yizzle Posted December 16, 2013 Posted December 16, 2013 In the last five years, we’ve seen a number of individuals and small companies build digital instruments that allow for unique ways of playing music in the electronic age. Going beyond traditional controllers, these devices all have features tailored particularly for live performances that make them uniquely playable by musicians and DJs alike.Ztar ClipperType Of Instrument: Wireless Ableton Live Controller (MIDI) Price: $1295.00Availability: Built to orderManufacturer: Starr LabsFinally, Ableton Live users can look like rockstars! The Ztar Clippers are fingerboard controllers with a full fretboard’s worth of velocity-sensitive keys that have RGB LEDs underneath each one. The keys can be used for clip triggering, or instrument/drumpad performance, or a combination of both. There’s additional expression pads, knobs, a slider and a joystick on the body for all kinds of control. The unit is wireless (range of up to 250 feet), and a built-in battery that powers the controller for up to 8 hours. Watch it in action in this performance vid (starts at 1:07)Dualo-Du-TouchType Of Instrument: Portable Controller / Synthesizer / SequencerPrice: €890 / ~ $1223Availability: Preorders available, shipping April 2014Manufacturer: DualoDualo is designed to be an all-in-one device, with a unique 5 octave chromatic keyboard that rocks three color LEDs behind each of the 116 keys. The hardware also has three touch sliders and a gyroscope to detection motion of the unit. It can trigger its own internal synthesizer (112 instruments, 4 percussion kits, 8 effects, pitch, modulation, and an onboard sequencer) or act as a wired/wireless MIDI controller for computer software. The battery lasts for 8 hours, and it has a built in soundcard with stereo + headphone out. Watch it in action in this demo video:Alphasphere NexusType Of Instrument: MIDI ControllerPrice: $699 (street price) / £768.90Availability: Available nowManufacturer: Nu-DesineYou’ve likely seen the Alphasphere appear in coverage of music technology conventions over the last four years. Having been under development and released at a more expensive price, this year the team at Nu-Design released the Nexus model, which brought the price down significantly and allowed for international distribution. The orb-shaped controller has squishy pressure-sensitive pads that allow for polyphonic MIDI aftertouch. Watch it in this performance video from Koven:O-BowType Of Instrument: Laser-based MIDI Bow ControllerAvailability: Still in developmentDesigner: Dylan MenziesThe cleverly-named O-Bow was born out of frustration. Designer Dylan Menzies wanted to take up violin, but couldn’t quite get the hang of the fingering and vibrato side of playing instrument. Having more than a passing an interest in music technology, he built a better solution – a laser sensor bow MIDI controller. It’s still a prototype, but the O-Bow can track bowing speed and horizontal angle at high to create different sounds based on both parameters. It doesn’t require a real bow, either – just any object with a grained surface.ArtiphonType Of Instrument: iPhone MIDI controllerPrice: $799Availability: In beta testing – units available to reserve Designer: Mike ButeraThe Artiphon takes the idea of plugging a MIDI controller into a mobile device and inverts it – instead, an iPhone 5 is plugged into this MIDI controller. The beautiful hardwood Artiphone can be used with any MIDI accepting iOS application, and has a strumboard and fretboard on either side of the phone cradle. Change the instrument setting (violin, guitar, bass, banjo, and custom) on the device and the MIDI data changes to reflect.Drum PantsType Of Instrument: Pants-attached MIDI drumpadsPrice: Start at $99Availability: Kickstarter underwayDesigner: Tyler FreemanThese Bluetooth-ready drum pads are designed to be worn – particularly under pants (not included). Designed in our own San Francisco, they’re currently seeking Kickstarter funding for these wearable velocity sensors. A typical kit includes four velcro-secured sensors to be worn on your legs and slapped with your hands, and two sensors to put in your shoes to act as foot pedals. We were skeptical at first, but drummers seem to really be enthused on the project – and since it sends MIDI, you can use it to control any sound you like. Pants not included:Crystall BallType Of Instrument: MIDI Controller with optical sensorsPrice: €499 / ~ $686Availability: Available nowManufacturer: NaonextDesgined in France, the Crystall Ball has five optical sensors that detect distances between 2 – 13 inches that allow for quick modulation – and since they’re laid out right next to each other, you can move your hand around the ball and manipulate different parameters rapidly. It also has a keypad underneath – making it look like a cross between a gaming controller and, well, a crystal ball.EigenharpsType Of Instrument: Mega MIDI controller with breathpipe Price: £459 / £1955 / £4950 (Pico / Tau / Alpha)Availability: Available NowManufacturer: EigenlabsThe Eigenharps are MIDI instruments that focus around bringing breath control to the software world. All of the models have a breathpipe used for manipulating different elements of the playing sound. The high-end Alpha model sports 120 keys, a built-in sequencer/looper, and two touch strips on either edge of the unit, all coming out via USB to a computer. It’s a MIDI controller that looks like it’s straight out of the Mos Eisley cantina – see it in action in this cover of Moby’s “Extreme Ways”:VectrType Of Instrument: 3D modular Eurorack control interface Price: $350Availability: Kickstarter underwayManufacturer: HackmeThe Hackme Vectr allows modular synth enthusiasts a chance to have real three dimensional control over their kit, with a sensor that detects your hands X, Y, and Z position overtop of it and outputs signals for each. The unit has red and blue LEDs that change intensity based the input it is receiving.It also features some pretty awesome gesture control capabilities, including gesture looping similar what the Korg Kaoss Pads have – watch the Kickstarter demo to get an idea of how it all works.HONORABLE MENTIONS• Choppertone - Midi Fighter-inspired mashup controller by a Nick Francis• Slapperoo - Electric percussion stick made for slapping• Pocket Piano MIDI - Fun, simple keyboard synths and MIDI controllers from Critter & Guitari• Wavedrum - Percussion synthesizer pad from KorgSource: djtechtools.com Quote
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