Well, I've designed a "dream Stylophone", but this one is for bass players! The rectangular pads represent fret positions (the E string is nearest the player) and the semicircles are the pitch of the open strings. A simple bass organ sound would do, perhaps with a quarter second of release time...

I have just recieved one of these futuremusic.com/blog/2009/11/25/think-ge...000-led-synthesizer/

worth a look for anyone who needs something to noodle on.

Would be quite nice run through some efx pedals etc.

Some sort of hybrid device of a Bliptronic with sampling sequencing and scratching ability would be my ideal machine.

I'm not asking for a reissue of the 350s (though that would be awesome) all I want to see is more keys! The S1 is terribly limited and a larger keyboard would be the greatest thing imaginable. To the people who really want to record with the stylophone it would be a godsend. Also the quarter inch mono jack is a great idea as well.

TheSteven wrote:
1)A USB jack for MIDI output.
This would allow musicians to use the Stylophone as a control surface (controller for other synths, effects, etc.) for their DAWs or for a live setup.
The USB could also be used to supply power to the Stylophone.

The problem with USB-MIDI is that it is 100% incompatible with stand-alone MIDI devices. What I mean is that a USB-MIDI instrument cannot be used in a MIDI setup without a computer acting as a host, and is therefore almost useless in a live MIDI setup. A conventional MIDI out would be more useful to all but the studio-bound. Otherwise your ideas are great!

1)A USB jack for MIDI output.
This would allow musicians to use the Stylophone as a control surface (controller for other synths, effects, etc.) for their DAWs or for a live setup.
The USB could also be used to supply power to the Stylophone.
2)A 2 octave range.
3)Buttons to transpose the range in octave increments +/- 2 octaves.
4)Speaker mute switch for when the unit is connected via USB.
Possibly the on/off switch could work as the speaker on/off if the unit was connect via USB.

This would take the Stylophone into similar territory as the Korg NanoKey or the AKAI LPK25 USB MIDI Controller.

...Steven

butterfingersbeck wrote:
The problem with USB-MIDI is that it is 100% incompatible with stand-alone MIDI devices. What I mean is that a USB-MIDI instrument cannot be used in a MIDI setup without a computer acting as a host, and is therefore almost useless in a live MIDI setup. A conventional MIDI out would be more useful to all but the studio-bound. Otherwise your ideas are great!

I had originally thought about a MIDI out but changed my mind because:

• A USB jack is much smaller that a MIDI jack. A mini-USB jack would only take up small amount of space


• The USB connection could power the unit


• There are a lot musicians using laptops or other computers live, in the studio and at home.


• Neither the Korg NanoKey or the AKAI LPK25 USB MIDI Controller have a MIDI jack, only USB. Probably for the reasons mentioned above.

I would love it if the Stylophone had either one (a MIDI out or USB interface) but I think that the USB interface would get more mileage.

...Steven