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This project modifies a $5 Staple's Easy Button and an inexpensive USB keyboard so that they can be used as an input device for live musical performances (or anything else that requires a button or footswitch). It alllows cheap buttons to be created that each send a keyboard character as input to a program. In addition, the proceeds of easy button sales go to the Boys and Girls Club of America.
The project is standing on the shoulders of two other hacks. First, this project hacked an easy button into a switch for a garage door. Second, Dave Merrill, who I am involved with in the EMI (Experimental Musical Instruments Workshop) at MIT (see inventmusic.org), had taken apart a keyboard to create footpedal for the ctrl, shift, and alt keys for use when his arm was in a cast. His project details are here.
The motivation behind this project was a performance called Mandala at SIGGRAPH 2006 ( video clip ) as part of their electronically mediated performances series. Six musicians sat around a circle projected onto the floor that gave instructions to each individual about what and how to play. A computer program generated these instructions and therefore lead the improvisation of the group. Foot switches were needed so that the musicians could communicate with the program (e.g., when the sheet music should be scrolled, voting for song changes, etc.). The Mandala program was written in Flash but future projects will use Pure Data (PD), Java, and other languages. All that is needed is the ability to programmatically read input from a keyboard.
About one and a half days was required to complete this for someone who had never soldered before (thanks to Ben Vigoda, the main instigator for the Mandala Project, for lessons and helping me figure out the details of the electronics).
The project is standing on the shoulders of two other hacks. First, this project hacked an easy button into a switch for a garage door. Second, Dave Merrill, who I am involved with in the EMI (Experimental Musical Instruments Workshop) at MIT (see inventmusic.org), had taken apart a keyboard to create footpedal for the ctrl, shift, and alt keys for use when his arm was in a cast. His project details are here.
The motivation behind this project was a performance called Mandala at SIGGRAPH 2006 ( video clip ) as part of their electronically mediated performances series. Six musicians sat around a circle projected onto the floor that gave instructions to each individual about what and how to play. A computer program generated these instructions and therefore lead the improvisation of the group. Foot switches were needed so that the musicians could communicate with the program (e.g., when the sheet music should be scrolled, voting for song changes, etc.). The Mandala program was written in Flash but future projects will use Pure Data (PD), Java, and other languages. All that is needed is the ability to programmatically read input from a keyboard.
About one and a half days was required to complete this for someone who had never soldered before (thanks to Ben Vigoda, the main instigator for the Mandala Project, for lessons and helping me figure out the details of the electronics).
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Signing UpStep 1Hack the Easy Button
The first step is to open the Easy Button and exchange the connections that make the "That Was Easy" sound for two wires that send the on/off switch to the keyboard interface. Opening the Easy button amd soldering the wires is explained in the first reference hack in detail.
First, the existing connections are desoldered from the location shown in the photo and as explained the the links above. Then two wires are soldered at the described positions which was connected to a 1/4" mono jack.
First, the existing connections are desoldered from the location shown in the photo and as explained the the links above. Then two wires are soldered at the described positions which was connected to a 1/4" mono jack.
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I was wondering how i could go about making the easy button into a foot switch so that i wouldn't have to keep on bending over and pressing the button every time i needed distortion on or off in a song.
This is a picture of my amp. http://www.1ant.co.uk/ad-pics/amp.JPG
as you can see, there is a switch on the far left side that says "drive select" above it.
Any help would be appreciated.
If this does end up working i will post pictures.
-Thanks
http://www.jeffcaylor.com/?p=206
http://www.instructables.com/id/EIJMKZV2EAEP2877XF/?ALLSTEPS