Rava Yamana – A MIDI Controller Specifically For VST Synths

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai9tsrbNOFA

Developer Raphael Huber has launched an IndieGoGo project to fund production of the Rava Yamana, a DIY USB-MIDI controller that’s designed for controlling virtual analog software synths. 

Features:

  • DIY-Kit and limited number Ready-to-use devices
  • 60 Knobs
  • Analog Synth Style Front Panel helps you to build muscle memory
  • Less screen, more sound
  • USB, class compliant, no drivers for Windows, Linux and Mac
  • Bus powered
  • Configurable via Web Interface
  • Easy to build
  • Based on Open Deck by Shantea Controls (included)

Pricing and Availability

The Rava Yamana is available to project backers for €385.

14 thoughts on “Rava Yamana – A MIDI Controller Specifically For VST Synths

  1. @synthhead, might be worth noting that it’s €385 for a completed controller (shipped) and €230+shipping for the kit.

    Also, while the don’t call it out specifically, you can glimpse in the video that it does come with DIN connections. The software doesn’t seem to allow you to specify which port a knob goes out to.

    They mention both encoders and potentiometers but I couldn’t suss out which were used where by looking at it.

    1. I’m very fond of my BCR2000, but this has even more knobs and looks nicer. Will be interesting to hear details about the DIN connections that Will mentioned.

    2. Surely a Faderfox PC4 has 24 knobs and is around €199 (€8.29 per knob)
      This new product the Yamana has 60 knobs for €385 (€6.48 per knob)

      So the new product is the cheaper one. 😉

      1. Yep, indeed. I think we would all love to have one of those hardware synths with 60 knobs, which is polyphonic and can do the same as Omnisphere, Massive, Diva … and any other VST … and costs less than €300 in kit form!

        If that existed I think we’d all be snapping them up!

  2. He seemed to get very comfortable on camera after the first few minutes.

    It’s a nice product concept. At first, I was thinking that there wasn’t much unique that couldn’t be applied to another product (i.e., just a mental construct about how to organize controls so they stay consistent between VIs).

    But it looks like a lot of thought went into creating a universal layout that would apply to most synths, with knobs to spare. I also think that his choices of combining encoders and pots is also nice because you get a more tactile feel and more options– like 14-bit, etc.

    The price to features ratio is spot on, I think.

    1. the novation x-station did a lot of this, but without the more advanced stuff like 14-bit encoding. lot of people still swear by those. the “muscle memory” thing is legit. i dont think i can stomach another controller in the typical 8-8-8 format

      1. On the way in, the limit is 10-bits of resolution scaled to 14-bits. That’s analog. The encoders (for now) are 7-bit only, but the developer reports that increasing those to 14-bits could be possible in a software update.

  3. I’ve been wanting something like this for years. My understanding was that openDeck only supported 32 analog inputs. Does it contain two openDeck units?

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