Post by Jeff Hopkins on Oct 25, 2014 15:21:52 GMT -5
About The Open Woodwind Project
Hello and welcome to the Open Woodwind Project Forums! My name is Jeff Hopkins and I've started 'Hopkins Instruments' and I'm in the middle of developing an open source hardware Woodwind MIDI Controller: The Hopkins Electronic Aerophone. It will be the first iteration of what will be the Open Woodwind Controller. The project in entirety will consist of a woodwind controller, breath controller (for use with keyboard controllers), base station, foot switch board and the necessary hardware and software designs to make it all work. Hopkins Instruments will offer completed instruments as well as provide schematics and software to the community.
The main reason for these forums is to develop a community. This community will help in the development of the controller, so that it will appeal to the most people and be the best product that we can create. So please, please, please be a member of this new community!
The rest of this page is what I've currently wrote for an eventual Kickstarter campaign... please view other posts on this board for in depth information.
What is the Hopkins Electronic Aerophone?
The Hopkins Electronic Aerophone is a MIDI Woodwind Controller similar to the Akai EWI and Yamaha WX5. It allows for unprecedented control of synthesizers with capabilities that far outstrip conventional woodwinds. It utilizes a pressure sensor, touch sensitive keys, and unique sensors to give you the ultimate control.
You can go from playing a 70's synth to a classical violin with the touch of a button and readily exploit effects and capabilities previously reserved for keyboards and guitars. You can unleash your creative ability in earnest!
How is it different from existing Woodwind Controllers?
Unlike existing woodwind controllers the Hopkins Electronic Aerophone has wireless MIDI to your synthesizer or sampler of choice. Being onstage without being tied down by wires is the new future for woodwind controllers, and one that allows you to be yourself while performing.
The modern controllers from Akai are made of plastic. Our instrument is made of wood, and maintains that feeling of a 'real' instrument and does not feel like a toy in your hands.
Unique and customizable fingering systems allow for easier playing over the octave break, a considerable hurdle in systems like the Akai EWI. Runs and rifts that took months to get right can now be easily played without the dreaded 'glitch' destroying your performance.
Unique sensors are at your fingertips! There is an instrument distance sensor that allows for pitch bends and other controller messages to be intuitively played. Neck bend allows for modulation or other controller messages to be easily controlled. Thumb based pressure sensors give exacting control to your synthesizer or sampler. Sensors are easily routed to multiple destinations! Gate them, scale them, abuse the capabilities of CC and CV routing!
The controller can be easily calibrated without the need to adjust potentiometers deep within the instrument. No need to worry about breath response adjustments, simply enter calibration mode and provide sample pressures. Increased sensitivity on the keys insures that those with dry hands do not need to lather in lotion to play the instrument.
What if I don't play a woodwind?
If you are a keyboard player we still have something for you! The base station can be attached to another MIDI device (such as a keyboard or generic MIDI controller) and you can use the separate breath controller to add huge amounts of expression to your playing!
Unlike traditional plug and play breath controllers when using our base station we don't just send a CC message for your breath amount, we use your breath amount to actually initiate the NoteOn and NoteOff messages and use your keyboard to simply direct the key changes. This allows for samplers and synths to properly respond to your breath data .
Integration with Reason!
Included with the instrument is a demo version of the latest Reason release as well as patches specifically crafted for the instrument. Unleash fat synths or beautiful sampled classical instruments. A full range of sounds are provided to you so that you can immediately have great sounds without a hassle.
The Hopkins Electronic Aerophone's base station mimics Reason's Combinator device. It allows for real-time control over the rotary dials and buttons of your currently selected patch. It also has an analog display meter for your CC/CV of choice! Ever wanted to know how close you were to maxing out your breath? Easily route the breath data to the display and never be unsure again!
A large slider control can easily be assigned to the mixer volume or any other setting in Reason. Effortlessly control your mix.
Additional buttons control track selection and stop, play, record commands. Looping and backing tracks are easily controlled.
Made To Play Live!
Being able to play live onstage without any wires has been the number one requested feature to new woodwind controllers. Taking that one step further we're providing an eight button floor switch board so that you can control additional settings live without ever removing your fingers from the instrument you are playing.
Change patches, settings, effects, control looping, backing tracks, and so much more with the foot switch board! Playing live has never been easier or more intuitive!
A strong RF transmitter and high gain receiver allows you to not worry about dropping notes and what range you are from the receiver, be onstage and be yourself free from those earlier constraints.
Current Status
I am an active duty soldier and won't be back stateside until around the New Year. However, ideas, concepts, and community input can occur until I'm back stateside to work on the prototype and upload schematics, software etc. My goal is to build up this community and do a Kickstarter campaign here in the Spring, so please, help build this community, gather support, and lets create this instrument!
Hello and welcome to the Open Woodwind Project Forums! My name is Jeff Hopkins and I've started 'Hopkins Instruments' and I'm in the middle of developing an open source hardware Woodwind MIDI Controller: The Hopkins Electronic Aerophone. It will be the first iteration of what will be the Open Woodwind Controller. The project in entirety will consist of a woodwind controller, breath controller (for use with keyboard controllers), base station, foot switch board and the necessary hardware and software designs to make it all work. Hopkins Instruments will offer completed instruments as well as provide schematics and software to the community.
The main reason for these forums is to develop a community. This community will help in the development of the controller, so that it will appeal to the most people and be the best product that we can create. So please, please, please be a member of this new community!
The rest of this page is what I've currently wrote for an eventual Kickstarter campaign... please view other posts on this board for in depth information.
What is the Hopkins Electronic Aerophone?
The Hopkins Electronic Aerophone is a MIDI Woodwind Controller similar to the Akai EWI and Yamaha WX5. It allows for unprecedented control of synthesizers with capabilities that far outstrip conventional woodwinds. It utilizes a pressure sensor, touch sensitive keys, and unique sensors to give you the ultimate control.
You can go from playing a 70's synth to a classical violin with the touch of a button and readily exploit effects and capabilities previously reserved for keyboards and guitars. You can unleash your creative ability in earnest!
How is it different from existing Woodwind Controllers?
Unlike existing woodwind controllers the Hopkins Electronic Aerophone has wireless MIDI to your synthesizer or sampler of choice. Being onstage without being tied down by wires is the new future for woodwind controllers, and one that allows you to be yourself while performing.
The modern controllers from Akai are made of plastic. Our instrument is made of wood, and maintains that feeling of a 'real' instrument and does not feel like a toy in your hands.
Unique and customizable fingering systems allow for easier playing over the octave break, a considerable hurdle in systems like the Akai EWI. Runs and rifts that took months to get right can now be easily played without the dreaded 'glitch' destroying your performance.
Unique sensors are at your fingertips! There is an instrument distance sensor that allows for pitch bends and other controller messages to be intuitively played. Neck bend allows for modulation or other controller messages to be easily controlled. Thumb based pressure sensors give exacting control to your synthesizer or sampler. Sensors are easily routed to multiple destinations! Gate them, scale them, abuse the capabilities of CC and CV routing!
The controller can be easily calibrated without the need to adjust potentiometers deep within the instrument. No need to worry about breath response adjustments, simply enter calibration mode and provide sample pressures. Increased sensitivity on the keys insures that those with dry hands do not need to lather in lotion to play the instrument.
What if I don't play a woodwind?
If you are a keyboard player we still have something for you! The base station can be attached to another MIDI device (such as a keyboard or generic MIDI controller) and you can use the separate breath controller to add huge amounts of expression to your playing!
Unlike traditional plug and play breath controllers when using our base station we don't just send a CC message for your breath amount, we use your breath amount to actually initiate the NoteOn and NoteOff messages and use your keyboard to simply direct the key changes. This allows for samplers and synths to properly respond to your breath data .
Integration with Reason!
Included with the instrument is a demo version of the latest Reason release as well as patches specifically crafted for the instrument. Unleash fat synths or beautiful sampled classical instruments. A full range of sounds are provided to you so that you can immediately have great sounds without a hassle.
The Hopkins Electronic Aerophone's base station mimics Reason's Combinator device. It allows for real-time control over the rotary dials and buttons of your currently selected patch. It also has an analog display meter for your CC/CV of choice! Ever wanted to know how close you were to maxing out your breath? Easily route the breath data to the display and never be unsure again!
A large slider control can easily be assigned to the mixer volume or any other setting in Reason. Effortlessly control your mix.
Additional buttons control track selection and stop, play, record commands. Looping and backing tracks are easily controlled.
Made To Play Live!
Being able to play live onstage without any wires has been the number one requested feature to new woodwind controllers. Taking that one step further we're providing an eight button floor switch board so that you can control additional settings live without ever removing your fingers from the instrument you are playing.
Change patches, settings, effects, control looping, backing tracks, and so much more with the foot switch board! Playing live has never been easier or more intuitive!
A strong RF transmitter and high gain receiver allows you to not worry about dropping notes and what range you are from the receiver, be onstage and be yourself free from those earlier constraints.
Current Status
I am an active duty soldier and won't be back stateside until around the New Year. However, ideas, concepts, and community input can occur until I'm back stateside to work on the prototype and upload schematics, software etc. My goal is to build up this community and do a Kickstarter campaign here in the Spring, so please, help build this community, gather support, and lets create this instrument!