Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
Ouch. Get yourself a reel of multicore solder and throw what you've got away.
The situation is recoverable - just.
Iit looks like you used solid core wire - get rid of that too. You want very fine mulitcore flex. I cut up an old Centronics printer cable for this sort of thing - it's perfect
You won't be able to solder to the resistor element itself but there is enough of the tab left to make friction contacts. For this I would make a tiny clamp out of a couple bits of insulating board (paxolin) with something like M2 holes just beyond the width of the tape, then carefully scrape way the insulation from one side of the tape, lay this on one clamp piece insulated side down with a tiny dab of glue. Lay the bared wires on the strip and the other clamp piece on top, and bolt it together. Very fiddly, but I've done similar before.
The situation is recoverable - just.
Iit looks like you used solid core wire - get rid of that too. You want very fine mulitcore flex. I cut up an old Centronics printer cable for this sort of thing - it's perfect
You won't be able to solder to the resistor element itself but there is enough of the tab left to make friction contacts. For this I would make a tiny clamp out of a couple bits of insulating board (paxolin) with something like M2 holes just beyond the width of the tape, then carefully scrape way the insulation from one side of the tape, lay this on one clamp piece insulated side down with a tiny dab of glue. Lay the bared wires on the strip and the other clamp piece on top, and bolt it together. Very fiddly, but I've done similar before.
- Folderol
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Onwards and... err... sideways!
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
These people at the local Hackspace are going to be handy to know. They use a Slack workspace. I just posted up some thoughts wondering how to assemble that Persephone-esque shape out of laser cut parts, and less than half an hour later someone had modelled it as a laser design using OnShape, and posted up a link to the files.
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
Wow - your local Hackspace is being extremely helpful Ben!
- Martin Walker
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Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
Martin Walker wrote: ↑Mon Sep 19, 2022 2:14 pm Wow - your local Hackspace is being extremely helpful Ben!
They are indeed!
- Folderol
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Posts: 19054 Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:00 am
Location: The Mudway Towns, UK
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Yes. I am that Linux nut {apparently now an 'elderly'}
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
After pondering this knackered sensor for a couple of days, I've decided to abandon it and get another one. I've been reading about soldering these things, and in fairness they do seem like delicate creatures - especially the FSRs; good job I read about that before it turned up.
I hadn't realised that the pins on the sensor are designed to be plugged directly into a breadboard. I just want to get on with the Arduino testing stage without extra complications, so, I've ordered a replacement...and a breadboard.
I hadn't realised that the pins on the sensor are designed to be plugged directly into a breadboard. I just want to get on with the Arduino testing stage without extra complications, so, I've ordered a replacement...and a breadboard.
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
I'm done with soldering for now. I've got a pack of crocodile clips.
I'll probably use these 'Amphenol CFI clincher connectors' for the final version, based on the clamp principle.
I'll probably use these 'Amphenol CFI clincher connectors' for the final version, based on the clamp principle.
Above all, be kind.
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
Well it was intended as a joke, but I do have some if you fancy a bit of lead poisoning (although I've not come across anyone who eats it). How much do you need and where are you? I wouldn't charge for it unless you want a lot.
- Folderol
Jedi Poster -
Posts: 19054 Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:00 am
Location: The Mudway Towns, UK
Contact:
Yes. I am that Linux nut {apparently now an 'elderly'}
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
The only thing I'd challenge is the cigarette - I don't smoke!
- Folderol
Jedi Poster -
Posts: 19054 Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:00 am
Location: The Mudway Towns, UK
Contact:
Yes. I am that Linux nut {apparently now an 'elderly'}
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
This is true... My reels are not green
P.S. The only reason I have two is that I couldn't find one and thought I must have left it somewhere. Of course as soon as I bought another the first one magically reappeared!
P.S. The only reason I have two is that I couldn't find one and thought I must have left it somewhere. Of course as soon as I bought another the first one magically reappeared!
- Folderol
Jedi Poster -
Posts: 19054 Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:00 am
Location: The Mudway Towns, UK
Contact:
Yes. I am that Linux nut {apparently now an 'elderly'}
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
Haha no you’re alright, I somehow imagined a situation where you had accidentally ordered 100 reels instead of 1 and was trying to get rid.
Above all, be kind.
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
I made ridiculously heavy weather of assembling this trivial circuit on a breadboard this evening. All it takes is:
FSR - two pins, +5V and analog input (1) with pull-down resistor
Membrane - three pins; +5V, GND, analog input (2) with pull-down resistor
All working now, the FSR giving readings of zero to a few hundred on pressure, and the membrane potentiometer with readings on a similar scale based on position. Make a sandwich with them and you have finger pressure/position. With Arduino/Teensy it's fairly straightforward to generate note-on and pitchbend from this, and there are various projects to adapt, like this one.
Those ribbon connectors are small and delicate though; I'm not going to attempt any more soldering with them, so I've ordered a few of those clinchers, and another ribbon. I'm planning to build a couple of these and sell one to cover the cost of the parts. That's the theory anyway.
Time to start learning OnShape now while I'm waiting for the clinchers...
FSR - two pins, +5V and analog input (1) with pull-down resistor
Membrane - three pins; +5V, GND, analog input (2) with pull-down resistor
All working now, the FSR giving readings of zero to a few hundred on pressure, and the membrane potentiometer with readings on a similar scale based on position. Make a sandwich with them and you have finger pressure/position. With Arduino/Teensy it's fairly straightforward to generate note-on and pitchbend from this, and there are various projects to adapt, like this one.
Those ribbon connectors are small and delicate though; I'm not going to attempt any more soldering with them, so I've ordered a few of those clinchers, and another ribbon. I'm planning to build a couple of these and sell one to cover the cost of the parts. That's the theory anyway.
Time to start learning OnShape now while I'm waiting for the clinchers...
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
Now you've got it working. Have you had another try at using it with Yoshimi?
If so, and if you get sensible results, hows about bringing one along to Synthfest?
If so, and if you get sensible results, hows about bringing one along to Synthfest?
- Folderol
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Posts: 19054 Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:00 am
Location: The Mudway Towns, UK
Contact:
Yes. I am that Linux nut {apparently now an 'elderly'}
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
So far I only have sensor readings, but I'll document the next stages in the DIY section and post up a Yoshimi demo when it's done. (I was hoping to try that sooner, but I can't get a reliable connection without the clinchers and I've had to order those from the US.)
(If you and Elf are both at Synthfest, maybe you could test the Roli...? I've never tried one, but I'm optimistic it would work straight away.)
(If you and Elf are both at Synthfest, maybe you could test the Roli...? I've never tried one, but I'm optimistic it would work straight away.)
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
Well that would certainly be fun to try, but I thought the Roli was MPE - which we haven't found any way to support yet on Yoshimi.
Having said that, I'd like to see what (if anything) we can do with it
Having said that, I'd like to see what (if anything) we can do with it
- Folderol
Jedi Poster -
Posts: 19054 Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2008 12:00 am
Location: The Mudway Towns, UK
Contact:
Yes. I am that Linux nut {apparently now an 'elderly'}
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Onwards and... err... sideways!
Re: Questions for synthesists with ribbon controllers
I don't know much about MPE, but I would imagine that it would also be possible to use the Roli as a controller for non-MPE instruments...? The Rise manual notes that:
"The receiving instruments that you use must be multi-timbral for you to experience the full expressive capabilities of the RISE. They should have a pitch-bend range of at least +/- one octave and be able to respond to aftertouch."
I'd have thought it may be possible to play notes and slide them around on Yoshimi with the pitchbend set to 1200 cents.
"The receiving instruments that you use must be multi-timbral for you to experience the full expressive capabilities of the RISE. They should have a pitch-bend range of at least +/- one octave and be able to respond to aftertouch."
I'd have thought it may be possible to play notes and slide them around on Yoshimi with the pitchbend set to 1200 cents.