Joystick and Guitar Hero MIDI Scripting

For an Independent Study this past summer semester, I set out to tackle some novel approaches to controlling music. I ended up writing patches for the graphical programming language MAX/MSP that allowed me to receive signals from game controllers and convert them to MIDI signals, which were then received in my favorite music software: Ableton Live. After composing a track with digital instruments and samples, the setup allowed me to control any music parameters I wanted by pressing buttons, moving joysticks and whammy bars–even tilting a Guitar Hero controller (with an accelerometer inside).