Working on "iJammer", a Hayden-Wicki style dual controller for

[Michael Eskin]

the iPad...

 

I had no idea before working this that there was this parallel universe of Hayden-Wicki layout style MIDI controllers that have a big following with some music educators. I don't think those who are enthusiasts about this style instrument realize that essentially, they are concertina players.

 

I was approached a few weeks ago to develop a dual Hayden-Wicki style controller for the iPad, here's the result:

 

http://www.tradlessons.com/iJammer.html

 

Slideshow of screenshots:

 

 

Its essentially two Hayden style concertina layouts, side-by-side and mirrored, with independent MIDI channels and control for each side.

 

Pretty trippy stuff, been interesting developing it learning about this parallel universe to concertinas.

 

Currently in beta testing, looking to release it in a couple of weeks.

 

Cheers,

 

Michael

Edited May 30, 2010 by eskin

[Boney]

I had no idea before working this that there was this parallel universe of Hayden-Wicki layout style MIDI controllers that have a big following with some music educators.

I don't think there is. There are two or three folks who have experimented with DIY electronic Wicki / Hayden keyboards, and Jim Plamondon, who was trying to create a buzz and get funding for an ambitious project to create and promote his "jammer" (which is an awful name, in my opinion). The project flopped. Most of the content on the Wikipedia page seems to be straight from his marketing efforts.

[m3838]

I had no idea before working this that there was this parallel universe of Hayden-Wicki layout style MIDI controllers that have a big following with some music educators.

I don't think there is. There are two or three folks who have experimented with DIY electronic Wicki / Hayden keyboards, and Jim Plamondon, who was trying to create a buzz and get funding for an ambitious project to create and promote his "jammer" (which is an awful name, in my opinion). The project flopped. Most of the content on the Wikipedia page seems to be straight from his marketing efforts.

 

I found tons of stuff on the Internet, electronic harp using Uniform keyboard (very good looking electric stringed device, excellent demo), lots of Wicky/Hayden systems (most demos are done by techs, little music. lots of wha-wha effects, bad ergonomics), some interesting game-like electronic gadgets, changing pitch with space orientation (an idea for iPad?). Except for electric harp and some Jammer demos no music is produced to prove the point. I guess purely logic keyboard, disconnected from the mechanical production of sound, makes little sense to people. Doesn't go beyond novelty act. People are more interested in musical saw than in Hayden controllers.

[Dirge]

People are more interested in musical saw than in Hayden controllers.

 

Musical saws? Now you're talking.

[m3838]

People are more interested in musical saw than in Hayden controllers.

 

Musical saws? Now you're talking.

 

[Michael Eskin]

It will be interesting to see how it goes once the app is released. It's one thing to have to spend a fortune to develop and manufacture a real device, another to spend a week or so in my spare time writing some code to build the virtual instrument controller. Since it was so similar to my other apps, I figure, sure, why not bang it out for these guys, its not like I have anything significant at stake if it doesn't sell in huge numbers and maybe some people will have fun experimenting with it, since it will be quite inexpensive compared to a a real controller (assuming you already have an iPad.)

Edited May 31, 2010 by eskin

[Simon H]

Isn't the Axis keyboard the same idea? Hexagonal harmonic table midi controllers. I understand these are pretty popular.

http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=home

[Michael Eskin]

Isn't the Axis keyboard the same idea? Hexagonal harmonic table midi controllers. I understand these are pretty popular.

http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=home

 

Sort of, the Axis uses a different scale structure, mine is essentially a mirrored Hayden concertina, which is also like the Thummer. There is a lot of overlap between the Jammer/Thummer/Axis controller worlds, I think the three guys who approached me about this are the main players in this controller genre.

Edited June 1, 2010 by eskin

[Michael Eskin]

Since I had the assets for the iPad app, I figured I might as well put out an iPhone/iPod Touch version with concertina sounds:

 

http://www.tradlessons.com/HexJam.html

 

and to also do a dedicated iPhone/iPod Touch wireless MIDI version where you can choose between right and left hand layouts, in theory you could have two devices running the app, one set for left hand, the other set for right hand, each on its own wireless MIDI channel talking to a synth module:

 

http://www.tradlessons.com/mJammer.html

Edited June 3, 2010 by eskin