Turn Game Pads into MIDI Devices on OS X

(Click for a close-up)

STEIM has released junXion v1.0, a software application for audio/music performers, art installation makers, and theatre makers.

junXion v1.0 is a Mac OSX data routing application that allows the connection of any USB game controller and defines the translation of each key or joystick action into a specific MIDI event. The resulting MIDI data is then available to any audio/music software that runs on that Mac or can be sent to external MIDI interfaces.

junXion v1.0 features:

• Scaling and polarity selection of the incoming data
• Straight mapping from the incoming data into one of the available MIDI events
• Mapping of the data of one input to the output of another input (i.e. trigger note with a key and control the pitch with one of the joystick axis)
• Remapping of the computer keyboard and mouse to MIDI data
• MIDI output port selection (i.e. select the internal MIDI bus, the internal QuickTime GM synth or external MIDI port)
• The possibility to simultaneously connect up to 8 USB input devices (joysticks, game pads etc) and route them to separate or common MIDI channels/ports (i.e. one can for instance 'play' Ableton Live with two joysticks and the computer keyboard)
• External MIDI input data can be merged with junXion's MIDI data
• Save/recall user defined configurations

In the coming months STEIM will add more functions to junXion:

• Editable table based response curves for the translation of gestures into MIDI controller data
• The development of an extended set of data conditioners and conditional data routing (i.e. passing a threshold by moving a joystick will first trigger a note and than send its further movement data as MIDI controller data)
• The addition of other input methods (i.e. audio as control input, virtual control surfaces on screen with external control)
• Modules for timed MIDI data streams triggered and 'steered' by external input devices

The Amsterdam based STEIM foundation and its researchers have been inventing physical input devices and touch based hard-and software instruments for live electronic music performance since the early 70'es. STEIM's director Michel Waisvisz is one of the driving forces behind performances with free movement hand worn sensor/keyboards and has, together with programmer Frank Bald , designed several hard core performance systems.

A demo version of junXion v1.0 can be downloaded from the STEIM website. junXion runs on any Mac with OS10.2 or higher and costs $29.