The Viola with Leap Motion Controller: AWSOME !!!!

Comments

• MSchnell

  January 2016 edited January 2016

  This in unbelievably great !!!!
  
  
  
  When I read about the "direct bowing" feature of the Violin, I thought that this type of controllers would be a great option. (In fact on my job I once constructed a controller working on the same technology but just sensing distance for a machine we built.)
  
  
  
  But I had not thought that "some hours" of practicing would allow someone new to violin playing to get such a great result.
  
  
  
  Regarding the rather low price of the controller, every Swam "Violin" owner intending to do live playing should try it.
  
  
  
  Funny that SM don't recommend it themselves or even sell it in a bundle.
  
  
  
  Regarding your request for the "initial first attack" issue, I suppose (e.g.) Reaper programming could help. (I did a "pure Midi" JSFX Plugin providing some SWAM Flute extensions that helps with me playing it via a TEC BBC. E.g. I convert the Pitch bend wheel to two controllers: "Up" = Flutter Tong, Down = Growl.)
  
  
  
  I suppose something similar can be done to tend your request: If you release the bow (e.g "bow pressure = 0"), the bow position control smoothly returns to the left most position. Now you can start bowing from left to right.
  
  
  
  -Michael
• sgenevay

  January 2016 edited 10:35AM

  Hey !
  
  Thx for the comment :-)
  
  I understand what u mean with controller programing, but i think it's most a swam engine thing itself.
  
  In fact, they should maybe add a preset as they've done for breath controller, saying that at first note signal, just start the bow at the incoming signal position but do not jump to it.
  
  Of course it was at first, designed to modwheel, and the modwheel can't jump to point A straight to point B the way you can do with leap motion...
  
  But I really they should add this feature cause really, when you move your arm, you even sometimes feel the bow in your hands and this is totally crazy !
  
  
  
  Sylvain
• MSchnell

  January 2016 edited 10:35AM

  Of course it would be best if SM integrate that feature to support a movement controller directly in their software but (being a software engineer myself) I always do what I can to get and/or provide a workable solution with my own means instead of holding my breath.
  
  
  
  -Michael
• dstong

  March 2016 edited 10:35AM

  Wow, this is fantastic. You've done a great job configuring the Leap Motion Controller to handle strings. Your viola playing is wonderful !
  
  
  
  I hope SampleModeling checks this out and is sufficiently excited and impressed to do some programming to include it with keyboard mode.
  
  
  
  If you have additional viola pieces, even just audio please share with us.
  
  
  
  Thanks a lot for sharing this.
  
  
  
  Dan
• dstong

  April 2016 edited 10:35AM

  Here's another example, this time, not with samplemodeling, which uses the Leap Motion Controller, to vastly improve the playability.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  It's clear that using a controller such as the LMC, which costs only $63 (in the US), would be an incredibly helpful step for playing any samplemodeling string instrument by keyboard players.
  
  
  
  I'm also adding another request to the great Samplemodeling team to add the LMC to the SWAM engine, alongside the breath, and windcontroller.
  
  
  
  Thanks !
  
  
  
  PS Here's a link to the Lynnstrument playing the Samplemodeling Viola:
  
  
  
  
• raidmarji

  December 2016 edited 10:35AM

  Hi
  
  how did U setup the leap motion controller in windows?
  
  I opened cubase and it didn't detect it as midi controller.
  
  Many thanks