Cool, right now I’m thinking of finding some cool hipster thing too, maybe find some kind of prism or crystal or something.
So far, I’ve used the Altura to control 6-10 different cheap MIDI keyboards (as well as a half dozen better synths too) and it has worked with every one, well and easily. It was my de facto MIDI tester for keyboards for a while because it was reliable. And it really brings a *whole lot* of life into playing cheap plastic keyboards too. I think kids would really enjoy it and benefit from the learning involved in just using an Altura. Octaves, harmonies, arpeggios, those all kind of get learned by listening, and they can greatly enhance knowledge in playing and listening.
Maybe you guys should look into making an accelerometer-based controller too. I think the hardware is available and cheap at this time, and the Arduino community may have something you can use. For myself, I purchased a device from Doepfer that is I think supposed to work with these accelerometer chips I bought on ebay, but I haven’t made it any further with that little project yet. I think an Arduino would possibly cost less than the Doepfer hardware too, by just a little(?)
And BTW, I think that with some devices the Altura appears to work very well with a foot pedal controller that sends program changes and stuff, as well, for anybody that can get their hands on one. These old school foot controllers can be found secondhand more easily than they can new, but mine was made to go with a wind controller and I really lucked out in finding it for $60 because its application with the Altura is very similar. The Altura actually goes through and the footpedal enhances the MIDI signal, adds some minor humanization, it’s all very nice. A Yamaha MFC2. Just in case anybody wants to take their Altura one step beyond.
I really feel like the Altura is possibly one of the very best instruments available for making atmospheric electronic music, and using it with a decent delay pedal and possibly some other effects can yield incredible little worlds of sound. One of my favorite toys to play with is a Korg NTS-1 and I usually have the Altura connected. I have modded my NTS-1 in a similar fashion to how I’m doing my Altura now, and very happy with the result. It has a mount for the Altura on it too.
[img]https://i.imgur.com/rvBqY6S.jpg[/img]
And I really like the new enclosure, I think that’s a good idea. It looks like it’s not arriving this weekend but I’ll be ready to start on it Tuesday.