Common-sense MIDI controller layout

Lab
#1

I admit to being old-school, starting my gigging career towing a trailer to accommodate a Hammond M3 and Leslie 122. I am also right-handed. I also play leads with my right hand and chords/comping with my left.

I don’t think I’m alone in my experience.

There’s a reason why Hammond put its drawbars and many of its switches on the left side: so one can solo while changing sounds. That’s why the mod wheel and the pitch-blend wheel have always lived on the left.

I love my KeyLab MkII, but it and many other MIDI controllers are built with the knobs and sliders on the right side, requiring the player to reach across his/her right hand in order to modify while playing. It is especially difficult in instances where you can’t assign your expression pedal for volume, and therefore have to reach the most-far-right knob in a panic when you change presets and the volume changes dramatically.

I have requested Arturia re-design their future controllers to essentially reverse the left and right controls (of course, keeping the mod wheel and pitch-bend wheel on the left). Most of the current left-side controls are used during set-up more than during play, and the pads are large enough to be easily reached with the left hand, especially if they are placed just to the right of the center knob.

I think such a design would be much more user-friendly, and I would like to think I’m not the only one. If you agree, I recommend your saying so in whatever way you want. The more chatter, the more likely the powers-that-be at Arturia will consider the idea.

#2

HI @dockahn and thanks for your post.

‘Common sense’ is rather subjective, or rather there are more than one reference points for it where keyboards/midi controllers are concerned.
In general, unless it’s specifically designed for drawbar organ players, their layout will be based on whatever market research/customer feedback etc a customer has, and of course, their own company objectives.
What might be ‘common sense’ for a drawbar player could be highly irritating for someone using a Mini Moog for bass, for example.
As i mention in the first para, there are dedicated drawbar synths out there such as the Roland VK range and there are also midi drawbars which can be added to an existing setup to provide or expand on that functionality, such as The Crumar d9x, although i’m not sure that’s still in production, or something like a Novation Launch Control could be mapped to do it fairly easily.

HTH!

#3

Hi all,

As a right handed i want my bender and mod wheel etc. left to the keys. Not left above the keys.
I think i have come to the conclusion that having the knobs, faders and buttons at the center of the keys will probably be the best compromise, unless a controller is made both in a left, right and center version.
Knobs, faders and buttons are used in different ways and situations.

#4

Thank you for your considered remarks.

To clarify, I’m not considering organ drawbars exclusively. Those sliders and knobs can also be mapped to control filter cutoffs, modifications to envelopes or LFOs, etc. All of those functions, at least to me, would be easier to access while I’m playing a solo with my right hand if they were placed closer to my left, especially without having to cross over one hand to perform the function.

I imagine that there are alternatives, such as the add-ons you mention. Two problems with those: one is that a monetary investment would be involved, which would not be necessary if the controller was designed differently. The other is that I use two keyboards on a stand and I stand while I’m playing. Keyboard stands (that I have seen) do not have a flat surface attached off to the side which would accommodate an add-on device.

I am but one person, and it could be that my opinion is unique, and that most other keyboard players do not agree. But it is also possible that it is shared by others, and I was wondering how large that demand might or might not be. I take it that your opinion is against the change, and I accept that.

#5

Hi again @dockahn, and thanks for the reply.
Not at all, there’s nothing wrong with anyone asking for pieces of equipment or revisions to designs that they feel might be of benefit to themselves or others.

HTH!

#6

I actually think this is a great topic. I wish to know more about how users like a controller to be - and why. Arturia may also like the inputs.

If we talk about right vs left i absolutely prefer faders used as drawbars to the left. But i feel like i sometimes wish things to be left and sometimes to the right, and sometimes in the middle. I think that apply to many. And also i think people are divided. That’s why i think the middle is the best compromise, unless a controller have controls all over the place. Different versions can be a good idea, but perhaps it’s more expensive to manufactor.

For example: If i play with right hand, i perhaps like the controls left most, the middle is fine but i don’t like crossing arms to reach a control. If i play with left hand i like the controls right - and again the middle position is fine but not to cross arms. If i program or mix i like the controls in the middle.

I like many inputs for controls. They don’t have the right vs left issue.
I don’t really need pads unless they are much better than using the keys.