Killer Controllers...

AXiS-64 pro MIDI controller

http://www.c-thru-music.com/cgi/?page=prod_axis-64

Speciality: On this midi keyboard notes that fit together are placed close to each other

Price:

1700 $

Description:

Unlock your musical genius

Have you ever thought there must be a better way to understand musical harmony, and a better way to put music at your fingertips? ... This puts musical notes into a consistent whole which is easy to use and helps to unlock creativity. The 'Harmonic Table' (HT) is the note arrangement used, and the AXiS-64 is a MIDI controller musical instrument.

The Harmonic Table

Harmonic Table What you feel and what you see meshes perfectly with what you hear using the Harmonic Table note lattice.

The obvious difference between this and other music interfaces is the key surface, which gives you a geometric overview of musical harmonies. Learning it is absorbing, and using it is inspirational, and fun.

The layout of notes on the keysurface helps you expand your creativity and productivity in a live or studio situation.

The Harmonic Table Key Surface Layout

The keysurface is designed as a simple and intuitive music interface. It puts the "Harmonic Table" (HT) note layout at your fingertips. The Harmonic Table is an arrangement of musical notes in an hexagonal lattice. It has a logic that is compelling. It is surprisingly effective for learning, playing, and understanding music. It makes an awesome tool for composition.

Note relationships

Diagram-1The Harmonic Table is arranged so that starting from any note, each axis (and any direction) gives notes of a specific musical interval.

Starting from any note (the middle of the diagram), the next note up-to-the-left is a minor third above the starting note. The next note directly above is a fifth above the starting note, and the next note up-to-the-right is a major third above the starting note.

Semitones are in horizontal lines, like the semitone between Minor and Major 3rd.

In this arrangement, a minor triad (three note chord) has the shape of a left-facing triangle, and a major triad has the shape of a right-facing triangle.

The Harmonic Table pattern can be extended in all directions, and all intervals, chords and scales have the same shape in any key. See some chord shapes.

Why is that good?

Firstly you get a direct way to see and imagine musical harmony. Of course, when you play an HT keyboard it's see-hear-feel. The Shape = The Sound. You don't really need to understand anything about sharps and flats (the black notes), and what makes them different to get going with it. In case you're already used to sharps and flats, on the keysurface we've made the black notes darker. However, in the Harmonic Table all notes are equal, and all have the same set of relationships with their neighbours.

Fingering

On many instruments, to play a chord or scale, fingering depends on your starting note. For instance, on a guitar with the usual tuning, the fingering of a scale will be different on the lower three strings compared to on the top three strings. (On the other hand, like bar chords, with the HT, same shape = same chord.)

Perhaps an easier example is the piano keyboard where there are twelve ways to finger a major scale (depending on your starting note). Eg C-major scale, start with your thumb on C: although this won't do for C# which is a black note and requires starting with a finger not a thumb. On the HT keysurface the fingerings for C-major are the same for all major scales. The same is true for any scale or chord. Once you know a shape you know it in every key.

There is always more than one way to produce the same result on an Harmonic Table keysurface. This is because there is more than one instance of each note. A higher note can be found both to the left and to the right of a starting note. In practice, this makes it more flexible to use rather than more difficult to learn.

Using an HT keyboardOverall

The Harmonic Table helps you get to grips with music. All twelve notes of our Western scale fit into a logical pattern in a 2-dimensional surface.

As you use it, the layout is quickly assimilated and becomes familiar and natural. You'll play recognisable tunes wihtin minutes, although being able to improvise will obviously take time.

With a little persistance you'll find that you can create with it much more easily than it might appear at first sight. Even DJ's can use it :-)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ4nPcGCGIs

the question is: **WHAT MAKES THIS SHIT SO EXPENSIVE??? **

it's a revolutionnary concept... but finally it's just a thing with tons of knobs no? nothing more than a rearranged midi-keyboard... or did i miss something?

Originally posted by : liquidbass

the question is: **WHAT MAKES THIS SHIT SO EXPENSIVE??? **

it's a revolutionnary concept... but finally it's just a thing with tons of knobs no? nothing more than a rearranged midi-keyboard... or did i miss something?

something that looks like this HAS to be expensive. ^^

plus: not velocity sensitive

yes but the principle of a keyboard that is rearranged shouldnt be that expensive... no?

Originally posted by : liquidbass

yes but the principle of a keyboard that is rearranged shouldnt be that expensive... no?

a designer-chair is nothing more then a rearranged chair, still a lot more expensive too ;)

(was just being silly about the reason)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ5yoUqGRa8

HAHA

Edit LiquidB.: URLed the code

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ6xEfTiLpw&feature=related

Tim Exile Plays with his "joystick" cock

Edit LiquidB.: Cleaned the code

Originally posted by : Midiot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ5yoUqGRa8

HAHA

nothing special imo hes just triggering the breaks with those buttons (bass/kick/...) same principle as a triggerfinger/korg Kontroll/... just any keyboard with drumpads...

exept it looks kind of douchy XD

yeah it looks really silly and I doubt it works for real, looks and sounds like he's pretending :)