How do keyboard keys work, electrically speaking?
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  1. #1
    Tech Guru MiL0's Avatar
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    Default How do keyboard keys work, electrically speaking?

    A thought just occurred to me - if a midi keyboard has velocity sensitivity (128/127 levels usually) then isn't this some kind of potentiometer? Or does each key have two momentary buttons and the midi cpu is measuring the time between each hit and so can therefore judge how hard you hit the keys?

    because it strikes me that in the search for a decent midi brain, we could be using cheap midi keyboards to get a whole load of potentiometer inputs. Is this feasible?

  2. #2
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    I've never taken one apart, but I am going to assume that there is some sort of normal switch to determine pushed or not, and there is likely a piezo element inside to measure the force of the push (google: knock sensor).

  3. #3
    Tech Mentor sidetrakd's Avatar
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    I opened my maudio 49 to see could I use it to build a midicontroller and it seems very possible.The keys have 2 sets of contacts so I'm assuming it measures the time between the two get pressed.The pcbs in the maudio are quite small so I would easily fit into a custom enclosure.I never went any further though because I model my midifighter instead!
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  4. #4
    Tech Guru VirtualLogic's Avatar
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    I striped my keyboard the other day. It looks easy enough to do, but I'm not sure if any code would would be nedesary cause I'm not to familiar with programming external devices.

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