This Hurdy Gurdy Works As A MIDI Controller

In this video from musician Barnaby Walters, we get a demonstration of a Hurdy Gurdy/MIDI controller hybrid created by Walters himself.

0:22 Technique: Pitch-shifting Polyphony

• Gurdy MIDI and Audio → Apogee ONE → Macbook running a puredata patch

  Monophonic acoustic gurdy signal is pitch-shifted down in real time to play chords and harmonies. Chords and intervals on the keyboard can also be used to pitch-shift the trompette signal (0:55) or the drones. Inspired by an idea from Sébastien Tron.

1:18 Technique: Expressive MIDI Controller

• Hurdy Gurdy MIDI → DIY Hybrid Poly Synth based off Mutable Instruments Ambika
  The keyboard and wheel sensors send MIDI note, expression and polyphonic aftertouch messages to a polyphonic synthesizer. In this case a split keyboard effect is used to play two sounds.

1:36 Technique: Layered Acoustic and Electronic Sound

• Hurdy Gurdy Acoustic audio, Gurdy MIDI → DIY Hybrid Poly Synth based off Mutable Instruments Ambika

1:36

• The acoustic string plays a melody, the bottom half of the keyboard controls a synthesizer with a long release for subtle held chords

2:08

• Using trompette technique can send MIDI messages, used here to play synthesized percussion on an Ambika voice assigned to MIDI channel 10, whilst the keyboard plays chords.

2:30

• Acoustic trompette and melody string sound layered over subtle polyphonic synthesized chords

You can visit Barnaby Walter’s website to learn more about the MIDI Hurdy Gurdy and its past and future developments.

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