Wavy gravy

[Mark Hammer]

I got some money for the recent Premier Guitar article so I figured money made from music should be spent on music and decided to buy some toys; the first new-in-packaging toys I'd bought in years.

I got a Source Audio Hot Hand 3 on the weekend, and it's a bit of a wild ride.  The HH3 consists of a ring unit with gyroscopic sensing in 3 dimensions, that communicates with a control console via bluetooth.  It provides two kinds of control: a single 0-10k resistance that varies with hand/ring orientation (usable with Line 6 pedals and others using a similar variable resistance for expression control) and a pair of 0-3V3 control voltages for use with Source Audio pedals. The L6 output is via a 1/4" mono jack/cable, and the SA output is via a 4-conductor 1/8" phone jack/plug.  I'm planning to whip up a breakout box to be able to send the CV outputs to different destinations.

The ring senses in dimensions but only transmits 2 of them.  During setup, the user selects which two axes you plan to deploy.  Standard is the X axis, which one tends to see in the demo videos.  Not sure how one might use all 3 dimensions, but it's nice to have the choice, since not all playershold their picking hand the same way or approach the instrument from the same angle.

The console provides controls to adjust both the sensitivity and responsiveness to movement.  In my brief experience so far, I'd have to say these are NOT set and forget, unless one uses the unit for only one effect.  I started working my way through some of the programs in my M5 multi-FX unit, and found that the translation from hand movement to parameter changes depends on the particular effect.  Some things you want only subtle sluggish changes introduced by hand movements, and others you want to be more pronounced and/or instantaneous.

For example, I had previously tried out a photocell tacked to the top of the guitar between bridge and volume control, for controlling pitch change using the M5's Whammy-type program.  I covered and uncovered the LDR with my pinky to make the pitch bend, and found it pleasingly expressive (if a little cumbersome, having to keep the LDR and its wires in place).  I tried the HH3 with the same pitch-shifting program, and it sounded like someone with Parkinsonism trying to play theremin - not musical at all.  The LDR had a certain lag that helped things along, where the HH3 was set up too sensitive and twitchy.   The pedal has to be set up right to produce useful musical changes when the ring tells it to, and the ring/console has to be set up so as to not shout commands, but rather sweet-talk the pedal.

These are very interesting units, and can bring guitar players into the world of gestural control.  Like I say, bit of a steep learning curve to become nimble and expressive with them, but I suspect one's patience is eventually rewarded.

I picked up a Roland Torcido at the same time, but have to dig up my bag of 1/8" patch cords and 1/4" to 1/8" adaptor cables to be able to use it with an amp and guitar.  These are mostly aimed at synth players, but are quite amenable to guitar use, with voltage controlled everything.  The ultra-cool part is the free customizer app that Roland provides for download.  This offers a choice of 31 virtual modules that you can use, 6 at a time, for controlling the Torcido internally, in combination with external CVs.  My long-term intent is to use the HH3 control voltages in tandem with those provided by the vrtual modules.  Very slick.

Once I retire in the fall - and finish building the damn Hyperflange (also voltage controllable) - I'll finally get down to mastering my synth guitar, and between that, the HH3, Torcido, and M5, I'll be able to make some interesting noises. 

[Beo]

Really cool! They have a pretty good video here:

http://www.sourceaudio.net/products/hothand/hothand3.php

[garcho]

Those Roland eurorack toys look fun!

[Mark Hammer]

Those Roland eurorack toys look fun!

If you have an Android or iOS device, download the AiRA Modular Customizer app to see what's possible.  One can use it in a virtual sense without having the physical module.  The app provides some sample patches.

I really have to locate my bag of 1/8" patch cords!

[StephenGiles]

I know the feeling Mark, I need 2 very thin black stereo cables fixed to an angled 3.5mm jack that I know are somewhere, so I can fix electret mic capsules for a gig tonight. It's a one off tour so will be using DAT and minidisc for back up recordings to make sure, but we are in the front row so I need stealth!!