Akai MPK49 USB/MIDI semi-weighted controller keyboard
April 16, 2007
Akai has unveiled the MPK49, a semi-weighted, touch and aftertouch sensitive 49-note keyboard complete with 12 MPC-style drum pads.
48 drum pads are available via 4 banks, and there’s MPC Note Repeat function and Swing parameters, plus an arpeggiator.
It delivers 72 assignable controls, including an expression pedal, footswitch, pitch bend and modulation wheel.
It features 8 full-sized, 360 degree rotation pots, each with 3 banks for 24 pots total, 8 full-sized sliders with 3 controller banks for each for 24 sliders total, 8 assignable backlit switches with 3 controller banks each for 24 switches total, MMC/MIDI Start Stop transport buttons, and a large, easy-to-read custom LCD display.
M-Audio’s new MidAir 37 keyboard controller
November 15, 2006
M-Audio have introduced a MidAir wireless keyboard controller as part of their MidAir range.
This compact wireless keyboard has many of the same features as those in their Oxygen range.
These include 37 velocity-sensitive keys, 3-digit LED, 9 MIDI-assignable faders, 8 MIDI assignable knobs, mod and pitch bend wheels, sustain pedal input and button.
It is powered either by standard batteries or included 9V power supply. It has a 30ft range and works on the popular 2.4GHz frequency band.
The MidAir 37 is currently expected to ship mid-November, with an MSRP of $299.95 USD.
M-Audio’s new MidAir wireless USB MIDI system
November 15, 2006
M-Audio have announced their MidAir wireless USB MIDI system. This wireless MIDI transmitter and receiver system allows users to wirelessly transmit data from any device that outputs MIDI. The battery-powered transmitter is plugged into a MIDI Out port and then the receiver to the MIDI In port of the device they want to control. The receiver also includes a USB port to allow it to be used as a 1×1 PC MIDI interface.
It has a 30ft range and works on the popular 2.4GHz frequency band.
The MidAir wireless MIDI system is now shipping with an MSRP of $149.95 USD.
Elektron’s TM-1 Turbo MIDI Interface
October 13, 2006
Elektron have announced their USB MDII interface that’s capable of increasing the original MIDI bandwidth by up to 10 times, which they claim will make MIDI timing more accurate. Though the interface is compatible with any standard MIDI equipment, it comes into its own for any gear that uses the new TurboMIDI standard developed by Elektron.
I’ve never used a MIDI setup big enough or needed something so precise that timing has been an issue, but I guess in larger setups lag can be a problem for synchronisation. Whether this product will help is another matter. They also claim that the increased bandwidth makes it good for doing MIDI sample dumps.
It features 1 MIDI in and 1 MIDI out. If TurboMIDI takes off, presumably we’ll see bigger interfaces in the future. This one’s available for €79.
The Guide to MIDI Orchestration book review from BlogCritics
October 12, 2006
BlogCritics.org has a basic book review of the doorstep-sized book “The Guide to MIDI Orchestration” by Paul Gilreath which is supposed to be so good that it’s become a school textbook as well. 703 pages of information about adding synth-generated orchestral and other authentic-sounding real-world instruments to electronic recordings, including acoustic placement.
Robotic vacuum monosynth
May 28, 2006
RoombaMidi is a Mac OS X application that turns the iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner into a musical instrument - complete with flashing lights and spinning.
Before you ask why, watch the video… then ask why…
It’s a lot of fun, though, and allows the vacuum cleaner to be controlled from top-end apps like Ableton Live and Logic.
Plus - get this - you can control up to 16 of the little chaps, one per MIDI channel. Jazzy… your own orchestra.
More description etc. via Axehole’s site.
MultiControl lets you use game controllers for MIDI/OSC
May 28, 2006
MultiControlFeatures
- Easy to choose any general Human Interface Device (HID)
- Automatically detects buttons, sliders, etc in use
- Automatic scaling to 0.-1. (OSC) or 0-127 (MIDI)
- Easy to choose desired output scaling
- Optional data smoothing
- Can output data using either Open Sound Control (OSC) or MIDI
- Store presets to xml-files
It’s only available as a Mac download at present. Could be fun to play around with. I don’t know how it interfaces with other applications.
MIDI Mate compact USB interface
April 29, 2006
Midisoft Corp have announced the release of MIDI Mate, a new compact USB-based MIDI interface compatible for both Windows (and presumably, Linux) PCs, and Macs.
It’s a tiny 1×1 (1 in, 1 out, 16 channel) interface accepting MIDI cables, designed to be portable for travelling musicians.
It’s been designed after surveying musicians, who said what they needed the most was a compact interface with extra cable length, no MIDI delay, and a durable construction.
- Read the full review: Compact USB MIDI Interface Launched (Sonicstate)
- Visit the official website: MIDISoft
Concept MIDI Controller from Monome
April 18, 2006
The Monome is a cool concept MIDI controller. It’s an 8×8 matrix of independent, illuminated on/off switches which can be programmed to do various different MIDI/OSC tasks, and/or follow a sequence pulse.
It can be used for many different tasks, such as toggle, hold and release, ramp, radio group, or virtual slider, controlling many different MIDI parameters or OSC.
There’s a cool little demo video available here that shows just a few of the possibilities, and more information is available at the Monome website.
MIDI and sound synthesis tutorial
April 2, 2006
Here’s a fairly compact tutorial about MIDI and sound synthesis, covering the basics of MIDI, MIDI messages, MIDI sequencers and standard MIDI files (SMF), Synthesizer basics, the General MIDI (GM) system, synthesis technology: FM and Wavetable, PC to MIDI connections, Multimedia PC systems, and Microsoft Windows configuration.
As you may see from the contents, it’s fairly heavily focussed on Windows-based systems, however the first sections on MIDI and synthesis theory are relevant to any system.
