Interdisciplinary Theory & Technology

A floor controller for real-time control of signal processors, synthesizers, musical instruments, MIDI processors, lighting, video, and special effects in performance, recording, and composition environments as well as other types of systems. The invention provides for combinations of various physical controller elements (including foot switches, rocking foot pedals, null/contact touch-pads, pressure sensor arrays, etc.), visual displays and internal control processing. Separate visual display of assigned name, status, and/or value may be provided for each physical controller. Rocking foot pedals may control multiple parameters simultaneously by inclusion of additional sensors. Each physical controller may be assigned specific control message functions, values, names, temporal event sequences, and invocation rules dictated by assignable state-machines. Assignments may be selected from organized structures via physical controller elements. Physical controllers and assignments may be organized in hierarchical or other relationships rich in geometric metaphors useful for human operation. The invention provides for MIDI and non-MIDI control signals.