A hackable MIDI controller based on standard laptop equipment

https://youtu.be/N1C0BRsdLoM

<aside> <img src="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/9522f1b3-6672-4870-870f-e9265b1f197b/github-163-761603.png" alt="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/secure.notion-static.com/9522f1b3-6672-4870-870f-e9265b1f197b/github-163-761603.png" width="40px" /> GitHub Repository

</aside>

Computharp is an hackable software MIDI controller based on... Laptop standard equipment. Keyboard(s), webcam, touchpad. Keys are displaced in an isomporphic layout, like a bass guitar's strings, but the tuning can be customized.

Scales and degrees are visualized on screen, making improvisation very easy. You can theoretically put your writing skills into music playing. The instrument can distinguish between different keyboards, which can be mapped on different octaves and transposed. Touchpad can be used to control sound intensity (channel pressure), like a violin bow. But nothing stops you from grabbing a keyboard like a guitar, tune each key row 5 half-tones higher than the previous, and use your phone to control the mouse cursor (thus sound intensity). Head strumming through webcam face recognition will come next in the development list. Every customization, transposition, etc. can be done through keyboard shortcuts and chords (like in a text editor as Vim or Emacs).

Computarp is FOSS (Free Open-Source Software)! Pick the latest release from its GitHub repo and start playing! Keep in mind you’ll need a VST host or something like, since Computharp is mute; it’s just a MIDI controller.

Releases · Neeqstock/Computharp

Currently supported keybindings (to be expanded!)

• Insert, pressed on a keyboard, ****defines it as primary keyboard (NEEDED BEFORE PLAYING!)
• Delete (canc on italian keyboards) will define in the same way the secondary keyboard
• Glyph keys and F keys are note keys
• Enter (Return) acts as an alternative command selector (like CTRL or ALT)
• Tilde (backslash on italian keyboards) activates/deactivates the “violin bow” based on mouse cursor. The mouse cursor will be locked in its position
• Left CTRL defines the currently played notes as a drone (or “bordone”, a continuously played note, like in a bagpipe or an hurdy gurdy)
• Space transpose every played note one octave down (except for drone notes)
• Backspace will send some modulation (vibrato)
• Up/down arrow keys will transpose an octave up/down the keyboard on which they are pressed
• Left/right arrow keys will transpose an half-tone up/down the keyboard on which they are pressed
• Numpad keys (plus Divide) are used to select which scale will be highlighted on the keyboard. First press major scale, second press minor scale
• Multiply erases the visualized scale