Alesis Vortex USB/MIDI Keytar with Accelerometer unveiled

Alesis has introduced its Vortex USB/MIDI Keytar controller complete with an onboard accelerometer.

Bearing similarities to the Roland AX-Synth, the Vortex gives keyboard performers the freedom to move around during a performance while still being able to control a host of other equipment.

Alesis Vortex Key Features

• Dynamic, shoulder-worn performance keyboard with attention-grabbing looks
• The first USB keytar controller—works with all of your software instruments & synths on Mac, PC, & iOS* devices
• USB and traditional MIDI jacks for use with virtually any synth, sound module, or other MIDI hardware or software
• Embedded, MIDI-assignable accelerometer for performance parameter control by tilting the neck
• Thumb-controlled volume slider and pitch-bend wheel on neck
• Finger-controlled MIDI-assignable touchstrip, sustain, and octave-control buttons on neck
• 37 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch for compact, yet complete melodic range
• Eight velocity-sensitive drum pads/sample triggers enable you to create beats or trigger clips
• Large transport & patch-select controls for instant access
• Includes strap; standard guitar strap pegs are compatible with virtually any strap
• Bus powered when USB-connected to Mac or PC; battery compartment for use with MIDI modules and iOS devices

Alesis Vortex Specifications

• Class Compliant USB 1.1 MIDI I/O
• 5-pin DIN MIDI output
• Powered via USB, four AA Batteries, or DC power adapter
• Dimensions: 2.2″H x 35.1″L x 10.6″W
• Weight: 6.5LBS

Pricing and availability to be confirmed.

Alesis QX61 Advanced MIDI Controller Keyboard unveiled

Alesis has unveiled a bigger brother to the QX49 launched last year.

The QX61 is an advanced five-octave MIDI controller keyboard capable of controlling a wide number of parameters on an attached module, keyboard or PC running compatible software.

As well as the 61 touch sensitive keys there are four pads, six buttons, eight control knobs and eight sliders, all fully customisable, plus pitch bend and modulation wheels and octave buttons. It’s possible to send program change messages from the keys and to split the keyboard across different MIDI channels.

The QX61 is supplied with Ableton Live Lite Alesis Edition software for performing, recording, and sequencing music.

Alesis QX61 Key Features

• 61-key touch-sensitive keyboard
• Control virtually any Mac, PC, or iOS* music software
• Velocity-sensitive keys with modulation and pitch-bend wheels
• Eight faders perfect for adjusting volume or synth parameters
• Four drum pads for triggering samples, loops and sequencing drums
• Eight knobs ideal for adjusting pan position or any other parameter
• Six assignable buttons for triggering software controls
• USB-MIDI and traditional MIDI for use with Mac and PC, as well as MIDI hardware
• Includes Ableton Live Lite Alesis Edition software
• Bus powered via USB: no power cable needed

Pricing and availability to be confirmed.

Alesis QX25 Advanced MIDI Controller Keyboard unveiled

Alesis has unveiled a smaller brother to the QX49 launched last year.

The QX25 is an advanced MIDI controller keyboard capable of controlling a wide number of parameters on an attached module, keyboard or PC running compatible software.

As well as the 25 touch sensitive keys there are four pads and eight control knobs, all fully customisable, plus pitch bend and modulation wheels and octave buttons. It’s possible to send program change messages from the keys and to split the keyboard across different MIDI channels.

The QX25 is supplied with Ableton Live Lite Alesis Edition software for performing, recording, and sequencing music.

Alesis QX25 Key Features

• 25-key touch-sensitive keyboard
• Control virtually any Mac, PC, or iOS* music software
• Velocity-sensitive keys with modulation and pitch-bend wheels
• High-quality fader perfect for adjusting volume or synth parameters
• Four drum pads for triggering samples, loops and sequencing drums
• Eight knobs ideal for adjusting pan position or any other parameter
• Six assignable buttons for triggering software controls
• USB-MIDI and traditional MIDI for use with Mac and PC, as well as MIDI hardware
• Includes Ableton Live Lite Alesis Edition software
• Bus powered via USB: no power cable needed

Alesis QX25 Specifications

• Class Compliant USB 1.0 and 5-pin jack Midi Output
• Powered via USB or 5V DC Power Adapter

Pricing and availability to be confirmed.

Excelsior Concert Symphony vintage piano organ [eBay]

A rare find is this half-century old Excelsior Concert Symphony vintage piano organ from the 1950s/1960s. It even comes with a collection of music books which can be paired with the numbers above the keys, making it easier for beginners to play.

Available from this auction.

Alesis Q61 USB/MIDI Keyboard Controller unveiled

Alesis has launched the Q61, a five-octave MIDI/USB controller keyboard capable of sending the basic MIDI control messages most musicians need. This makes it an ideal keyboard for those wanting to control other keyboards, sound modules and virtual instruments on a PC or Mac.

It doesn’t have all the bells, whistles and knobs of some of Alesis’s other controller keyboards but it does feature 61 touch sensitive keys, pitch and modulation wheels, an assignable data slider, octave buttons, sustain pedal input, and the ability to use the keys to send MIDI program change messages instead of note data.

Alesis Q61 Key Features

• 61-key keyboard controller for use with virtually any music software or MIDI device
• Velocity sensitive keys for expressive, musical performance
• USB MIDI and traditional MIDI for use with Mac, PC, and iOS devices* as well as MIDI hardware
• Pitch and Modulation wheels for increased musical expression
• Backlit Octave Up and Down buttons enable expanded musical range
• Assignable volume/data-entry slider enables you to control your most-used parameter
• Sustain pedal input for complete performance (pedal sold separately)
• Includes Ableton Live Lite Alesis Edition for recording, sequencing, and performing
• Bus powered via USB: no power cable needed

Alesis Q61 Specifications

• MIDI Outputs: one 5-pin jack
• USB: One slave connector (MIDI over USB)
• Power: USB bus powered; Optional Power Adapter: 9V DC 500mA, Pin Positive, 5.5mm outer diameter (sold separately)

Exact pricing and availability is to be confirmed.

Baldwin Classic Petite Cherry Grand Piano [eBay]

A beautiful Baldwin Classic Petite acoustic Grand Piano in cherry wood, in near mint condition, available via this auction.

ADE-10 Reactive Shaper from Abstract Data

The latest piece of kit from Abstract Data is the ADE-10 Reactive Synth.

Waveshaping, Wavefolding, Feedback and full CV control in a low-profile, high-quality 10HP Eurorack module.

DC-coupled I/Os with individual Gain/Attenuation will accept most Audio and CV waveforms. Two simultaneous Full- and Half-wave Outputs provide effected AC audio and positive DC CV signals.

External CV Inputs for all three shaping stages and front panel control of Biasing/Attenuation gives complete sonic control.

Tearing leads, evolving pads, complex drones, sound design, CV modulation and beyond – the ADE-10 makes shapes.

ADE-10 Reactive Shaper Specifications

Controls (Knobs: Left, T-B): Stages 1-3 Mod (Manual); Input Gain/Atten
Controls (Knobs: Right, T-B): Stages 1-3 CV (External); Output Gain/Atten
Inputs (Signal): 1x DC, Approx. +/-10V Max. (3.5mm)
Inputs (CV): 3x DC, Approx. +/-10V Max. (3.5mm)
Outputs (Signal): 1x DC Full-Wave; 1x DC Half-Wave (3.5mm)
Power Requirements: +/-12V via 16-pin, Doepfer-style IDC connector
Current Draw: 80mA Average
Dimensions: 10HP (W); Panel to Connector 35mm (D)
Supplied Accessories: 1x IDC cable, 4x M3 Screws, 4x M3 Washers

ADE-10 Reactive Shaper Videos

Tutorial

Live Patches

Circuit bent Alesis HR-16 [eBay]

The Alesis HR-16, launched in the late 1980s with a fairly rudimentary set of sounds, gets the circuit bending treatment and is available at this auction.

Check out this short video demo:

No doubt there’s plenty more sounds to be got out of this modded kit.

The Muson Synthesizer [Vintage]

Here’s a colourful keyboard find for you. Though you could argue it remains squarely in the ‘toy’ department, the concepts here are pretty cool.

OK, so you only have the C major scale to play with, but take a look at those coloured blocks above the keys. These make contact with circuitry inside the instrument and form a rudimentary sequencer. Check out the video below and you’ll see that placing the coloured blocks, each of which represents a different note of the scale, in different orders changes the melody played back.

Muson Synthesizer

What’s more, you can change the tempo and the pitch (to some degree) using the two sliders to left and right of the keyboard. We presume there’s at least two note polyphony as well, as it’s possible to play the keys while a predefined sequence plays back.

We get a strange sensation of being stuck in some late ’70s/early ’80s video game – probably of the space invaders ilk – and that’s no surprise given that it was created in 1978 by Mego Corp. Apparently it was even released in the UK, though I certainly don’t remember it.

What do you think?

1956 Blonde Cable-Nelson spinet piano [eBay]

A fantastic acoustic upright piano from the mid-1950s, this Cable-Nelson spinet piano is beautiful and available via this auction.

This is a beautiful piano that still looks and sounds great after 56 years! It belonged to my mother and she gave it to me a few years ago. We’re making a big move and I have to part with it.
It has received regular maintenance and tuning (my piano tuner will vouch for this!) and overall has no major issues.

Cable-Nelson was a name so well established that it was to become the first rank of the piano industry on the strength of the excellence of its product. You can read more about Cable-Nelson pianos here: http://www.bluebookofpianos.com/agesc.htm#CABLE-NELSON

This beauty boasts a metal-supported key bed, metal-reinforced legs, an Equi-Balanced scale, and was made from rich, blonde wood.

The only known flaws on this gorgeous piece are the following:

The pedals have lost most of their leather covering over the years. What remains is a brass metal pedal.

There is a water stain on the right top and a few along the underside of the lid.

There are some chips in the wood at the bottom of the piano from moving. Nothing very noticeable and certainly does not affect the overall appearance or sound.

Safety pads left some adhesive on the corners of the seat. This can be removed gently.

One or two of the keys are chipped. This nicks are small and do not affect overall appearance or playability.

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