Controller Battle – pump up the beat
Love those beats 
http://controllerism.com
Celebrate the birth of a new era in music performance and witness an epic battle for GEAR and GLORY. Eyes around the world are watching as the best of the west face off in 2 ½ minute tournament-style performances. Competitors are judged on musicality, virtuosity, innovation, showpersonship and audience reaction. Their only limitation is a maximum of two instruments and a computer. The challenge is to harness the untapped potential of new music technology, LIVE on stage for an audience of peers.
Nice !
Controllerism Essentials – Basic Beat Juggling
Here’s a new video covering the exciting area of beat juggling.
“Many of the topics we cover on this site end up touching on controllerism, or the musical manipulation of music with controllers. It seemed strange then, that we dont have more tutorials that help develop fundamental techniques and improve DJ’s music chops. Well, starting now – it’s time to end the dry spell and bring you the 2nd installment of controller essentials, which I hope to grow into a cannon of fundamentals useful for building a solid music repertoire. Let us know in the comments what you think of the concept and topics that might help!”
“This month our resident rhythm expert, Ryan Lucero- a professional drum instructor and performer, brings us another set of lessons on ways to improve your time and rhythm. Last month’s metronome basics provided a solid foundation for daily practice and now we dive into 3 specific voices that can be used in a set.”
Undead Instruments unleash the TimeFrog2 controller
The timeFrog II is a powerful and flexible MIDI device dedicated to music computer and MIDI applications. The spin/inertial sensor provides a totally new kind of control surface, which opens new way for playing with parameters. The 8 endless encoders, 4 potentiometers and 6 buttons form a functional and compact. There is also a embedded 4 steps sequencer: 4×4 steps x 6 voices This patch was setup in Ableton Max For Live using only two instances of SonicCharge’s Synplant software synthesizer. These two patches where customized and designed to work with the timeFrogII. Creating for some very unique musical gestures. All sequencing and note generation is from the timeFrog controller.
undeadinst.com/products/timefrog
The timeFrog is an open hardware plateform. The firmware stands under GPLv3 license. New functionnalities, new modes can be added, the whole device can be totally reprogrammed.
Hardware Specs:
» Inertial surface control
» position and speed messages
» absolute and relative mode
» 0-127 looping or 0-127 locked values
» 8 endless ecoders with LED position display
» 4 buttons soft touch
» 2 buttons hard touch
» 4 faders
» MIDI in, thru, out
» USB self powered
» Dimensions: 260x160x50mm
» Firmware:
— 1.0: controller/keyboard
— 1.1: controller/4 steps sequencer
— 1.2: controller/keyboard/4 step sequencer
— 1.3 planned: 4 automates, arpeggiator editor
Synthesis: Twisted KP Controls Doepfer Analogue Modular
Twisted KP converts OSC from Konkreet Labs Performer to control voltage which is then routed a Doepfer modular rack. Gate mode in KP allows for control voltage messages to be sent only sent on touch.
TWISTED KP:
http://twistedtools.com/shop/reaktor/twisted-kp/
KONKREET LABS PERFORMER FOR iPAD
http://konkreetlabs.com
THE FOLLOWING EURORACK MODULES WERE USED:
Livewire AFG, Doepfer A-105 VCF and A-188BBD and A-180 Mult
CV AUDIO INTERFACE:
Control voltage output made possible by using MOTU 828MKII interface. Please make sure that you have a similarly capable dc-coupled audio interface if you plan on using control voltage with TWISTED KP.
Promo video featuring the SR MixControl
The SR MixControl is a highly versatile mix-minded controller designed and built custom for Simon Rodgers of Victoria, Australia by custommidicontrollers.com. It features high quality black concave arcade buttons, super bright red LED’s, sliders, spring buttons, and super smooth knobs. Tying it all together is custom artwork from Clay Chollar. This controller also integrates an elegant programmer application that enables complex LED functionality and innovative preset memory.
How to get it:
Order your custom midi controller today, visit:
http://www.custommidicontrollers.com
or send your design to
store@custommidicontrollers.com
Wireless editor for the iPad – iMatrix-6
iControlMIDI. Plug & Play iPad Editors for Vintage & Software synths.
iMatrix-6 for Oberheim Matrix-6 / Matrix-6R
Background info:
Leveraging 2 years of experience in designing GUI for control surface and 25+ years of experience in designing synthesizers sounds, we are bringing the best of those experiences to the iPad with iControlMIDI for Oberheim Matrix-6 / Matrix-6R, namely iMatrix-6.
NOTE: Due to the limited MIDI implementation of the Matrix-6 for real-time controllable parameters, only positive modulation values are offered, the Modulation Matrix is not offered and only Patches parameters are offered (not Splits and not Master).
iControlMIDI is a UI Friendly and Workflow Efficient Solution that let you control your MIDI machines and software, simply from your iPad.
iControlMIDI is Plug & Play (actually there is nothing to plug!).
In 3-clicks on your Mac or couple of clicks on your PC, you are up and running…
iControlMIDI uses your:
• iPad with WiFi connectivity
• WiFi router (like an AirPort)
• [MAC] MacOS / Utilities / AudioMIDISetup / Network (MIDI Network Sessions)
• [PC] rtpMIDI and Apple Bonjour
iControlMIDI let you control all MIDI controllable parameters.
Parameter Name and Value displayed on iControlMIDI UI are the same as the ones displayed on your synth if you were to program it from its control panel!
Site: http://www.icontrolmididesign.com/
App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/app/imatrix-6/id435313466?mt=8
SNAMM: New DJ Controller from Numark
Numark has introduced the NDX900 DJ controller and MP3/CD/USB player at the 2011 Summer Namm Show in Nashville
Here’s what they have to say about it:
The NDX900 DJ controller is capable of mixing music from virtually any digital source including a computer, audio CDs, MP3 CDs and even USB flash drives. NDX900 has a layout that is recognizable to DJs everywhere with a large, seven-inch touch-sensitive illuminated platter, smooth, frontloading CD drive, top-facing USB DJ controller port, powerful remixing, effects control, scratching, looping, and sampling capabilities, all in a chassis that has a solid feel and professional look. NDX900’s Beat-synced DSP effects include chop, echo, filter, flanger, pan, and phaser with full control of the effects blend.
NDX900′s built-in audio interface works plug-and-play, allowing DJs to seamlessly integrate NDX900 with practically any computer and control virtually any DJ software. No drivers or external sound cards are required. With two NDX900s and a mixer of choice, DJs have a powerful and versatile digital DJ rig.
NDX900 includes Traktor LE 2 DJ Software and comes premapped for use with a variety of DJ software including Virtual DJ and Traktor 2 Pro, and is compatible with almost any MIDI compatible DJ software.
Details at the Numark site.
- USB-MIDI DJ Controller with CD/MP3/USB player
- Control software and play from CDs, MP3 CDs, or USB flash drives
- Built-in USB computer audio interface
- Includes Traktor 2 LE DJ Software
- Premapped for use with Virtual DJ, Traktor, and compatible with virtually all MIDI compatible DJ software.
- Beat-synced DSP effects with wet-dry fader: chop, echo, filter, flanger, pan, phaser
- Smooth, fast, reliable, slot-loading drive
- Large, seven-inch, touch-sensitive illuminated platter with auto-calibration
- Control MIDI software with no timecode needed via USB
- Automatic BPM analyzer and Tap tempo for manual BPM entry
- Adjust pitch ±6, 12, 25, and 100%, or bend with pitch buttons
- Key Lock holds pitch while you independently manipulate BPM
- Seamless looping, sampling, and easily accessible hot cues
- Large, backlit display for BPM, CD/MP3 text tags, and folder navigation
Imogen Heap performing live with data gloves as controllers
Imogen Heap provides a cracking performance without any instruments, just glove controllers for overdubbing and other processing.
Debuted at the recent TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh, the gloves incorporate stereo wrist-mics like the ones Immi has been using in her live performances on recent tours, which allow her to sample and loop any sound within her reach.
They add a whole new dimension to this idea however, by allowing her to wirelessly control the sounds using hand movements and gestures. In this clip she: high-pass filters audio by “cupping” the audio in her hands; builds “air drum” loops from scratch; controls volume, reverb and panning by “conducting” and even uses some kind of time-scrunch/scratching processing towards the end.
Immi says the idea for the gloves came to her in a dream, although other people have done similar things years before – for example Julie Wilson-Bokowiec & Mark Alexander Bokowiec’s Bodycoder project.
As always though Imogen brings a unique accessibility to the technology. Just as she uses the internet to create genuine connections between herself, her music and her fans, so the gestures she uses with the data gloves are musical, intuitive and easily comprehensible to the audience.
Shared by PA
Introducing the Protodeck – first demo
This is the very first demo video of a new MIDI controller for Ableton Live
“this has to be watched fullscreen in HD!
– sorry about some bitrate compression artifacts… all is sync, nice, pretty in the real world!
– sorry for the blinking-like blue leds. they don’t blink anymore, but the DV cam is ugly here so…”
for watching it live, I’ll make workshops + music live perf
for further informations: designthemedia.com/protodeck/
THE PROTODECK controller features:
– 87 potentiometers
– 90 buttons
– 81 rgb leds
– 2×20 LCD
– 2 PIC 18F4620 (20MHz RISC processors)
– fully custom rgb led drivers
– fully custom firmware
– 2 MIDI IN/OUT interface
VMeter MIDI Controller Touch Strip & Display
Control music software with touch and pressure. Also general purpose touch input and LED Meter output. Open source computer software and USB HID interface. VMeter™ (beta) is a USB MIDI touch strip controller & display. Touch location, on/off state and pressure can all be routed to MIDI controllers. The lights can also be controlled by MIDI messages.
The protocol and computer-side software is open, so it can be re-purposed as any general I/O device you would like. It follows USB HID protocol (like a mouse or keyboard), making the VMeter usable by any USB host controller, even a host shield for arduino.
Features:
Control any music software that accepts MIDI controller messages
Textured touch strip guides finger
Compatible with OS X 10.3+, Windows coming soon
Connects via USB cable
8 inner capacitive sensors mappable for quasi-multi touch
Dimmable blue LEDs (brightness mappable)
USB HID protocol makes it accessible as general purpose I/O device
Upside-down mode reverses LED direction for mounting flexibility
Open-source computer-side software
Can control / display system volume. Nice for full screen video volume adjustments.
Lights mappable to MIDI controllers
DATAMASKIN
