Skoog: Breath Control and Single Sided Play

From the Skoogmusic YouTube Channel: "Keith from skoogmusic sends Clarence Adoo a video message updating him on our prototype breath controller for the skoogmusic software, which allows control of our instrument models. In particular, it allows dynamic, intuitive control over the timbre of our wind instruments."

Really exciting progress at Skoogmusic, and especially so for one-sided playthrough of pre-arranged "skores". This means you can dictate the tempo and expression of a tune using a single pressure point. Can't wait to try this out.

Luke Lundin

Musician Luke Lundin talking about performing and his use of the Yamaha Tenori-on. One-switch musicians can use something similar with the PC title "Tink" by William Pilgrim.

Two Switch Music

The video above came about from a request for help with switch accessible music. Supported by SpecialEffect, I delved into some of the possibilities.

Added to the Performing Music with Switches section at OneSwitch. 

One Touch Music

The videos above demonstrate how repeated use of a single switch can be used to play pre-set and randomised notes.

The top video takes me back to one of my first accessibility experiments in 1994. The "Single Key Play" mode allows you to stumble through a variety of pre-set songs, a few notes at a time using just one key on the keyboard. I set this up with a big floppy Quickshot joystick so that people could nudge it to control the song themselves which worked quite well. The following year I built a hacked-up a wirey shambles of a switch interface to give people switch control. People seemed to enjoy it.

The second video is from the wonderful Fluid for the Sony Playstation. This has pre-set algorhythms that allow you to play all manner of instruments, and have them stay relatively in tune with the rest of the backing track.

I'd love to see some of these features make their way into the Skoog in the future. Fingers crossed.

Cloud Music

I've mentioned Burnstudio's Audiotool before, but it's worth a second mention. It's an amazing on-line music creation studio. You can drag and hook up various expensive sound modules, effects pedals and more. Once you've got a nice rhythm flowing you can play/pause using a switch hooked up to the SPACE BAR. Alternatively, you can use left-click to switch some elements on and off that with pre-planning can be very effective.

Alternatively, if you have accurate point, click and dragging skills you'll have massive control over creating some fantastic sounding music.

Cheap USB Switches for Games and Creation: Buzz

The Music Gym have uploaded a guide on how to get Buzz controllers functioning on a PC using JoyToKey. These push buttons come as ridiculously cheap wired versions, or more expensive wireless versions. eBay's probably the cheapest place to find these.

They give some really good tips for mounting these controllers, and for being creative with them too. Love that they've including two of my favourite one-switch accessible activities, Tink and Ambio-mat. Excellent!

Added to the DIY section and discovered at the Accessible GameBase.

Work for Skoogmusic

Are you a bit of a genius with computers and audio, or know someone who is? Fancy working on the most exciting accessible musical instrument made this century? If so, Skoogmusic are looking for you. Job application details here.