 items can be removed and a (print it yourself) label can be placed inside.
https://www.onlinelabels.com/products/ol5172

You can ask for combined shipping for these last 4 items.

Roman has various button encoders:

https://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=prod_info&product=MRG2&R2=USD

https://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=prod_info&product=BBSP&R2=USD

https://www.midi-hardware.com/index.php?section=prod_info&product=BBS-1K&R2=USD

As is occasionally said - hope that helps

Rgds,
Ed

Thanks all for your replies!

Some very good suggestions and wow, Ed certainly threw out some options. Thanks, Ed! As for the drawer idea, I've pondered it a few times and although my console originally came equipped with drawers for setter boards on each side, it's also a good idea, but I want to keep things more in front of me vs. off to the sides which for me would likely make for more accurate (and perhaps a bit quicker?) selection of things. I didn't mention it earlier here but in the past year or so I've found a new interest, that being theater organ and it has become very evident if I am to get anywhere near the musical variation I see going on during playing that buttons are a going to be a must whereas with a church organ you can maybe get away with things without some of those extra buttons.

As I mentioned I have been using a Korg Nanokey for saved registrations, coupling options and so on and it has worked well, it's almost like having tilt tabs in front of you, but it's an older version with somewhat clunky and poorly put together keys so I was thinking, nah, I don't want another one of those mainly for that reason alone. However, mnailor here provided the clue in his link and I wasn't aware there's a newer version of the Korg with what appears to be much better key pads. Otherwise it looks to be the same size and it would fit right alongside the first Nanokey I have now without much fuss.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Korg/nanoK ... 8179041.gc

It's not perfect and I'd prefer 3 horizontal rows of 5 buttons each, but this does offer 15 lower buttons all in a row which means I could assign 5 to each manual, and maybe to distinguish things I could come up with some lines or something in 3 separate colors to further identify which set of 5 keys controls which manual. Then there's 10 upper buttons that could be used for the percussion part, and it's reasonably priced and plug and play. Hmmmm..... interesting.

Marc

Hey Marc:

If memory serves, I think you have wood working skills. Here is a link to Sparkfun that offers a variety of inexpensive momentary style buttons.
https://www.sparkfun.com/categories/313

Thus you can make your own 3 x 5 push button device. Of course the next step would be Midi encoding. If you don't have any left over inputs on your current encoders then a Arduino solution (which they also sell) might be an alternative.

Danny B.

Hey Marc:

If memory serves, I think you have wood working skills. Here is a link to Sparkfun that offers a variety of expensive momentary style buttons.
https://www.sparkfun.com/categories/313

Thus you can make your own 3 x 5 push button device. Of course the next step would be Midi encoding. If you don't have any left over inputs on your current encoders then a Arduino solution (which they also sell) might be an alternative.

Thanks, Danny.

Yes, I've definitely done a few wodworking projects. My Allen console started life as a 2 manual and by the time I got it you might as well have considered it firewood only. I did major surgery along with a lot of woodworking in order to bring it back from the dead and transform it into a decent looking 3 manual. Unfortunately the only encoder I even have is for the pedal board, all else is plug and play, so no extra inputs. I checked with Guitar Center yesterday for one of those Nanokeys but none of the stores here have any and I'd have to order one, but the more I look at it in order to get what I want I'm going to have to build it. The info everyone here has provided certainly gives me some good options.

Thanks!

Marc

Found this.

https://www.cdw.com/product/P.I.-Engine ... 7652101096

I wonder if it would work for what I need? Looks like it should. Says it's programmable and looks like a person can also get overlays to label the keys as well. Hmmmmmmm.........

Marc

The down side with X-Keys is that the program needs to be in focus for it to work.

Rgds,
Ed

[micdev]

Good evening Ed,

The down side with X-Keys is that the program needs to be in focus for it to work.

I did an installation 9-10 years ago where the client had X-keys and it was working flawlessly with Hauptwerk. Wouldn't make sense that X-Keys software needed the focus since it is meant to be used to control all type of software, it is a keystokes/macro emulator.

I did an installation 9-10 years ago where the client had X-keys and it was working flawlessly with Hauptwerk. Wouldn't make sense that X-Keys software needed the focus since it is meant to be used to control all type of software, it is a keystrokes/macro emulator.

What I was trying to do with a MW11 keypad using SoundPlant 7.0. Wanted to use the X-Keys keypad to control the toy counter on my T/O. Except when I would use the touch screens, the X-keys would lose focus and stop working. Others had this same issue.

Is there a way to have the commandline in focus all the time?
I'm currently using an X-keys USB for hard keys replacement (running dot2 onPc with node) and as soon as I program anything using my touchscreens, the software takes away focus from the command line. Or maybe there is a syntax for automatically getting into the command line?
The x-keys is programmed using keystrokes.

https://forum.malighting.com/thread/768-focus-on-commandline-x-keys/

One possible solution is to convert key-combinations (ex. CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+F1) fired from the x-keys to midi notes (using Bomes Midi Translator or equal). Then execute the commands (ex. Store) via midi, so you do not need focus on the command line.

Rgds,
Ed

[micdev]

Hell Ed,

You're right abouth the focus, but this is not a problem with Hauptwerk normally.

Since X-Keys is a keyboard emulator, if you remove the focus from a specific program (lets call it Prg1) by clicking on another program on screen (Prg2), of course the Prg1 will loose the focus and all future keys sent by X-Keys will go to Prg2.

Of course so X-Keys works with Hw (exactly like your computer keyboard) HW needs the focus, which shouldn't be a problem for most of users (since the HW screen will be maximized, take the whole screen). Of course if you use a DAW or other programs at the same time as Hauptwerk and interact with those programs while using HW, you will need to "re-focus" to Hauptwerk, the same way you need to select the right program before typing with your computer keyboard.

Try the following. Open Hauptwerk, not full screen and open Windows calculalor. Load St-Anne and autodetect General cancel so it will trigger by pressing 9. Set a registration then press 9.... General cancel is triggered. Now set in focus the calculator, press 9... you get 9 in the calculator. If you maximize Hauptwerk it will always be in focus, you will be able to use the touchscreen and control Hw your computer keyboard or X-Keys (and won't be able to access another program).

The installation I worked on was for an old church organ and has been in use for 10 years and keep working great ... of course "you must stay focus"

As I mentioned, my problem (X-keys not working) happened when using a touch screen for stop control. Curious if the same (X-keys not working) would occur when using a LaunchPad or a Korg? Don't have time right now to try that.

Rgds,
Ed