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Something to replace a touch and hold, like the Reactable thingys...?
I've searched for any available solutions and even started search for what it takes to build something yourself, that is not for me though.
Anyway, the idea is to have one or preferably a bunch of replacements for finger touch when you use something like TC-11. Sadly not many devs develop for touch anymore but there are still a lot of apps where it can be useful to have.
Any inventors in the ranks? A Loopyproforum Kickstarter!?
Or, do you know of any device that can do this and doesn't cost a fortune (the Reactable things (name?) are not available)
Comments
Maybe you want to have a look at MusiKraken ? It can use a camera to track hand, body and face gestures - or even an animal. Not exactly touch, but maybe an affordable path to pursue.
I have it and it's a bit too complex for me, I have asked him for more examples but.... Anyway, no it's not what I'm after as it's still not freeing any limbs up or at least no to the degree I'm thinking of, you know place it on a chord and do something else (or...)
Thanks for the reply though.
I’m not sure what you want to achieve. Do you basically want to be able to make finger touches permanent like the toggle/latch function found on some MIDI keyboards, or do you want something that simulates the touches and that can be controlled itself by MIDI, CV or other gadgetry?
Well, the idea got rooted when using TC-11 and I used it on two iPads BUT even with one iPad there's moments where you almost have to twist your fingers around an impossible rotation.
Having the thingy controlled by CC, CV what have you is an excellent thought. Maybe the Pro version huh?😂
I really wish I had the resources (all from space and tools to money) but I don't. Many devs are turning away from all you can do with touch and that's a petty and also one of the cons for the idea.
I think it could be real fun to play with.
I'm certainly nobody, who could write it, or even knows, if it's possible, but I think on Android (maybe iOS too), there are programs that can record movements on the screen that affect other programs, like macros.
If you could have an app in slideovermode, with buttons. Once you hold a button you can record a gesture, when you let go the recording stops and starts playing back until you hit the button again.
Maybe existing macro apps(?) could even be used.
Mazetools Mutant and/or Mazetools Soniface might cover some of the ground you're interested in. Very unique and playable interfaces.
Of course they take some time to understand and learn though.
I know them both, SoniFace inside and out. Haven't bonded with the new interface yet, tried a few times.. I sort of want TC-11 to be a "table synth" like Reactable was/is or something like that. TC-11 have a supposedly powerful companion app called TC-Data but that one is way way way over my head.
Hmm, might be worth following up but just like you, I'm not sure I'm the right person to even begin to think about how that would work ..
@wim Apologies for tagging but, isn't this kind of stuff up your alley? I mean building it. I saw some guy (lost the article) used an Ardino (?) board and some stuff and it worked but, well not the prettiest of solutions.
Maybe something for that ChatGPT , I've never used it. Anyone good at asking, the right way?
Prompt:
Are there apps on iOS that can record touchmovements on the screen that can control other apps?
Answer:
As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, iOS does not allow apps to directly record touch movements on the screen or control other apps in the way you described due to strict security and privacy restrictions enforced by Apple. Apps on iOS are generally sandboxed, meaning they are isolated from each other for security reasons.
However, there might have been updates or changes to iOS since then that I am unaware of. I recommend checking the latest resources or the App Store to see if any new applications or features have been introduced that allow for this kind of functionality.
Re:
That would be very useful for some games for example, is there really nothing?
Answer:
As of my last update in September 2021, iOS does not allow apps to directly record touch movements on the screen and use them to control other apps, including games, due to security and privacy restrictions.
However, there might be alternative methods or workarounds that developers have implemented since then. You could explore options like using external hardware devices that simulate touch input or looking into jailbreaking your device, which allows for more customization but comes with significant security risks and voids your warranty.
It's important to note that jailbreaking your device can expose it to security vulnerabilities and may violate the terms of service with Apple. Always proceed with caution and be aware of the potential risks involved.
Re:
Are there options on android?
Answer:
On Android, there are apps and tools available that can record touch movements on the screen and automate interactions with other apps, including games. These tools are often used for tasks like automating repetitive actions, creating tutorials, or testing apps.
One popular tool for this purpose on Android is "Tasker," which is a powerful automation app that allows users to create automated tasks based on various triggers, including touch input. Tasker can simulate user interactions by recording touch movements and gestures.
Another tool is "AutoInput," a Tasker plugin specifically designed for simulating touch input and interacting with other apps on Android devices.
It's important to note that while these tools provide the functionality you are looking for on Android, they may require some technical knowledge to set up and use effectively. Additionally, just like with any third-party app, it's essential to be cautious about the permissions you grant and the security implications of using such tools.
Might be true, a pity.
You could try to experiment with a kind of “artificial finger” to assist you with permanent touch in TC-11 for example. You want something with a soft and conductive surface at the bottom. Solder a preferably thin and flexible wire to one side of a small copper coin or something similar to connect it to ground or your body. A touch screen sticker is put on the other side of the coin. This conductive pad will prevent the coin scratching the iPad screen. You could even try to directly wire two of these together and hope that the iPad will register this as two touches. This would mean now dangling wires from the screen area. It’s all a matter of experimentation.
This is just an idea - no warranty that it will work….
Ha ha, that's great. I have very little options to build anything really. Here's a similar discussion and someone is mentioning Arduino boards. I did find some very technical stuff the other day but damn if I can remember...
Appreciate the effort. I'm still curious about a more: build from blueprint approach, if you get my point, a hardware product.
Sure, it's a cool idea to have it as hardware. I just thought it might be easier and worth a try.
No problem tagging me. Ever. 😎
Sorry, but I can't really understand what you're looking for. Are you thinking, like a device with touchpad or something, that records and plays back the touches on it to control apps?
Thank you!
Ha ha, I got carried away with the illustration, maybe I should have started with that. Anyway this (image) is something like the original thought in my head. I now know that being this small is just a dream (probably) as they need all sorts of tricks inside, beside a battery.
Interesting! ... but ... I got nothin'. 😂
I started fooling around with a 3.7" resistive touch screen in a controller, but never finished the project. Maybe with a magnetic plate behind it, something like that could work, but that screen is too small for something like that.
I can think of a few approaches that might have possibilities but the engineering would be way beyond anything I could manage.
Another option is Beatsurfing 2.
It has a built in 4 track looper that basically records your finger movement and plays it back on a beatsynced loop. It has built in synths but can also be used as an auv3 or standalone midi controller for other synths. The touch tools in it are geared towards drums and rhythm mainly, but you can get creative with it.
I might be wrong, but it feels pretty underrated as far as innovative touch interfaces go.
So far, from all the things I've read here it seems like the closest fit.
I don't get why the Reactable ROTOR can't keep selling these objects or give us the blueprints god damn it. 😂
Here's an image from their website and as you can see they are quite high. Not sure if it's a 12.9 or 11 but they are in any case, pretty big.
Oh, I forgot to explain that they are supposed to work outside of ROTOR, at least that's my understanding - doesn't matter as they aren't available.
Yeah it's a pretty cool app but leans toward modern music and thus are not ideal for long sweeping drones, at least I don't think so. There are plenty of options to get notes playing and midi flowing but that's not really what I was ... dreaming about (TC-11 doesn't take midi from other apps or hardware) .
Appreciate the input but it's not going to be an app to app or just app solution (if there's ever going to be a solution😅).
Recording automation in midi mixer for AUM and using snapshots? Probably not as I'm not sure what you mean but it would work for automating long drones I think.
Might there be a solution in apples built in AssistiveTouch?
What about something like the Expressive E Touché controller? Not aware of whether it has a latch function, or if it can record gestures, but a midi looper or something like that could probably do it.
Gotcha, here's a pretty easy (IMO) and comparatively cheap DIY idea for you unless you're committed to poking potential developers:
Buy a pack of cheap short capacitive touch pens like this: https://a.co/d/917h7PV
Once you have them head to the hardware store and find a decent size metal washer with a similar inner hole diameter to the pen. Buy a bunch of them.
Stack up washers to your desired height, but more importantly to a good weight to make the pen tip activate.
Glue, or use electricians tape to hold the stack of washers together.
Glue the pen inside the washers hole with the tip sticking out enough.
Get some felt stickers (usually used on furniture legs to avoid them scratching the floor) and cut a hole for the pen tip and stick one on the bottom to avoid the washers scratching your screen.
Cut off the pen top.
credit me in your next album 😉
With a little testing for proper weight this should result in as many little capacitive touch devices as you want that can sit on your screen acting as extra fingers on any multitouch app. No batteries.
4Pockets Surface Builder? You can have all kinds of latchable dials and faders mapped to whatever you want.
Cool feature, I didn't know about. Although seems to involve some Menudiving, so things need to be properly prepared.
Here's the part of the manual, I found most interesting:
Create new gestures
You can record custom taps and swipes using the touchscreen and save them to the AssistiveTouch menu.
To create a new gesture:
To review your recorded gesture, press Play. If you want to re-record your gesture, tap Record. Press Save to name your gesture when you're ready.
If you're unable to perform a multi-finger gesture by using multiple fingers at the same time, you can record individual movements, and they group together. For example, draw two horizontal dots on the top half of the screen, and a half circle on the bottom of the screen, then press Stop. When you press play, all dots and lines play at once.
This is a good idea, but best not to cut off the pen top. Just did some experiments with various touch pens. I wanted to see what happens if I hold them with some isolated plastic tubes. The passive styluses worked in this scenario, but just using their tip without the metal tube connected did not work. This is because whatever touches the screen needs some kind of counterpoise for the touch to be registered. This can be the human body or just the metal body of a passive touch stylus that acts like a little antenna.
Oh interesting! I wonder if the stack of metal washers would achieve the same effect as the metal tube?
It could work. It all depends on the sensitivity of the touchscreen. There might even be differences between different iPad models.