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Today, the main options people have for expressing themselves powerfully is through machines.
— Mark Pauline of Survival Research Laboratories (1987)
The Miditron TM is a board that allows artists and inventors to experiment with electronics and programming and create new forms of time-based robotic and interactive works. Invented by engineer/artist Eric Singer the Miditron allows you to use a MAC or a PC as a primary control platform and programming platform and to use the Miditron board as a coprocessor, handling sensor inputs and outputs and interfacing these to a variety of software and user environments. (THE MIDITRON IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SALE AND HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I LEAVE THIS INFORMATION HERE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LEGACY PROJECTS WITH THE MIDITRON)
Data streams from sensors and live video can come through software tools like Max/MSP/Jitter interfacing to the Miditron and this makes a substantial tool for artistic expression. You can also Max/MSP/Jitter to programs like Ableton Live (a sound manipulation and sequencing tool) and therefore the possibilities seem quite endless
MidiTron allows twenty lines of input and output (i/o) via terminals at the end of screw down inserts. You can imagine 20 intelligent gates. These gates can both open and close, though they can also have software that only allows certain things to pass.
This product uses SysEx commands, which are sent to the MIDI In Port. Sysex commands are "System Exclusive" (SysEx) messages created for MIDI. MidiTronTM can be configured using the supplied Max patch (running within Max or MaxPlay, or as a standalone application) or from any device that can generate SysEx commands in MidiTronTM’s format.
Power for the Miditron board
MidiTron can be powered from a 9v battery, via the supplied 9v battery clip or a 9v power supply coming directly into the board.
If you purchase a 9 volt power supply, (not supplied with Miditron) be sure the center of the plug-in terminal is positive and that your power supply, 9v adapter is (300 mA or greater) with a 2.1 mm inside diameter and 5.5 mm outside diameter.
You can purchase part number 100853 from Jameco for a 500 ma power supply that will plug directly into your Miditron Board. Connecting Miditron to the computer
For the purposes of this book, we will be using a MIDI in and MIDI out cord with a USB to attach to your Macintosh or PC. You can purchase this from Amazon.com by entering E-MU XMIDI 1x1 TAB in their search field. |
