Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2.fluke 9/24/84; site vax1.fluke.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!fluke!kelpie From: kelpie@fluke.UUCP (Tony Garland) Newsgroups: net.music.synth Subject: keyboards & MIDI Message-ID: <1163@vax1.fluke.UUCP> Date: Mon, 16-Sep-85 11:47:39 EDT Article-I.D.: vax1.1163 Posted: Mon Sep 16 11:47:39 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 18-Sep-85 02:25:16 EDT Distribution: net Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 34 Being real new to the world of synthesizers, I am still naive enough to be thinking about designing and building some sort of basic synth. However, I am in need of the following information: o Where can one obtain a "raw" keyboard? To be specific, is it possible to purchase a keyboard mechanism mechanically complete which I could design around to provide velocity sensing with say 3 to 5 octaves? o Am I crazy approaching it this way? Instead, should I be looking for a keyboard which merely provides MIDI out for use in controlling other devices on the MIDI bus? Are there even any keyboards out there which are MIDI compatible, but just produce output onto the bus without generating any notes of their own locally? o Where can one obtain the detailed engineering spec on MIDI? I presume there must be some sort of hardware standard as well as some software protocols? o Last, but not least, am I crazy? Are synths so far gone (advanced) at this stage to preclude realistic tinkering by an individual? Am I likely to sweat it out only to produce a relative toy (compared to the what full-time engineers and LSI can do in the commercial products)? I am interested it *both* learning *and* producing something that sounds good enough that I will feel good about it. Can someone with good hardware and software background still add value by building rather than buying? Thanks in advance, Tony Garland, N7DX decvax\ John Fluke Mfg Co. ihnp4 >!uw-beaver\ PO Box C9090 allegra >!fluke!kelpie Everett, WA 98206 USA ucbvax >!lbl-csam / (206) 356-5268 hplabs/