10 Concept Controllers That Didn’t Take Off

[yizzle]

For every controller that hits shelves, there are always a few more great ideas that don’t see serious play time.

Today we look back at those conceptual products that got us all excited but never delivered the goods.

Numark MPC DJ

The MPC DJ – not available in stores!

Numark has a strong history of debuting prototype controllers front-and-center at the NAMM show – and in 2012, they did exactly that with the MPC DJ controller. The grid of 16 pads actually ended up being distributed around various Numark models – including the Mixtrack Pro 2 and the new NS7 II – but the MPC DJ never made it beyond the protective plastic box on the showroom floor.

Poco Poco

his Midi Fighter-eque controller engineered in Tokyo first made an appearance on DJTT in 2011. The controller included 16 motorized pads that could be twisted or pressed at any given time – suggesting a new interaction possibility. In our original interview with one of the product designers, they expressed interest in releasing it on a larger scale, but nothing ever came to light.

Aurora Open Source DJ Controller

We’re a fan of any team that decides they want to do things better than anyone else – and that’s what Matt, Mike, and Maro aimed to do when designing the Aurora controller in 2008. The unit – which is still an opensource project that anyone can download the designs and specs to build themselves – featured unique backlit potentiometers and ambient lighting, both of which were software controllable via MIDI. As with many project controllers, it failed to gain much traction beyond passing interest online.

You can still learn more and check out the complete project page here.

The Fretless Fader

John Beez had an incredible idea for a crossfader that not only moved from left to right on a X axis, but also up and down on the Y axis to provide an additional level of control (in the video, it’s pitch, but it could also control effects and other parameters). The above video from 2010 was the last time John provided an update, just over a year after the original reveal of the project. It still seems like this would be a viable feature from a company like Vestax but so far, nothing has come of it.

Midi Fighter Mk2

A physical prototype (left) and concept renderings (right) for the Midi Fighter 3D that wasn’t to be

After the success of the Midi Fighter, we explored an expanded Midi Fighter with just one knob and fader. This prototype never made it past the design phase and instead became the Midi Fighter 3D with the analogue control coming from the unique motion sensors instead of physical components.

Kenton Killamix Ableton Prototype Controllers

These prototype controllers were among the first MIDI controllers aimed at giving Ableton Live users dedicated controllers. UK-based Kenton finished both of these prototypes just in time to show at the Sounds Expo 2006, but only one of them ever made it to market – the smaller Killamix Mini on the left – and even then in only limited supply.

Mawzer Modular DJ Mixer

The Mawzer (left), with some of the potential modular units (right)

Obviously we weren’t the first gearheads (or the last) to consider bringing the modular concept to digital DJing within a single form factor controller. That title is likely reserved for the team behind the Mawzer mixer, which promised the ultimate controller for modular aficionados – and was scheduled to see a complete public rollout in the summer of 2005. But cost (over $1300 just to get a basic setup) and size became a major issue for the unit – so much so that after numerous delays to the release, the project was canned.

Pacemaker DJ System

There have been a few forays into the world of new standalone DJ systems – and in 2006, the Pacemaker attempted to capitalize on the success of handheld devices like the iPod. The Pacemaker allowed manipulation of two tracks with the one device, with all of the normal mixing and transport controls built into the circular touch pad and ribbon strip just above it. There were major delays on the release of the unit, followed by a major price obstacle at launch (>$700) and of course one major complication: the smartphone revolution.

Otto Loop Slicer

Essentially the device is designed to allow simple manipulation of loops in a circular pattern around the controller. Using a MaxMSP program, the OTTO visualizes loops on LEDs under the surface of the controller, and then the buttons on the surface allow beat slicing and manipulation of the loop.

When we last checked in on the project, we had heard that the designer of Otto, Luca De Rosso, was looking to shop the device around as a potential partner unit in the future. A serious mockup of a controller with this exact design was spotted behind closed doors with a major manufacturer at NAMM 2012… perhaps there’s a future for the OTTO yet.

Turntable Rider: Bike & DJ

Riding bikes and DJing go hand-in-hand, right? This project was sponsored by a Japanese bicycle sharing service, and while we’re pretty sure that the video was doctored to make it was more impressive, there’s no doubt that adding MIDI control to everyday objects like a bicycle is a pretty cool endeavor but never saw the light of day.

Source: djtechtools.com

[SolDios]

The midi fighter one is wrong, it was redesigned with 2 knobs and faders into the midi fighter pro.

[yizzle]

its not wrong in regards of thread title.. Concept Controllers That Didn’t Take Off.

This prototype never made it past the design phase and instead became the Midi Fighter 3D with the analogue control coming from the unique motion sensors instead of physical components.

[SolDios]

that would mean the 3d came right after the arcade but the pro came first.

[BeatLeSS]

Source: djtechtools.com