Maago Intros 4×4 DJ Controller & 4×4 Virtual Controller For iOS

Maago has introduced a new hardware DJ controller, the 4×4, along with a virtual version of it for iOS, the 4×4 Virtual.

The Maago 4×4, shown above, is designed to give you ‘total control over Traktor’. Here’s what they have to say about it:

With more than 20 knobs and 40 buttons, this new hardware is built in a sturdy aluminum case and will be the perfect controller for all TRAKTOR PRO™ versions and any DJ software that supports the MIDI protocol. Simply connect the Maago 4×4 unit to a computer running TRAKTOR™ (or other DJ software) and gain instant control of your 4 decks, 4 effect parameters, loop controls, etc, all at same time and with no need to use the shift button to reach all these functions. High quality rotary knobs with a heavy-duty feel and 40 backlit buttons provide real visual and tactile feedback of your workflow, letting you perform on TRAKTOR™ without having to touch your computer.

Hardware Details

  • Buttons and knobs:
  • 40 high quality back lit buttons
  • 71 high quality buttons
  • 42 high quality small buttons
  • 11 high quality rotary enconders
  • 8 high quality knobs
  • 4 leds
  • Connections:
    • 2 USB ports / 1 Midi out + 1 Midi in
  • Dimensions:
    • 120 mm (4.7? ) x 52 mm (2?) x 294mm (11.5?)

    Pricing and availability are to be announced. See the Maago site for details.

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    gTar iPhone Guitar Has Three Levels Of Difficulty + USB/MIDI

    Incident Technologies has introduced the gTar, a hybrid iPhone dock + music controller guitar that’s described as ‘the first guitar that anybody can play’.

    The gTar uses digital sensors to sense your finger position and then the iPhone is used for sound generation.

    The guitar offers three levels of difficulty/playability:

    • If you’ve never played the guitar before, start with Easy, where you only need to play the open strings. This gives you the chance to start playing your favorite songs right away while getting a hands on feel for the strings. SmartPlay is in effect here, so if you hit the wrong string, you won’t hear anything.
    • When you’ve graduated from Easy, you can move up to Medium and start playing the frets and strings at the same time. Smart Play is still in effect, so you can continue to play without the fear of messing up.
    • When you’ve mastered a song and want to take it to the next level, try playing in Hard. Here, the gTar will continue to display the correct notes, but allows you to play whatever you want. SmartPlay stops working here, so every note you play will ring out.

    Several aspects of the gTar may make it interesting for electronic musicians:

    • The gTar is USB-MIDI compliant. Incident says that they’ll “be releasing some tutorials and hacks soon!”, if you’re interested in hacking the gTar to create/perform music.
    • They also plan to offer an SDK in the future, for people that are interested in building apps for the gTar.

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    DJ Shakey & Her VoltAxe Controller For Ableton Live

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    Saturday Synth PornDubspot had controllerist Julie Covello, better known as DJ Shakey of NYC’s Warper Party, in for a set as part of the final week of their Ableton Live educational program.

    In this video, Covello explains her custom Ableton Live controller, the VoltAxe. The Voltaxe combines multiple controllers into one to create a dual-necked Franken-controller. It was built with a Novation Launchpad, two USB MIDI controlers from Korg NanoSeries 2, Kensington Expert Pro Turbo Trackball Mouse, acustom eyepiece, foam board and custom cabling power.

    via DubSpot

    MIDI Mandala For iOS

    Intelligent Gadgets has released MIDI Mandala – a wireless Midi controller for iPod/Touch, iPhone, and iPad.

    The user selects a musical scale that is mapped to the mandala. The lowest note is in the center, followed in increasing pitch from the top, alternating back and forth, down to the bottom.

    MIDI Mandala lets you play networked MIDI synths wirelessly using the same circular control concept.
    You can run multiple versions at the same on different MIDI channels and control different synth sounds simultaneously.

    After touch controls let you change the pitch and loudness of a sound, providing subtle nuances of expression. 16 presets allow you to save your own custom settings.

    Unfortunately, the developers don’t mention CoreMIDI or hardware MIDI support.

    MIDI Mandala is $.99 in the App Store.

     

    Akai Pro SynthStation49 Overview

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    This video, via AkaiProVideo, offers an introduction and overview of the Akai Pro SynthStation49.

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    MIDI Studio For iOS Now $3.99 For Limited Time (Or Free For Fast Synthtopia Readers!)

    Reader Nick Mayer sent word that MIDI Studio – a software MIDI controller for iOS – is discounted from $10.99 to $3.99 through tomorrow.

    Better yet – he sent along codes (below) that will let 15 Synthtopia readers get MIDI Studio for free.

    Midi Studio Features:

    • CoreMidi
    • WI-FI
    • USB
    • True Velocity Sensitive (with the force of impact)
    • Modulation
    • Drums
    • Faders
    • Knobs
    • Buttons
    • Touch pads
    • Two Keyboards
    • Different Keys Size
    • Custom Key Scale – (Like: Major, Minor, Klezmer, etc…)

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    Draw A Working Synthesizer With SketchSynth

    SketchSynth, by Billy Keyes, is a drawable OSC control panel which lets you create your own control panels, with just a marker and a piece of paper.

    Once drawn, the controller sends Open Sound Control (OSC) messages to anything that can receive them; in this case, a synthesizer running in Pure Data.

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    Livid Intros Instruments Builder V2

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    Livid Instruments has introduced Builder v2, the second generation of its MIDI Brain system.

    Livid Builder is a line of DIY parts that make it easy for you to design your own MIDI control surfaces and devices, using buttons, knobs, encoders, velocity pads, arcade buttons, accelerometers, faders, other sensors, and talkback LED’s.

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