Introducing arcomidi: A new expressive midi controller that imitates bowed and breath controlled instruments in a familiar keyboard layout.
adverb or adjective
ar·co | \ ˈär-(ˌ)kō \
with the bow —usually used as a direction in music for players of stringed instruments
24 Joysticks connect to 24 clothing pegs to create a unique but familiar 2 octave range playing experience.
Simple octave shift control gives the player a visual reference for which octave they are playing in.
As well as "CC Mode" transforming arcomidi into a responsive mixing device.
In Playing mode, the arcomidi sends out individual notes at their initial velocity making it playable like a regular keyboard.
It also send out 2 control change messages:
- Universal CC: arcomidi finds the note that is the furthest depressed and send this as a control change which can be mapped to whatever the player desires but works best on the track volume.
- Universal Pressure CC: The pressure CC converts the last 20% of key travel into a seperate control change adding potential into what the user does with sound, this gives the player a response to when they are really trying to dig into a particular note.
In CC mode, each key sends out its own individual control change.
In a live context, this can be useful for blending different loops or automating effects.
Hidden within the octave shift knob are 2 extra features:
Latch: Dependant on the sound used being polyphonic, the user can press multiple notes and before releasing these notes, change the octave shift. This can create textural drones above or below whatever the player continues to play.
Panic mode: By twisting the knob all the way to CC and then back to -2 within 1 second, arcomidi sends a note off message to all keys.
The engine behind the arcomidi is a Teensy 3.6.
The Teensy takes care of all of the midi communication, converting analog information from the joysticks into various messages sent to the DAW on your computer.
3D printed "peg hoods" mounted on top of clothes pegs
Linen Finish Stainless Steel
Stained and Varnished Pine
Laser Cut Perspex
USB B Port