Sensel Morph Controller And Buchla Thunder Overlay At Synthplex 2019

At Synthplex 2019, we talked with Sensel about the Morph music control platform. The demonstrated their Pressure Grid high-resolution sensor array, the Buchla Thunder overlay and more.

Additional information about Sensel Morph and the recently-announced Buchla Thunder overlay can be found on the Sensel website.

13 thoughts on “Sensel Morph Controller And Buchla Thunder Overlay At Synthplex 2019

  1. Should have waited for the show. Although, the few weeks since buying it have been pretty fun. Only got the Innovator’s Overlay and created a simple layout to get a 10×5 grid of MPE in fourths (like two ROLI Lightpad Blocks, side by side). Makes some pretty inspiring uses, with deep expressiveness. (Got a few twitches to solve, but support has been quite proactive and useful, so far.)

    1. You need to use the Sensel App (available for macOS and Windows) to update Morph firmware and to send edited or new overlay mappings to the Morph. You do NOT need a computer for the Morph to work – you can connect it to directly to a computer, or to iOS, or to an Arduino or Raspberry Pi with the Developer’s Cable (https://sensel.com/collections/all/products/developers-cable), or to any hardware that accepts CV via a USB->CV interface like the Expert Sleepers FH-2 or Snyderphonics MantaMate. The Morph can also be connected wirelessly to a computer or tablet via bluetooth.

  2. I’m suddenly interested in the Buchla Thunder overlay, because Don was really on to something with that layout. I’m a keyboard *player* who appreciates oddball or ambitious controllers, but hasn’t often felt drawn to them musically. The Thunder is different, because your hands really do fall on the GUI easily. It’d be a pedestrian application of it, but I’d love to use it for finger drumming. Its also good for big, touch-sense-y chords or standout solo/mono sounds that benefit from being more liquid. I can easily see working up the right templates for my style and enjoying this as a Seekrit Wepun.

  3. Not sure what is it offering.
    iPad can do that and much more. There are countless iPad apps selling for nothing that do more than that and cost $0 bucks

    1. Johnt

      If you watch the video, you’ll see that it demonstrates polyphonic expressive control, vs the multi-touch that you can do on an iPad.

      There are many other benefits to dedicated music controllers over a generic computing device, but if you don’t know about that yet, an old iPad with Lemur would probably meet your needs.

    2. Wow, I didn’t realise the iPAD was pressure and velocity sensitive! I must go and strap my iPAD to my drum kit and hit it with a drum stick!!

    3. imo an ipad makes a crappy controller but has a ton of strength as a sequencer, looper, sound generator. you generally want to use a device for its strengths.

    4. One thing it offers: it can be played by feel, you don’t need to look at it. The overlays have slightly raised surfaces that allow this. On an iPad or any touchscreen, you have to keep your eyes on the screen. As a musician/player that’s a serious disadvantage.

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