KAOSS what? On the forums, readers have been watching next-gen mobile gaming systems converted into musical controllers. Hang on to your seats, because we’re going to give three different consoles some love:
Wireless PSP Control: New media artist Rob King is working on converting his Sony PSP into a brilliant, wireless controller for Ableton Live. That’s not Live running on PSP below (the PSP would be a wee bit underpowered), but it is a way of creating a wireless Live controller. Sure, for practicality, I’d rather control Live with a foot controller so my hands are free, but for coolness, this can’t be beat. Follow the results on his blog, e-mu; he’s got a preview of the PlayLive interface, and a free downloadable PSP tool that converts the PSP into a wireless MIDI controller and (on Windows) wireless mouse.
Fans of PSP hacking should also check out MAKE:Blog’s story on Wi-Fi joystick and mouse operation using the PSP, which also links to some of MAKE’s excellent past coverage of PSP homebrew and hacking.
Linux GP32 Tracker: If you’re tired of having Sony and Nintendo treat you like a criminal for running homebrew software and would rather use an open-source, Linux-based platform instead, the GP2x finally has its own tracker. LittleGPTracker is sample-based, inspired by the ubergeeky and wonderful lsdj for GameBoy, and can even drive other MIDI devices or computers via a custom interface. (It also runs on GP32, though that’s a GP2x shown here.)
DS Does MIDI: Of course, the ideal with a game console is to take advantage of unique controllers. “therain” has hacked his Nintendo DS with custom software and hardware to allow the use of its touchscreen as an X/Y touch controller, like a little tiny KAOSS Pad – cum – stylus. The controller is already working, and he’s started on step 2: building a homebrew DS sequencer with multiple tracks and playback control via the DS buttons. If anyone gets this up and working, do let us know. All that’s missing is wireless capability, a la the PSP solution above — perhaps that can come later on.
Now we just need a name for the next-gen community, as opposed to the oldskool chiptune players who do vintage Game Boy only. (And I imagine a lot of people will want to do both.) Gametune?
When Jaymis emailed me a link to the image I let my imagination fool me into seeing a Live inspired loop playing on the PSP, which would be rather lovely if possible to implement within the constraints of processor. A controller however is still lovely. In all honesty, just seeing the Live GUI on PSP made my morning!
[…] Peter writes “Homebrewers are going beyond standalone musical applications on game consoles to hacking next-gen mobile systems into full-featured MIDI/music controllers, wireless or wired. We’re watching the development of a new wireless Sony PSP control solution for MIDI, mousing, and even playing Ableton Live; a tracker and MIDI interface for the GP32; and a hacked MIDI interface and software sequencer and X/Y touchpad controller for the DS…” – Link. […]
[…] What could be more awesome then an Ableton themed loop player for the PSP? Nothing I can think of (at least for the sake of this blog post). Unfortunately thats not exactly what we are seeing here, as one can read in CDM’s PSP Live article. A wireless Ableton controller then. Okay, still rather lovely. I dont think I could take myself seriously standing in front of the Segue or D-KO live rigs at a gig toting a PSP, though it would allow for more self indulgent rock moves then tapping furiously at my MPC allows. Seeing the Live gui on a PSP screen is a lovely thing though, and reminds me of the fun I had with LSDj on the Gameboy, though I can do without frustrating tracker programs thank you very much. Linear sequence arrangements or Ableton’s Session view or GGF! […]
Hey, props for mentionning LGPT, really appreciated. For the sake of correctness, the GP32 is not the one running under linux, it's the GP2x. LittleGPTracker runs on both tho.
The DS has also a <a>
fuck my kb 🙂
I was saying the DS has also it's own tracker: NitroTracker
Peter, cool to see a picture I took in your article! There's sure to be more gear-lusty shots around my flickr, for all to peep
http://www.flickr.com/photos/k9d/
and pictures of piggy played live, out in the wild 😉
Absolutely amazing. I was just thinking of buying a PSP too. I use ableton quite frequently. I can see the major use for the PSP as a controller. Wow, just amazing. Great idea!
[…] Control Live with your PSP Xbox 360 Homebrew? Microsoft Releases XNA Game Studio Express […]
The GP2X has a few other interesting tricks up its sleeve too, such as full support for USB peripherals: meaning it can have a sound-card (or two, or four) plugged into it, among other things:
http://flickr.com/photos/tschuktschuk/203837189/
This is my GP2X system running gipiMIDI, a custom linux-based firmware which includes fully integrated MidiShare .. bringing the GP2X into 'rock solid platform' territory for new music application developers and porters of existing software alike ..
[…] Here’s where things get really interesting, though: the GP2X can even support USB devices, opening up lots of other possibilities. It’s posing below with Griffin PowerMate knobs. (Thanks to Jay Vaughan for the tip, in CDM comments.) Could USB keyboards be far behind? […]
[…] We saw wireless MIDI and mouse control via the Sony PSP, the creation of media artist and hacker Rob King. Now Rob writes to say he’s finished the first release of his software for controlling Ableton Live directly from PSP, and it’s available as a free download. […]
[…] Mobile Music + Gaming: Wireless PSP MIDI with Ableton, GP32 Tracker, MIDI on Nintendo DS […]
[…] Palm lovers who don’t want to be left out, an anonymous commenter on Music thing points to a Bluetooth-based MIDI controller for Palm from the good people of Bhajis. And don’t forget the wireless Sony PSP controller for Ableton, or cell phone control of music software with Sailing Clicker (including Palm, I might add). […]