I'm getting better at reading music and am starting to play things that are more advanced than jingle bells on the keyboard (well not the jazz form of jingle bells, that's still hard for me).

I've noticed that other than a "sustain" pedal, I really can't control any sound design FX while I actually play with two hands. (and I don't have a pedal yet, but I'm dying not being able to control the sustain).

So how do ppl control their sounds while playing if they only have two hands and two feet, and maybe the ability to puff twice like a quad navigating in a wheelchair?

What's going on in live performances? Do they play with DAWs that have automation on the tracks only, and vary things ("in real time") that way? I could use one of those "mind reading" headbands and think up down left right, maybe?
http://emotiv.com/insight/

What should I expect I can reasonable do to modify the parameters of my sounds while I play? Or that just ain't happening?

 

in a nutshell yes alot of what your listening to is about the 3 A,s "Automation etc etc"

In terms of directly controlling any vst parameters from your daw of course this is absolutley possible..
However i need to know which daw your running/if any/ for me to help you out as to be honest i only know the fl series in and out...
And a little logic a little cubase.....
IN fl studio all any user has to do to control any given parameter is to first "move whatever parameter it is with your mouse"
Then hit "multi link controll once"
After doing so then twist/turn any knob/ on either your midi keyboard or midi controler to link that knb to the parameter..
But this ll mean sod all to you if your on a diffferent platform and unfortuanatley i dont know the others well enough......

j

 

Or a midi harware controller of course....
That can always be used in conjuction with a midi sequencer so this is also a distict possibility/option depending on setup

 

or Automated midi cc via extra sustain pedal etc ie cc66 note of etc There a whole host of automated midi contollrs for live performance

 

My old synths, Yamaha desk, and foot controllers have lot of buttons and sliders and time is cruel... they send a lot of unwanted CCs even when they are not in use. I done every trick... but they are rebel.
I have a TEC usb breath controller thats great but you must have a good health to use all day.
The option is always to buy a new controller but the must trustable, for me, are ios or android tablets.
A good pedal for CC is costly but worth... for you is the solution.
I have a Roland and a Behringer... they are a pain...

 

Ok, tyvm guys. I didn't think there were specialist midi controllers for "live" performances. I just didn't know wtf they did. I'll check it out. I thought maybe they had copilots like attack helicopters or something...

Any suggested vendors?

I got pretty confused on Amazon with the midi foot controllers, if you're not careful you can buy a fancy stomp box from my electric guitar days. I'm gonna buy a sustain pedal for now...it's my birthday soon.

 

Last edited: May 23, 2016

Best idea Jeffglobal is have a look yourself and give them a try or ask an experienced keyboard player.

Some are ultra complicated and mega expensive and some are fairly cheap not so good like ovalf said.

I'm not a keyboard player but for keyboard I've heard people quote



http://www.thomann.de/gb/keith_mcmillen_softstep_2.htm

For guitar Vodoo labs or the new Fractal MFC MKII but they more orientated towards guitar but can do just about everything midi related

Good luck

 

Are you sure you're going to play with two hands at a time?
Using a sustain pedal can free one hand for turning knobs and pushing buttons or (xy) pads.
That's where keyboard split comes in handy (because you might only want to sustain one part, not everything you play).

 

use the MOD wheel

 

Yeah but if he using two hands at one he have to like use his nose and that Saying that though I have seen some amazing players using just the modwheel while doing fast licks and runs etc Plus midi automation gonna be difficult as hard to change the FX as u can only assign say link instance of midi cc to each modwheel b4 u need a switcher so for loads of FX wouldn't work I don't think

 

You may be able to use a swell/volume pedal in the same way organists' use. All you need to do then is use your remap feature in your DAW to what ever you want it to do. It will need a small financial outlay but the upside is you'll have both hands back again. Good luck, I hope you find a solution.

 

I don't think people go crazy on modulating the fx when they play live and are using both hands for the keys. Aftertouch, pedal. The more complex and puzzled out you make your setup, the more can and will go wrong. Not the scenario you want for a live performance.
Kiss principle all the way.

 

You can also use a game joystick

 

Use a rack of several sequenced synths, pedals on all, aftertouch & all the midi controllers your rig can support, mapped to all the params that need changed. Sum them up in a hardware mixer. Some synths are permanently running from sequencers and you are bring them in with the mixer's faders. You can easily control up to 20 hardware & soft synths.

 

Whoa, ok, thanks guys, I have a lot to try and consider.