This would be a simple utility device with a single audio input and a threshold (or sensitivity) knob. Whenever the input audio level would go above the set threshold, the device would output a note on its note output. Additional controls on the device could set the properties of the generated note: pitch, velocity and gate time. This device would work best with percussive, short-burst audio instead of sustained sounds. It would be useful when creating sounds meant to be layered with each other, to avoid having to duplicate note regions or when one of the sounds (the reference) is programmed via internal patterns.
Comments (2)
Wait hold on, so whenever the audio gets too loud, it makes a note? Can you give an example of what other DAW does this?
Not "too loud". Just above a set threshold. Audio to MIDI conversion is a standard feature of many DAWs including Pro-Tools, Logic, Ableton or even dedicated hardware devices. This would be a very simple implementation in the AT style of devices on a desktop.