Keyboard matrix circuit: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:11, 6 August 2012

Revision as of 22:23, 1 September 2012

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Most electronic [[musical keyboard|keyboard]]s used in [[synthesizer]]s, [[electronic organ]]s, and [[digital piano]]s use a '''keyboard matrix circuit''' toin connectwhich theeight switchesrows forand eacheight keycolumns of wires cross. In this matrix circuitway, the16 rowswires andcan columnsprovide are(8x8) made64 upcrossings — sufficient for a full five octaves of wiringrange (61 notes). DepressingBy ascanning keythese connects64 crossings, a circuitkeyboard incontroller thecan matrix,determine which causeskey thewas tonepressed<ref>[http://www.dribin.org/dave/keyboard/one_html/ generationDave mechanismDribin: to"Keyboard beMatrix Help"], (June 24, triggered2000)</ref>.

The problem with this system, is that it provides only a crude binary on/off signal for each key. Better electronic keyboards employ two sets of switches for each key that are slightly offset. By determining the timing between the activation of the first and second switches, the velocity of a key press can be determined — greatly improving the performance dynamic of a keyboard.

==Description==