Gokhan Sivrikaya
Andrew "Ace" ArsenaultI've been working on a prototype for an instrument that fits an entire keyboard in a compact space.
This is tuned in 4ths like a bass guitar, if only it had 12 strings and a really wide neck.
Matthew Conroy@AceArsenault Perfect for playing during the seventh inning stretch on a bus!
@matthewconroy It is portable. : }
Packs a lot of notes in a small space. Also the key widths are 1" so it's standard piano sized keys. Just in two dimensions.
@AceArsenault excellent!
elsemusic@AceArsenault This really is very clever.
@elsemusic Thank you! : }
I wanted something more compact to sit beside my other gear, but didn't want to go with those smaller 3/4th sized keys.
This gets the entire keyboard in a width of only 12" inches. as compared to 40" inches for a 61 key or 54" inches for 88 keys!
Gene@AceArsenault @elsemusic Clever indeed.
It's also fun to wrap your brain around. Playing bass guitar helps a LOT!
@AceArsenault @elsemusic I believe it!
retech@AceArsenault This is damn cool work.
Kernel Bob 
@AceArsenault That song sounds great, and you make it look easy to play.
Did you model this after the Linnstrument?
@kbob I actually didn't know about the Linnstrument until after I started prototyping this.
Ultimately I'm happy because I wanted something more Piano Keyboard in nature and less LED buttons. : }
I'm thinking of making raised wood key tops for the black keys.
Rob@AceArsenault That is both very clever and very cool. Love it.
@Rob Thanks Rob. : }
It makes sense if you play bass guitar.
It works great for chordioid harmony! Makes it really easy to play complex chord extensions with little additional thought.
@AceArsenault Watched the video and indeed, it made a lot of sense as bass player. I really appreciated that change of perspective to playing along the keys like going down the strings.
It's a prototype at the moment, what's the plan, if there is one?
@Rob I mean, plan wise. I mostly just build stuff to meet the needs of my studio and performing work. : }
But at some point I think I might start producing batches of instruments and effects to sell them.
Likely to a small audience that has an interest in hand crafted instruments, effects and synths.
This is a high candidate for a production run of some sort.
@AceArsenault Totally get the enjoyment of just building stuff you need, but the formfactor and functionality of this made it look like an interesting proposition for a lot of people.
Production runs can be stressful. I recall people doing crowdfunding for things like this, thinking they're going to make 10s of them and then 1000s are interested - no longer the same level of fun.
@Rob Yeah. I'm thinking of doing a smaller batch of theses. At least to test the waters and see if people are interested.
nick@AceArsenault perhaps worth looking at concertina and accordion keyboard layouts too?
Rich Holmes@nickzoic @AceArsenault I'm in the thinking and drawing stages of something fairly similar. Probably a Jankó layout as described at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jank%C3%B3_keyboard but also see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isomorphic_keyboard for others. Not so compact because of its redundancy, but allows easy transposition and can be used for microtonality.
@doctroid @nickzoic That's awesome!
I've seen the Janko layout before. Seems like a cool idea.
Once you get into microtonals, you pretty much have to ditch the old standard 12tone keyboard layout all together.
I wish I had a layout that could play a Septimal harmonic 7th. I play it on brass and flutes all the time, but have no way of playing it on keyboard.
@AceArsenault @doctroid That Janko layout does look interesting, I hadn't seen it before!
I was messing with the idea of a parametric 3d printable single weighted key that could be printed in whatever shape and color you wanted and locked onto a piece extrusion so you could build up a keyboard specialized for whatever tuning system you like.
I was messing with the idea of a parametric 3d printable single weighted key that could be printed in whatever shape and color you wanted and locked onto a piece extrusion so you could build up a keyboard specialized for whatever tuning system you like.
@nickzoic I've never played an button accordion, But they do look neat. : }
I play bass, so making a theoretical "12 string bass" layout was the most logical step for my brain.
Qxkw@AceArsenault Great project. Kinda reminds me of a Harpejji because of the 2D layout of the keys.
@Qxkw Yeah. it's a bit like the Harpejji. Just half steps are side to side instead of up and down.
This is like a bass guitar with many strings. : }
Marc Trius@AceArsenault Neat, looks a little like this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_button_accordion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromatic_button_accordion
@alter_kaker I've actually never played a button accordion before, They look like fun. : }
@AceArsenault It's been 20 years since i had the opportunity. They are very fun though, and you can do really incredible things with practice
@alter_kaker Nice, I need a friend who has one. So I can give it a try! : }
Murray Nuttall@AceArsenault you need frosted keycaps with LEDs. That way you can change the configuration/scale.
@irunatbullets I'm not gonna' lie, that idea did cross my mind in the middle of building this.
But I also want to make wooden piano black keytops, and I'm conflicted. Because that's what I'd like most. ; }
@AceArsenault you should definitely do what makes you happy.
@irunatbullets Thanks Murray, Guess I'll be turning and carving some wooden ebony keys soon. ; ]
Joshua Kevins@AceArsenault
I have been posting my stuff of agriculture and I hoped it
Wasn't that helpful but I see you have found sense with my posts... am now grateful
I have been posting my stuff of agriculture and I hoped it
Wasn't that helpful but I see you have found sense with my posts... am now grateful
Michael Shotter@AceArsenault Very cool, as usual. 👍
@michaelshotter Thanks Michael! : }
Kayleigh Beard@AceArsenault Woa cool!
@kayleigh_beard_music Thank you Kayleigh.
It's been a lot of fun to build and play around on. : }