Human Computer Interface Technology



Input Controllers: Serial and MIDI
October 20, 2008


*Copyright 1996-2008,
Perry R. Cook,
Princeton University












I. MIDI, Technical Details









II. MIDI Rocks! MIDI Sucks...









III. Other Serial Protocols





IV. MIDI continued, Extensions







V. MIDI continued, Standard Sensors


Standard Controllers on MIDI Keyboards:

  • Wheels, Sliders, Aftertouch, Switches, Pedals
  • Ribbons, Joysticks, Breath Input, Other?









VI. Wierd MIDI and Other Controllers:


Either Based on Standard Instrument Paradigms:






VIb. Other Controllers continued:

Non-Standard Instrument Paradigms:



VIb. Even More, and More, Controllers!!:











VII. Specific Design Case: A Wind Controller


A Clarinet must sense:






Non-Web References:




* Permission to make digital or hard copies of part or all
of this work for personal or classroom use is granted with
or without fee provided that copies are not made or dis-
tributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies
bear this notice and full citation on the first page. To copy
otherwise,to republish, to post on services, or to redistribute
to lists, requires specific permission and/or a fee.

Back to Princeton General Information Section