Rodrigo

So I have a M-Audio prokeys88sx (basically a semi weighted 88key USB keyboard with 8 built in sounds).

I'm using it as my main controller for max/vst stuff. I've mapped the mod wheel to stuff I want, but I'd really like to map the volume slider and the 'instrument select' buttons too, to have those work like what they say on the tin. Controlling volume and changing instruments/presets.

I tried using midiin/midiparse and am getting no information (from anything, including the modwheel and keyboard).

Is there a way to get this kind of data into max? (I suppose it comes down to wether or not the keyboard 'broadcasts' that data at all, but I can't seem to figure out how to get the raw stuff into Max).

So I have a M-Audio prokeys88sx (basically a semi weighted 88key USB keyboard with 8 built in sounds). 

I'm using it as my main controller for max/vst stuff. I've mapped the mod wheel to stuff I want, but I'd really like to map the volume slider and the 'instrument select' buttons too, to have those work like what they say on the tin. Controlling volume and changing instruments/presets. 

Is there a way to get this kind of data into max? (I suppose it comes down to wether or not the keyboard 'broadcasts' that data at all, but I can't seem to figure out how to get the raw stuff into Max).


using-non-midi-buttonssliders-on-a-midi-keyboard

then you can check if those sliders even give midi signal out, because if they don't (and because they're probably used for the synthesizer/sampler part of the controller, i really doubt it) you can't do anything about it.

I suspect the volume slider is a hardware fader, but I might be wrong. Try it.

Oh, aside from doing it like this, you can also double-click the midi in object and choose a controller :D

you forgot something.
its in the midiin help file :)
then you can check if those sliders even give midi signal out, because if they don't (and because they're probably used for the synthesizer/sampler part of the controller, i really doubt it) you can't do anything about it.
I suspect the volume slider is a hardware fader, but I might be wrong. Try it.

Oh, aside from doing it like this, you can also double-click the midi in object and choose a controller :D


Yeah I tried that but I guess it's that the midi device select, and midiin output are not in the same place at the same time (that would be handy for the help file).

I just said that so cause i didn't mean to take credit for it, but actually... this is directly from the help file :P

Mind you, I'm not trying to be a prick, I'm just trying to direct you where to look when you come across a problem to get it solved faster. Unsolved problems tend to slow down the whole programming process

Right, I saw that, but I swear I got no output from that when I tested it. I sat down and opened up each of the relevant help files and got no output at all (including from regular keyboard stuff) from the raw (non-notein type) stuff.

Ok, finally tested it and everything on the front sends MIDI messages, including the volume slider.

There is a catch though, the volume slider isn't sending a standard MIDI message. As is midiparse doesn't output anything, however if I print directly from midiin I get numbers.

It appears to be formatted in an 8 character string : "240 127 127 4 1 64 64 247"

Both '64's in that string above are the value of the volume fader.

I'm trying to extract this in a sensible way since midiparse won't do it. I tried using 'zl group 8' but other MIDI messages break that as they all don't appear to be 8 numbers long.

The only thing I can think of is stringing together a bunch of route messages, but that seems clunky:

Ok, finally tested it and everything on the front sends MIDI messages, including the volume slider. 

There is a catch though, the volume slider isn't sending a standard MIDI message. As is midiparse doesn't output anything, however if I print directly from midiin I get numbers. 

It appears to be formatted in an 8 character string : "240 127 127 4 1 64 64 247" 

Both '64's in that string above are the value of the volume fader. 

I'm trying to extract this in a sensible way since midiparse won't do it. I tried using 'zl group 8' but other MIDI messages break that as they all don't appear to be 8 numbers long. 

I'd imagine its a 14bit value. at least it sounds like msb/lsb thing. How do the number change? One faster other slower?

It's the standard sysex message for 'master volume' and can be read with [sysexin].

It's a sysex message (Universale Real Time), you could decode it like this:

Whoops, sorry for wrong information. Makes sense, every day something new. Gotta dig into sysex :P

I don't know if this will be helpful or not, but a while back I created a huge SysEx editor in Max for the Yamaha XS8 workstation.

Unless you have an XS8, the actual editor won't be directly of use, but if you dig around inside the patchers (there are many!) you'll find all kinds of sysex related goings on in there. Feel free to dissect it and see if you find any inspiration in there.

 - The actual download link is in the top post on the page, where I declared it a GPL open source project.

I spent a *lot* of time working on the GUI side of things too. You might find something of use there also :-)

http://www.xstremetouch.com/screenshots/XST-VirtualKeyboard-v1.0.png

http://www.xstremetouch.com/screenshots/2010/ARPEdit.png

http://www.xstremetouch.com/screenshots/2010/PartEdit.png

It can be downloaded from http://www.xstremetouch.com/ - The actual download link is in the top post on the page, where I declared it a GPL open source project.

http://www.xstremetouch.com/screenshots/XST-VirtualKeyboard-v1.0.png
http://www.xstremetouch.com/screenshots/2010/ARPEdit.png
http://www.xstremetouch.com/screenshots/2010/PartEdit.png


Using non-MIDI buttons/sliders on a MIDI keyboard?