XY pad with specific values on touch down and relative on swipe after touch?

Question

I'm interested in setting up an XY pad that will output a predetermined value when the finger touches down (touching anywhere inside the pad will output the same value).  After the initial touch down, I want the pad to output values relative to the initial value.  

Can this be achieved through some combination of components?

Answer 1

There may be a more elegant way to do this, which I will probably think of as soon as I answer this, but achieving the desired values is possible.

Add your X/Y control, along with 2 sliders (or crossfaders) and a button (toggle). Set your pad as a supercontrol, add a fader as a subcontrol to each axis, and add the button as a subcontrol to both axis. Set the CC numbers of the sliders to the appropriate controllers.  Under the "Relationships" tab for both axis, set "Button Off Sets to Default" to your button.

Touching the X-Y control will turn the button on, and the sliders will send your actual values. Turning the toggle button off will reset both axis to the default value, and of course any changes from there will be relative to the default. So, in practice, you'll use the X-Y pad and leave the button in the on state. When you're ready to use it again, click the button off to set the default values before using the pad.

Does that cover your needs?

Comments

Thanks for the suggestion.  It did not achieve what I was hoping for.  What I'm really looking for here is a way to make a 'piano key' that will trigger its assigned pitch but then also support sending CC values when sliding the finger vertically and horizontally after touching down on the key.

I found the Xprressive Keys layout to be close but not quite right because for each of its 'keys', one must hit the xy pad in the exact center in order to get the intended note pitch.  

I was hoping to find a way to essentially quantize the xy pad to specific starting values on touch down.  That way, one could tap anywhere inside the xy pad and still trigger the correct note while also allowing for bends and other cc messages once the finger slides.  For reference, here is the layout I'm talking about which almost gets it right:

http://mididesigner.com/qa/3985/layout-xpressive-keys?show=3985#q3985

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OK, then if I'm understanding correctly, you would use the same basic setup, except make the button send the note on/off value you want, and instead of selecting the button under "Button Off Sets to Default", you would select it under "Extra CC and Hold".

That will trigger the note via the button as long as you are touching the X-Y pad. Your CC values for X and Y will still come from the sliders.

Does that work?

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Hi there, any progress on this? Extra CC & Hold will probably do what you need, unless I'm reading something wrong.

LOoking forward to getting you sorted.

Thanks!
Dan

Dan Rosenstark
Author, MIDI Designer
dream | create | play

Answer 2

There may be a more elegant way to do this, which I will probably think of as soon as I answer this, but achieving the desired values is possible.

Add your X/Y control, along with 2 sliders (or crossfaders) and a button (toggle). Set your pad as a supercontrol, add a fader as a subcontrol to each axis, and add the button as a subcontrol to both axis. Set the CC numbers of the sliders to the appropriate controllers.  Under the "Relationships" tab for both axis, set "Button Off Sets to Default" to your button.

Touching the X-Y control will turn the button on, and the sliders will send your actual values. Turning the toggle button off will reset both axis to the default value, and of course any changes from there will be relative to the default. So, in practice, you'll use the X-Y pad and leave the button in the on state. When you're ready to use it again, click the button off to set the default values before using the pad.

Does that cover your needs?