linux-miditouch introduction

linux-miditouch

With the linux miditouch application, you can use your graphic tablet as an instrument. It converts touch events (from the X11 server) into midi events.
It is a very simple application.

Configuration of the device

Warning : you have to correctly configure your tablet (as a floating device and in the "absolute" mode)
You need to follow the procedure to install the tablet (please read these instruction on the linuxwacom project web site). You will need the "xinput" and "xsetwacom" tools to configure the device as follow.
Commands :
First get the XID number of your device

xinput --list

Then set the floating mode for it. If for instance the xid is 21

xinput --float 21

And finally set your device in the "absolute" mode

xsetwacom --set 21 mode absolute

Compilation

The application was developed with the Qt-Creator development environment.
You need to install qmake and the required libraries.

Then :

qmake
make
sudo make install

Using it

• Text field : please enter here the name of your device as it appears with a "xinput --list" console command.

• Start, Stop, and Exit buttons : no comment

• The "Midi channel" text field : no comment

• The "lowest note" and "highest note" text fields : no comment

• The "portamento" check box : no comment

• The "staccato" check box : if this box is checked, an "All Notes Off" message is send to the Midi Output every times a "move" event is produced by the tablet. If this box is not checked, each note continues to sound until you produce a "proximity out" event when your finger quits the tablet.

NB : For a tablet with a resolution different of the resolution of the Bamboo Touch 2FG please edit the "touchwindow.cpp" source file before the compilation and change the X and Y resolution in the two corresponding #define lines.

// Tablet properties
// Can be change for another model
// Here defined for Wacom Bamboo Touch
#define MAXX 480
#define MAXY 320