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Pico: Octave keys on the back, thumb operated ?

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written by: natcl

Thanks for de detailed answer.
Using fingerings also seems quite logical to me.

If you eventually allow the use of the 2 last keys, the 2 middle keys could eventually be used a modifer keys, that could be nice. You would have 1 group of 8 keys per hand and the 2 mod keys in the middle (which seems easier to reach than the octave buttons)

written by: natcl

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:47:05 +0100 BST

Has it been considered for a future version of the pico to move the octave keys to the back of the instrument where the thumbs could operate them ? This would make octave chaching much easier...


written by: john

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:26:44 +0100 BST

We considered this in the early layouts of the Pico, but the instrument is also designed to be played on a stand as an addition to a piano style keyboard, so we wanted all the controls on the front. There are a number of players using Pico's in just this fashion at the moment so it seems we were probably right about this.

You are not the first person to ask for controls on the back though, we may address this in a future version although it is difficult to think of how to make this work well with the current design - there are many issues connected with the thumb hooks and the way the instrument seals against dust and liquid ingress to overcome. It is more likely to happen in a completely new type of Eigenharp in a similar form factor, should we make one at some point in the future.

What s more likely in the near future is the creation of a fingering agent to allow monophonic playing with fingerings producing single notes. This would extend the range of playing without needing the octave keys at all. This is a feature already in the queue although it does not currently have a scheduled start date.

John


written by: natcl

Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:52:45 +0100 BST

Thanks for de detailed answer.
Using fingerings also seems quite logical to me.

If you eventually allow the use of the 2 last keys, the 2 middle keys could eventually be used a modifer keys, that could be nice. You would have 1 group of 8 keys per hand and the 2 mod keys in the middle (which seems easier to reach than the octave buttons)



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