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That niche is usually filled with something like a Stream Deck alongside your keyboard, though personally, I'd recommend MIDI controllers. You get a lot of ext

That niche is usually filled with something like a Stream Deck alongside your keyboard, though personally, I'd recommend MIDI controllers. You get a lot of extra buttons very cheaply, using an open, easily-readable protocol. Get a label maker to put some labels on top of the buttons, and you're good to go! In my experience it's a much easier option when compared to trying to say to your computer "key A has two functions, depending on which keyboard I press it on".

swah 2y ago
Do you mean the thing that looks like a tiny piano or the thing that looks more squarish with 8x8 buttons that light up? Some project in this space https://github.com/michd/mmpd https://github.com/michd/mmpd
- input_sh 2y ago
  Both work, they're all just sending digital versions of notes! You can find one for every perceivable amount of buttons you might need. My hobby is electronic music, so I tilt towards grids over tiny pianos (though I own both). The smallest one I own is AKAI LPD8, which gives me 8 buttons, 8 knobs, and a couple of modifier keys for less than half the price of a Stream Deck. It's not that Stream Deck is particularly expensive ($150), but I just can't justify it to myself when I'm aware of all the MIDI controller marvels you could get for like $100.
  - digging 2y ago
    Ha, I thought you were misspelling Steam Deck at first. Funny because I first got into electronic music by installing VCV Rack 2 on my Steam Deck.
jasongrout 2y ago
What do you use to map midi commands to keystrokes?
- input_sh 2y ago
  I don't map them to keystrokes at all, I have a (too specific to my needs to be open sourced) Python script that runs in the background, detects me pressing a MIDI note, and then does stuff. Think: a button for most frequent folders I need to open using VS Code, or lowering the volume (separate knobs for Firefox and Spotify), or a knob for dimming the lights in my living room / home office, things of that nature. I built it using Mido (https://github.com/mido/mido https://github.com/mido/mido), though there's so many other options for whichever language you prefer.

swah 2y ago

Do you mean the thing that looks like a tiny piano or the thing that looks more squarish with 8x8 buttons that light up? Some project in this space https://github.com/michd/mmpd https://github.com/michd/mmpd

input_sh 2y ago
Both work, they're all just sending digital versions of notes! You can find one for every perceivable amount of buttons you might need. My hobby is electronic music, so I tilt towards grids over tiny pianos (though I own both). The smallest one I own is AKAI LPD8, which gives me 8 buttons, 8 knobs, and a couple of modifier keys for less than half the price of a Stream Deck. It's not that Stream Deck is particularly expensive ($150), but I just can't justify it to myself when I'm aware of all the MIDI controller marvels you could get for like $100.
- digging 2y ago
  Ha, I thought you were misspelling Steam Deck at first. Funny because I first got into electronic music by installing VCV Rack 2 on my Steam Deck.

jasongrout 2y ago

What do you use to map midi commands to keystrokes?

input_sh 2y ago
I don't map them to keystrokes at all, I have a (too specific to my needs to be open sourced) Python script that runs in the background, detects me pressing a MIDI note, and then does stuff. Think: a button for most frequent folders I need to open using VS Code, or lowering the volume (separate knobs for Firefox and Spotify), or a knob for dimming the lights in my living room / home office, things of that nature. I built it using Mido (https://github.com/mido/mido https://github.com/mido/mido), though there's so many other options for whichever language you prefer.