The StyloSim patch isn’t very extensive, and looks like this: I’ve also blogged about various sound manipulation apps (or ‘patches’) in the past, including the StyloSim, which uses the joystick controller pictured above, and the Black Widow. The blog post for the Theresynth (which uses one of the joysticks on the controller for changing pitch in a way reminiscent of a theremin), also has quite a detailed description of the Pd programming. I’ve used Pd both for creating instruments, like the Theresynth, which uses the PCLine Rumble Pad pictured above, and for sound and sample manipulation. Using Pd means you have to write the programs yourself – but this is done graphically, rather in the manner of flow-charts, rather than by writing lines of code, and the program is specifically designed for making music, so it has typical audio and MIDI functions (Pd calls them ‘objects’) ready to use. My favourite program is PureData, or Pd for short. It’s possible in this way to have several different set-ups for the same device, depending on what you want to use it for at different times. The list in the left-hand column indicates a couple of devices which I’ve made customised groups of special controls for: once you’ve set the controls up, you can save them and call them up by name. The small drop-down list to the right indicates the wide variety of actions that can be incorporated into the instructions for each button or other control. This allows not only for simple button ‘mapping’, where you specify, for example, keystrokes for each controller button, but also, with this window you can build up complicated series of events, initiated by a button press.: I’ve also used a commercial program, ControllerMate, which enables very sophisticated interpretation of controller signals. There is a source file downloadable from the site referenced above, although I have no idea if this can be compiled for Windows PC’s. Designed by Alexander Refsum Jensenius, it’s distributed free for Mac OS. Multicontrol has the ability to interpret the game controller’s signals and pass them on in the form of MIDI messages, or OSC (Open Sound Control). There’s Multicontrol, which I used for this MIDI Drum controller: I’ve used several of these for different purposes. As long as the device is made to conform to the standard – and manufacturers have readily got used to the idea of doing so – these programs can interpret the input and make it available to be changed to a different input to perform an action completely unrelated to the device’s original purpose or send data to another program which can use it creatively. HID = ‘Human Interface Device’, a description which can be used to cover devices such as computer keyboards, mice, game controllers, joysticks, and the like – all the things which humans use to interact with computers. This is made possible by the existence of the ‘HID’ standard for USB devices. ![]() There are many of these, ranging from simple apps to tweak the operation of a particular device, to large and complex programs designed to customise a device’s every action to the user’s requirements. ![]() The main consideration is what program to use which can interpret the signals the controller is sending out and allow you to use those signals for your own purposes. There are lots of them about and they can be picked up cheaply on eBay and Gumtree or from local charity shops. Since computers come with USB ports on them, it’s usually just a case of plug them in and get going. Generic USB controllers like these are generally pretty easy to use: I decided to write this post just to tie together some of my experiences of using game controllers of various sorts to make music.
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