dub
Junior Member
Posts: 6 
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Post by dub on Mar 25, 2006 4:21:57 GMT
So, what are Midisticks, and what can I do with them?
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Post by Andrew Cordani on Mar 27, 2006 15:29:28 GMT
They're drumsticks which can recognise different materials that they're played on - For example tabletop, a mouse mat, a pad of paper - these materials can be mapped to any MIDI instrument/note (e.g. Snare drum, tom tom, hi-hat).
Once programmed, they make the environment about you become a drum kit!
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Post by Sean on Apr 15, 2006 1:10:51 GMT
This sounds like an interesting project  I'm confused how this all works though. I saw the picture of the cheese drum kit with microphones very close to each wheel of cheese. Do you need a mic to capture the sound of the stick hitting the surface? And is this how what you use to program the drum kit at the midi level? |
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dub
Junior Member
Posts: 6
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Post by dub on Apr 15, 2006 3:36:38 GMT
Thanks - It has been (and continues to be) an interesting project. Sean, I'm sorry, the picture's just to capture people's attention. It's a red herring (Well, more a Red Leicester, actually ;D Sorry. ). We do intend to put a mock-up picture on the website soon, as well as a video to demonstrate what they are, and more importantly, what they do. They are patented , but, I have to admit, at the moment they're not terribly interesting to see. No external microphones are required, so you can use them in a live situation (with background noise etc.) - They're ideal for home studios, busking, and near silent practise and rehearsal sessions. The prototypes have also been used in live performances. Information is processed by a VST plug-in, and MIDI messages are generated in real-time. They're very simple to program and to use: - Select Learn mode
- Select a MIDI Chan/Note (e.g. Percussion/Snare )*
- Tap the selected material*
- Switch to Play mode
- Play the programmed material - Unprogrammed / Dissimilar materials will not generate MIDI Note On's. The MIDI velocity maps to how softly a material is played.
*Repeat process with other Instruments / Materials. |
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Post by wildturkey on Jun 15, 2006 12:49:09 GMT
Yo, midisticks man!
So will there be different weights of stix available? Can your invention be retro fitted? Can it be swapped between different pairs of stix? I'm thinking coz I can go through a pair of stix a month - easy - and don't know if I could keep buying new all the time. Or are there plans for 'indestructible' stix. (bump the karma man!! - and the stars while your're at it!!!!!!)
Wildturkey (gobble gobble - can't wait for Christmas :-()
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dub
Junior Member
Posts: 6
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Post by dub on Jun 15, 2006 15:51:21 GMT
Yo, midisticks man! So will there be different weights of stix available? Can your invention be retro fitted? Can it be swapped between different pairs of stix? Whoa! At the moment they're one off's- The sensors are bonded to normal (wooden) sticks, and wired. We have tried several weights of stick / materials and this method works well. The aim is to provide retrofittable units, but this has other implications - Ways have to be found to avoid changing the balance of the sticks whilst ensuring that they things can't fly-off and hit anyone! I'm thinking coz I can go through a pair of stix a month - easy - and don't know if I could keep buying new all the time. You have to remember that you're not (necessarily) playing on nice drums which are designed to be hit hard - We all know that if you're out to break a pair of sticks it's easy to do, especially when the sticks are new and not worn in. Or are there plans for 'indestructible' stix. (bump the karma man!! - and the stars while your're at it!!!!!!) I've thought about that - but haven't had a chance to try out the idea yet... If you're in the UK (near London) you could come any try the prototype pair for yourself - as long as you don't break'em!  |
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wilx
New Member
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Post by wilx on Aug 2, 2006 1:50:28 GMT
Seems odd that there's not already a group of manufacturers lining up outside your door. Unless you've approached the likes of Roland and Yamaha who'd probably rather buy the patent off you, lock it up, and carry on selling their 1-grand-a-piece V-drums...
- which brings me to one of three questions; what sort of price bracket are you working on should these things go into production (& how likely is it that they will?)
What exactly is the physical makeup of the Midisticks? I'm assuming reasonably durable plastic. drumstick size & shape, with MIDI cable coming out the back of each one?
And Finally... How the hell do you get the sticks to recognise what they are hitting? Is it done spatially, with some sort of laser-calibration, or by the tactile response of each surface used? This is the bit I really can't work out yet.
Whatever the answers, best of luck with the project. If you get them marketed well (check out the latest 'keytar' demos (http://www.keytarinc.com/) for a perfect example of the absolute worst way to showcase an otherwise interesting idea) and the price is low enough to justify buying them over a mid sized drum pad/kit setup, then you could do very well out of this. I'll be buying them if they turn out like I'm hoping!
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Post by Andrew Cordani on Aug 2, 2006 14:22:57 GMT
Seems odd that there's not already a group of manufacturers lining up outside your door. Unless you've approached the likes of Roland and Yamaha who'd probably rather buy the patent off you, lock it up, and carry on selling their 1-grand-a-piece V-drums... Well, I was surprised too. The reason I'm persevering with the project is that I want a pair, and I know others do, too! ...what sort of price bracket are you working on should these things go into production (& how likely is it that they will?) Probably around £150. ... How the hell do you get the sticks to recognise what they are hitting? Is it done spatially, with some sort of laser-calibration, or by the tactile response of each surface used? This is the bit I really can't work out yet. Well, that's the bit I patented! Read around the rest of the site for other info. |
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Post by Zoe on Nov 1, 2006 20:06:04 GMT
So When will these be available to buy. And will any pictures be up to see anytime soon ??
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Post by Andrew Cordani on Nov 2, 2006 1:35:38 GMT
We're working as fast as we can.
I'm afraid we can't give any dates - But we're talking to people now - All I can say is, you should hear it here (or on the main site) first.
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Post by calvc01 on Nov 8, 2006 10:47:05 GMT
Just seen you on the front page of the Electronics Weekly - great looking invention and you can be assured that I will be trying your product as soon as you go to market. I just don't have the space for V-Drums! Keep up the good work. www.rapidonline.com |
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Post by Andrew Cordani on Nov 8, 2006 12:38:51 GMT
[calvc01] Thanks. Any encouragement is appreciated. It'll be online soon, too. Then it'll be an easy place for people to see a picture of the sticks (so, we'll just keep it a secret that they're ordinary looking, wooden drumsticks, with sensors on, OK? ) |
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Post by keith1200rs on Nov 9, 2006 12:57:20 GMT
My thoughts:
1) a hollow stick so the sensor can be inside the stick (rip the insides out of a Zildjian anti-vibe?). Anti-vibe type sticks may help to protect the electronics from vibration.
2) how about wireless? tiny 2.4GHz transmitter chips are available. I think the Nordic VLSI ones are 5mm square. If you use 868MHz then Melexis do some which are 3mm square. I am sure they could fit inside a stick. There are probably other makes worth looking at as well.
3) while you could try to make then indestructible, I know someone who has broken aluminium sticks on a DTXpress, so there will always be someone who will break them. Maybe the electronics could be removable so when you break the stick you just swap it to another one?
Anyway, it sounds like a fascinating invention. Compared to humping my DTXpress to practice every week, it sounds great, although I will have to do something about the 30kg PA speaker I use ;D
Keith.
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Post by Andrew Cordani on Nov 9, 2006 14:10:54 GMT
All taken on board! Thanks! I take it you're one of the giggers rather than home-studio users. Re humping amp / speakers around...Hmm... there's always a fly in the oinkment! Perhaps bluetooth directly to people's mobiles? :  |
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Post by richard Rosenthal on Jan 26, 2008 20:56:28 GMT
Andrew,
A hour or so ago I came up with the idea to place the trigger in the drumsticks then I did a quick google and voila midistix! I had some other ideas that I though you may find interesting as I am more interested in buying the product rather than developing it (I am a mechanical designer if you find I could help with anything). I initially envisioned the playing surfaces to be drum like: so for a snare sound the stick would hit a target about the size of a snare, in the approximate location with the same bounce. This is essentially a practice pad with no intelligence with one minor exception: the stick would know what it is hitting and where it is hitting it such as center, edge, rim. The stick would just transmit velocity and location data. The locating could be done with RFID or some other combo of position/identity communication. The same would apply to cymbals, marimbas, steel drums etc. Please note that logic's ultrabeat does 24 percussion and 24 pitched instruments. This location/midistick(your idea) combo could allow hundred of locations in theory whereas your resonance recognition is limited by the materials that are playable and unique.
My comments are respectfully intended to provide a economical, midi only, midi drum controller that can mimic the traditional drum kit. Please hurry and get this developed and let me know where I can buy it!
Rich
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