DJTechTools has just announced a new MIDI controller inspired by classic video game systems, MidiFighter.

MidiFighter is an ready-to-assemble MIDI controller that features 16 game-style buttons and 16 programmable LEDs. It can be customized and expanded, too.

MidiFighter MIDI Controller Details:

• Release Date: November 30th
• Price: TBA
• Plug and Play compatible device compliant midi controller
• USB powered
• Must be assembled (no expertise required)
• 16 programable buttons
• 16 programable LEDS
• Expandable to 20 programmable buttons and 4 analogue controls
• Limited Edition 200 piece run in this configuration (black PCB with white LEDS)

This thing looks like it’s going to be pretty insanely fun.

MidiFighter is a DIY kit – but it’s not hardcore DIY – it’s funcore DIY:

The Midifighter kit comes in a flat box that can be personally assembled in 5 minutes. Entry level moders can select the arcade button colors they want when ordering and assemble the kit into a custom configuration that fits their personal style or mapping. The arcade buttons snap into place thanks to our hand made clips that require zero soldering. Just screw together the frame using a simple allen wrench, snap in the arcade buttons and your custom controller is assembled and finished.

The finished controller is plug and play with super high quality low latency drivers and will work with all midi compatible software.

Because it’s a kit, you can customize it. Use color-coded buttons. Use the extra analog and digital input ports toadd mod wheels, joysticks, sliders and knobs. And if you want to get hardcore, the kit is totally open source so you can hack the firmware.

Pricing is TBA, but we should know soon, because they plan to release this November 30th.

Anybody interested? Leave a comment!

Akai Professional is now shipping its new MPD18 portable pad controller, the smallest-sized model in Akai’s line of MPD pad controllers.

The MPD18 has a U.S. Retail Price of $199.00 with an estimated street price of $99.00.

Description:

DJs, programmers, producers and other musicians will find this MIDI-over-USB controller to be perfect for triggering samples, controlling software, and a variety of other applications. Its small footprint makes the MPD18 easy to integrate into any setup for stage performance, studio production or musical creation on the go.

The heart of the MPD18 is its bank of 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive genuine MPC pads, an Akai Professional exclusive. Users can access three different banks of sounds from the pads for a total of 48 sounds at once. The MPD18 also borrows the MPC series’ assignable Q-Link controllers, enabling users to control nearly any parameters in their software in real time on an assignable Q-Link fader and an assignable Q-Link button.

Users will find the MPD18 to be convenient, sending MIDI information over its plug-and-play USB interface for use with Mac or PC without installing any drivers. The USB connection also powers the MPD18 so musicians can use the controller with no power supply. The MPD18 can control virtually any MIDI software, as well as MIDI hardware, such as synthesizers, sound modules, samplers, sequencers, drum machines and more.

“The MPD18 gives you the iconic control feel of the MPC in a compact footprint that’s easy to fit in any setup,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional.

Here are some official demo videos for the new Korg Wavedrum.

The Korg Wavedrum can be used as a stand-alone percussion instrument, or integrated into an existing drum kit or percussion rig. The Wavedrum uses a real drum head as the playing surface, providing an authentic and familiar feel. This allows the performer to employ sticks, brushes, mallets and/or traditional hand-drum techniques (mute, slap, bend, etc.) to play.

Korg Wavedrum Chopsticks

Click here to view the embedded video.

Korg Wavedrum Demo Performance

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Image: livid instruments

Saturday Synth Porn: J. Scott G’s custom Ohm64 MIDI controller for Ableton Live.

via the Synthtopia Flickr Group

DJ Magazine took the Akai Pro MPD32 for a spin.

The MPD32 is a MIDI-over-USB performance pad controller for DJs, programmers, producers, and others musicians.

If you’ve used the Akai Pro MPD32, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Akai Pro MPd32 Features:

• MIDI controller for production and performance
• MPC pads: bank of 16, velocity and pressure-sensitive
• Four selectable pad banks for a total of 64 sounds accessible from the pads
• Eight assignable Q-Link faders, eight assignable Q-Link 360° knobs, and eight assignable Q-Link buttons, all three banks
• MIDI-synced MPC Note Repeat and MPC Swing
• Two assignable footswitch inputs and expression-pedal input
• Dedicated transport controls
• Backlit, easy-to-read display
• MIDI-over-USB or MIDI operation
• USB powered or powered via optional AC adapter
• MPC 16-Level and Full Level
• Comes with custom versions of Ableton Live Lite, FXpansion BFD Lite, and Vyzor Editor Librarian software
• 30 user-definable presets for DAW applications

via AkaiProVideo

This video documents a hack that turns a Stylophone into a basic MIDI controller, and using it to control Propellerheads Reason.

Details on the hack available at Jason Hotchkiss’ site.

via hotchk155:

The technicals… Soldered wires to Stylophone PCB to use its keypad / resistor ladder.. put 5V across it and read voltage at stylus by analog input pin on arduino clone (miduino).

Found out input value for each note and sent out MIDI note on/off messages thru serial connection when notes are detected. Simple.

Used Propellerheads reason to make the sounds.

Akai Professional has announced that the APC40 Ableton Performance Controller will launch worldwide on May 30, 2009.

The APC40 has U.S. Retail Price of $599.00 and an anticipated street price of $399.00.

APC40 Ableton Performance Controller Details

Akai Professional worked with Ableton to produce the APC40.

The APC40 is designed to be a powerful, intuitive controller for electronic music performance artists, DJs, hip-hop producers and traditional musicians using Ableton Live on stage and in the studio. Because Akai Professional and Ableton designed the APC40 for use with the included Ableton Live Akai Professional APC40 Edition software, users need not map its controls for instant performance. Experienced Ableton Live users will appreciate that the APC40 enables them to remap every one of its controls to suit their own style. The controller is fully compatible with standalone editions of Ableton Live 7 and 8 with the latest updates.

The APC40 communicates bi-directionally with Ableton Live, enabling the controller to display information from the software on its clip matrix of 40 triggers and on LED rings surrounding each knob. The clip matrix provides performers an instant view of the Session Overview: what cells contain loaded clips, which are currently playing, which are activated, what is record-armed and solo/cue status.

The APC40 has two sets of eight knobs, each of which can access four banks of controls. The Track Control knobs affect global parameters such as pans and sends, while the Device Controls affect the clip, instrument and effect parameters. The Device Control knobs are dynamically reassigned each time the user changes tracks or devices. This unique capability enables performers to control at least eight track parameters per track – a total of 72 – using the same eight knobs and the nine Track Selection buttons. Channel faders and a DJ crossfader enable smooth control of key values.

“With the APC40, our goal was to transform the experience of using Ableton Live from ‘building in software’ to ‘performing with an instrument’,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional. “We could not be more pleased with the results.”

Musikmesse 2009: SOS takes a look at the Euphonix MC Transport media controller.

Musikmesse 2009: Cakewalk announced the VS-700C V-Studio Console as a standalone control surface for SONAR 8 Producer.

The VS-700C was designed jointly by Cakewalk and Roland, and offers control over all aspects of SONAR 8 Producer’s creative, editing, and mixing capabilities. The VS-700C’s dedicated implementation of ACT (Active Controller Technology) dynamically remaps controls based on how the user is working in SONAR. Also, with the press of a button, the VS-700C provides instant control over any V-Link compatible video and imaging hardware, including the Edirol DV-7 line of direct linear video editing systems.

Details below.

VS-700C Highlights:
Channel Section

• Nine 100mm touch sensitive, motorized faders arranged in a bank of eight channel strips with a master channel
• Users can tab between fader banks and lock/unlock tracks and buses to faders for maximum efficiency when mixing large projects
• Channel Branch Mode is an innovative new mixing mode, where channel strip 1 will control the volume of a selected track while the remaining channels control the associated sends for that track
• One-level undo for all faders and encoders, using the “Revert to” feature
• Total control over SONAR 8 mute and solo functionality including Dim Solo, Exclusive Solo, and Layer Mute/Solo

EQ, Send, ACT Section

• Dedicated section of 12 continuous push-button rotary encoders which can be used for EQ, Sends, or ACT control
• When controlling EQ, the rotary encoders edit four stages of parametric EQ gain, frequency, and Q for whichever channel has the focus
• In ACT mode, encoders automatically remap to control effect, instrument, or mix parameters of whatever view or plug-in has focus within SONAR

Surround and Video Implementation

• Full surround implementation with Joystick Panner, F/R Balance, LFE Send, and Width controls
• Multifunction T-bar for surround F/R balance and video hardware control
• Automate multiple surround parameters simultaneously
• Control video mixers/editors/presenters that support V-LINK protocol

Access, Project Navigation, Editing

• Control plug-in for SONAR provides user-definable presets that change the functionality of the VS-700C depending on tasks or workflow preferences
• Access Panel provides one-button functionality to call up different views and utilities; allows custom assignments from over 45 SONAR commands
• Joystick can move plug-in windows around your screen
• In addition to F/R balance and Video hardware control, the T-Bar offers: X-Ray option to fade plug-in windows in/out to allow access to the views below and the T-Bar can also be used as a dedicated ACT controller
• Complete SONAR transport functionality not available from any other control surface, including Audition, Rewind, Fast Forward, RTZ/GTE, and Pause
• Jog and shuttle wheels and Free Edit cursors for project navigation, scrubbing and zoom; provides c omplete scroll and zoom functionality, including flyover mode which lets you navigate around a project
• Use jog wheel to move, crop and fade clip(s), as well as time-stretch
• Select clips and time ranges, even across tracks and layers
• Split and mute clips with the touch of a button
• Insert, delete, bypass and control any VST effect from the control surface
• Mackie Control protocol support, provides basic compatibility (transport, faders, jog/shuttle, etc.) with other Windows DAWs

Display

• A 2×13 LCD display for track names, parameter values, and markers
• 7 Segment LCD display for time code and now time position
• Responsive metering for each channel

SONAR V-Studio 700 and the VS-700C

The release of the SONAR V-Studio 700 system marked a new era of inspired, Cakewalk branded hardware and software music production solutions. SONAR V-Studio 700 addresses the gap between under-powered “budget” solutions and over-priced competitive solutions by offering a compelling, feature-rich music production system that is accessible to a broad range of users. SONAR customers who purchase the VS-700C can later purchase the VS-700R I/O to experience the full benefits offered by the complete SONAR V-Studio 700 system, which includes hardware control of the VS-700R from the VS-700C, 19 input channels, 8 digitally-controlled mic pres with compression on each channel, and onboard Fantom VS synthesizer featuring 1,400 patches with ARX expansion board capability, among many other features.

Pricing and availability

VS-700C console for SONAR 8 Producer will be available Summer, 2009 through Roland and Edirol distribution partners and select retailers worldwide. Local prices may vary, please check with your local Roland or Edirol distributor, or to find availability in your area using the dealer locator, please visit www.sonarvstudio.com.

Musicmesse 2009:Teenage Engineering has announced the OP-1 Synthesizer and Controller, a new device, still in the development stages, that combines a synthesizer, music controller and some extra weirdness into a fairly sexy package.

What do we mean by extra weirdness? The OP-1 is the first synthesizer that we’ve seen with a built-in FM Radio and motion sensor!

Description:

OP-1 stands for Operator 1. The OP-1 is a pocket size controller for your favorite software sequencer. Connect it to your laptop and it lets you control your sequencers transport with the common play, stop, rec, forward and rewind. Use it to control your software synthesizers with the 4 rotary encoders and 16 dedicated quick keys for fast selections.

When you disconnect the OP-1 from your computer you have “a stand-alone portable wonder-machine” with 8 synthesizer models, 8 samplers and effects like Delay, Flutter, Filters and EQ all built in. Use  that synthesizer power to record your work with the truly unique (at present time, secret) sequencer.

Use the magic step sequencer/arpegiator to get the notes right. If that is not enough use the built in motion sensor that senses every shake or move you make and can turn it into cool sounds.
Sample a beat from the built-in FM radio or memorize a tune by whistle it into the built-in microphone. Play your piece to your friends through the built-in speaker. Or…convert it right away to mp3 and mail it to them.

You can sign up for the OP-1 Beta at the Teenage Engineering site.

Is this not a sextacular music gadget? Check out the specs and audio/video demos below, and leave a comment with your thoughts!

Teenage Engineering OP-1 Synthesizer Features:

• Midi Controller with Transport and Four Endless Encoders
• Fm Synth
• Sampler with mic or line in, built in speaker
• FM RADIO that alows you sample Young Jeezy.
• 8 synthesizer models, 8 samplers and effects like Delay, Flutter, Filters and EQ all built in.
• step sequencer/arpegiato
• Built in Motion Sensor

Here’s a video sneak preview of the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Synthesizer’s interface:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are a few audio demos of the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Synth:

via TrueChipTilDeath

DJ Richard Devine goes over the features of Stanton’s DaScratch (SCS.3d) – a touch sensitive software controller.

Here are the details on Stanton’s new controller:

Stanton’s StanTouch technology allows you to use traditional DJ-style motions and gestures on a touch-pad style surface to take full control over music and software applications such as Traktor DJ Studio, Traktor Scratch, Ableton Live, Serato Scratch Live or any other MIDI compatible software. Minimal moving parts ensure durability from gig to gig.

Highlights:

• The StanTouch interface can be used for scratching, scrubbing, and navigating through digital audio. The tactile buttons, triggers, and virtual faders can also control samples, pitch, effects, cue and loop points, and other mappable functions. Multiple finger touches can even prompt quick kills on EQ’s or transform effects on volume.
• Magnect connection system allows multiple DaScratch units to securely snap together, creating a larger control surface with increased performance options.
•  DaRouter software gives DaScratch a little brain of its own, allowing customized support for a variety of applications. DaRouter runs on Mac / PC and will automatically load presets that are tailored towards the application the SCS.3d is controlling. A generic preset is also provided for mapping to any application that supports MIDI learn. 
• USB connection for easy plug and play connection to your software. Class compliant with Windows XP, Vista and Mac OSX to ensure that drivers are never needed. Bus powered by design to ensure that no external power or batteries need to be used.

Numark is now shipping the MixMeister Control DJ system, designed to let you focus less on the computer screen and more on your performance.

Numark partnered with the MixMeister to create a hardware control surface specifically designed for interaction with and control of MixMeister software. 

MixMeister Control contains 94 pre-mapped hardware controls laid out in identical fashion to the software it controls. No configuration or setup is needed, and the single-cable USB connection carries both control data and power from DJs’ Mac or PCs to MixMeister Control.

The software enables DJs to mix complete sets from full-length songs, integrate and edit loops, mix, and produce performance mixes with full Digital Audio Workstation functionality.

“MixMeister Control transforms DJs,” said Mark Frederick, VP Sales and Marketing. “Rather than spending their time focused on getting the beat-matching and song transitions right, MixMeister Control empowers DJs to produce their performances in real time. The result is great performances by great performers who feed off the energy they get from their audience.”

D.St-Amand has created some very cool looking designs for DIY MIDI controllers and is documenting his designs and work building them on Flickr.

“I think that this is my very best channel layout! No wire, no front panel screw. Only one PCB will be made for the number of channel required, 2, 4 , 6 or 8 channels. Every control are leds illuminated. The enclosure total thickness is ~16 mm !! (knobs not included).

The ledrings use single color leds and when all the leds are turned off, they are white. Buttons use dual color leds that generates 3 colors; red, green and orange.

The encoder ledrings adaptor is made of anodized aluminum.”

Check out the link above to see a more designs and some build pictures for his prototype.

via Hackaday

Akai Professional is now shipping the MPD32 pad controller.

MPD32 is Akai Professional’s flagship pad controller for musicians and DJs. Using a USB cable to connect to a Mac or PC, MPD32 is designed for hardware control of apps like Reason, Ableton Live and GarageBand.

MPD32 also features transport controls for interfacing with DAW/sequencing applications like Sonar, Cubase and Logic. MPD32 is a fully programmable controller and multifunctional control surface that fits perfectly within any production or performance environment.

Features:

• MIDI-synced note-repeat with MPC swing
• Sixteen full-sized, genuine MPC pads with velocity and pressure-sensitive response
• Three banks of eight assignable switches, sliders and endless knobs for a total of 72 controllers
• Two assignable Foot Switches
• One assignable Foot Pedal controller
• Large, easy-to-read backlit LCD
• Thirty user-definable presets for use with software applications
• MMC/MIDI Start/Stop transport buttons
• Ableton Live Akai Edition software included
• BFD Lite software included

MPD32 is available now, with an MSRP of $499.00.

Yamaha’s Tenori-On is getting a prominent introduction with Björk’s latest tour.

The new controller/synthesizer is part of the rig of Damian Taylor, above, who uses the Tenori-On on the track Who Is It?.

“Björk felt it would be cool to feature the gear,” says Taylor, “ to make it part of the stage set rather than using abstract pre-recorded visuals and projections.”

“We thought it would be fun to try it live,” he continues. “Who Is It? has lots of spiky and intricate vocal parts on the multitrack which weren’t yet represented in the existing brass arrangement, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the Tenori-on’s sample playback capabilities.”

“I grabbed a whole bunch of “doops” “boops” “Oooos” and random vocal sounds off the multitrack and loaded them in. The sonic characteristics of the sampled vocals sat perfectly around the warm, heavy brass arrangement and Björk’s lead vocal, and then just jamming with the on-board sequencer gave us musical progression and dynamics – plus a really nice bunch of imagery for our video guy, Anthony Cairns, to use on screen.”

Taylor’s Take On The Tenori-On

“Björk had a good play with it when we first tried it out and she really likes it,” says Damian. “She’s into the fact that it makes the brain work in a different way, breaks routines and habits.”

“You can definitely see the crowd reacting to these new things – when I fire up the Tenori-on, for example, they kind of go ‘wooh, what’s that?’. I wind up with a bunch of emails after each gig from people who have tracked me down online, demanding an explanation.”

“Using the Tenori-on and the other gear is really exciting and fresh for me after all those years in the studio too. I got so used to always using a computer, a mouse, some faders and knobs. Now it’s playing music with all these different interfaces, graphics, feedback, tactility – plus thousands of people responding to it.”

Hamster Sammy enjoys improvising on an Opal Sonome:

She gives herself a little wash and clean while holding down a minor 9th chord! The plastic sphere is her means of transport while chasing humans across the kitchen floor, her equivalent to a skateboard or bike.

The Opal Sonome looks substantially similar to the C-Thru Axis that we saw at the 2007 NAMM Show.

Does anybody have any information on the history of these two keyboards?

via deviantsynth

MIDI Navigator, below, is a Mac OS X MIDI driver for the 3dconnexion Space Navigator, right.

Usage is simple: download the application, launch it and select SpaceNavigator in your favorite MIDI application as input device.

MIDI Navigator can send relative and absolute CC commands. You can adjust the CC number, mode and sensitivity for each of the six degrees of freedom.

Rui Gato has created a demo video of this in action.

Requires Mac OS X 10.4 and a 3dconnexion Space Navigator.

Komega has introduced a bizarre DIY MIDI controller – the Kromatron.

On first glance, it looks like a Keytar. Look closer, though, and there aren’t any keys!

The Kromatron is built specifically to interface with modern audio performance software such as Ableton Live. It has 4 knobs, 2 faders, a two-axis joystick, and 8 buttons.

The device is 100% configurable and can change settings while the user is playing it. Komega calls it a Meta-Instrument, because it holds 128 performance presets that can be activated by a simple MIDI patch change or program change signal.

One moment the user can be playing a piano sound, the next the user can be scheduling audio loops or controlling effects parameters. There is really no limit to what the user can set this device to do.

This controller has built in LEDs that correspond to each input. In other words, if the user turns a knob, an associated LED gets brighter, or if the user pushes a button, the button lights up.

Here’s a video that shows the Kromatron in action:

Cool new DIY arcade-style DJ controller by Prevolt:

This is what I’m using to control Ableton now. All arcade hardware, aluminum top panel by FPE, and a nice wood case courtesy of my man Michael Yates. It uses all key commands through a custom driver to handle playback, effects, editing, warping, UI, mouse clicks, scroll messages, and more, with a lot of tweaks (some strobe, some send double messages, etc):

Aux Armes via CDM

The kit offers an easy way to get into creating DIY MIDI sensor interfaces.

Eobody2 Live Sensor Controller Pack includes:

• 1 Eobody2 USB8 SensorBox
• 2 x 18 mm pressure sensors
• 2 x 10 cm position sensors
• 1 x 20/80 cm distance sensor – extension with any other Eowave sensor is possible

The Eobody2 Live Sensor Controller Pack is available now at a price of €333 excl. VAT.