C-Thru-Music

This Epic Dance Track synth jam is performed on the Axis 49 controller, which may be a little mind-blowing for anyone that’s not familiar with alternate key layouts. Read more…

In this series of videos, Elaine Walker explores microtonal music with the C-Thru Music AXIS controller. There are 12 videos in the series embedded above.

via miselaineeous:

C-Thru Music has lent me this keyboard, called the AXIS, for a few months, and I am rearranging the keys for the Bohlen-Pierce Scale, a macrotuning based on a 3/1 frequency ratio, divided by 13 equal steps.

See http://www.ziaspace.com/elaine/BP for research on the BP Scale.

This particular AXIS toured with the Lionel Richie Band on loan, went to me, and in two weeks I will be flying to Boston to give this AXIS to the Berklee College of Music, Synthesis Department – namely to Dr. Boulanger who will use it for his classes and for the new microtonal club.

I teach Electronic Music at Scottsdale Community College. Come join the fun!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

C-Thru Music has posted this teaser image of its AXiS-49 USB Music Interface. 

Here’s what they have to say about the alternative keyboard controller:

The AXiS-49 is a USB MIDI keyboard designed for home studio or tour bus use. We are at the prototyping stage. We hope to have the ‘49 available late in 2008 or early 2009.

The key mechanism is the same as the ‘64.

• AXiS-49 specification

Expected price is $500. If you’d like to be informed when it’s available please let us know.

At $500, this puts the keyboard within reach of a lot of musicians. I’d like to see them incorporate some ideas from other popular MIDI controllers, though, like a mod wheel and some function keys. 

What do you think of the AXiS-49 USB Music Interface? Will it be a game changer?

Jordan Rudess (Dreamtheater) demos the C-Thru Music AXiS-64 Pro MIDI Controller.

Designer Peter Davies threw out preconceptions of what a music keyboard should be and designed a layout based on the Harmonic Table. According to C-Thru Music, the arrangement of notes helps you understand note relationships and create as you never have before.

Remember the bizarre C-Thru Music AXiS-64 MIDI controller, introduced at the Winter NAMM Show?

At the Summer NAMM Show, they were showing the second Axis product, the Axis 49, a smaller and more budget-friendly version of their debut release. The Axis 49 has the same velocity-sensitive buttons as its bigger brother, but doesn’t have pitch-bend or modulation wheels.

It’s expected to be available in October for under $500.