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Is anyone using a midi controller on a demotool/workflow for tweaking parameters, or did it anytime in the past?
Stuff like using knobs to tweak some shader parameters to perfection, for instance.

like this?

Maybe. I would need to have a look on the other side...

Droid used a midi controller to control visuals for the mfx live performance at Kindergarden.

I really hesitated to reply to this .. but actually this is one of my "mid-term" goals...the use of controllers like mice, joysticks or even a keyboard to "record" event/ctl "envelopes" has a long history since the c=ommy days, for sure...
I'm still fantasizing about a "tracker" that can be used to do tracks as well as "composing" the visuals...
so yes, don't ask, good idea, carry on/go ahead do it ;)

I wrote a midi-controlled unified sound/visuals framework about five years ago. Although the general idea was quite promising, I stopped working on it when I finished university and got a full-time job.

The main problem with MIDI is the limited 7-bit resolution. There are some ways to circumvent this and get 14-bit resolution and/or arbitrary relative increments, but it just doesn't feel nice.

Jco did some synching work using a joystick in this one.

Weren't the unused Protracker effect commands 8xx and E8x used to control gfx effects in demos sometimes?

Yes, but that's not real time.

i have that behringer rotary, which is quite nice, but very big.

korg nano kontrol looks nice and is priced around 50 euro iirc

it's not that far away as you think, you can synchronize music using BASS: it can send callbacks for special parameters, notes or effects.

I heard one would avoid these korg nano stuff. rumors only yet.

pandr: isn't that too tiny for you? :D
That's probably the only useful controller of the nano series. The keyboard and the drum pads look too small to be usable.

That looks cute. I want one.

We do that.

i fantasize about getting one of these, and using it with OSC:


I've built in support for wiimote for a couple of things.. not sure how useful it would be for parameter tweaking though, that was more for interactivity. Mostly I just build a quick + dirty UI with some sliders and buttons.. from what i've heard though, that would be a lot more work in windows. It's pretty quick + easy in osx.

Fanboi.

*shrug* It's the kind of job that's worth doing if it takes a few minutes.. people say the windows gui stuff is a pain in the arse, i'm guessing that's why people are asking about midi controllers for tweaking effects..

Windows users can use nice libraries like Qt or Windows forms to build GUIs, this thread is about MIDI controllers though. ;)

it is, and the pic i posted was one. Guess it would have been wise to mention that, and point a link at it:
http://www.jazzmutant.com/lemur_overview.php

And for anyone not familiar with it, OSC is some kind of open source style replacement for midi.. it seems a lot better, but it's not widely supported so far. It seems to be gaining ground though at least.

Does anyone know where I can find some sample code or documentation on how to use MIDI IN in windows? MSDN stuff is too low level and abstract.

OK. It's not so hard if I try.

OK. It's not so hard if I try.

Ok. It's not so hard if you try.