On 18 Aug 2013, at 17:57, Jon Carroll wrote:
Yep and I've talked to one of the development team for it on KVR. Pretty
responsive to *some* questions, not very responsive to others, and the
*only* suggestion they took was to include a 61 key version.
In the
KVR thread, they (specifically, Simon, their founder) seem quite responsive and listening - just not agreeing with everyone on everything. And they did make the biggest, and most requested, change by far - the addition of a 61-key model.
Keep in mind as well that they are (according to their project description on IndieGoGo) well past the prototype stage and really in pre-production; so any changes are much more expensive in forcing them to go further back to the drawing board. So it's not entirely surprising that they're very picky about which changes they decide to make at this point.
And I pretty mush said on KVR that its cheaper to find an old working VFX,
and that the new controller really doesn't give any advantage (partly
because they went with almost no controls beyond the most basic knobs, only
7-biit MIDI, etc. That and no background from the builders...
It's fairly straightforward to buy other (small) controllers to serve all your other control needs; this particular controller is aiming to do one thing well, and in particular, in doing one new and innovative thing and bringing it to market. And it is that core new thing - their 'swing' measurement - that is the point of the product, the thing that gives it a unique selling point. And that does things that an old VFX does not do; and further, it's a new controller, rather than a 20+-year-old one, whose electronics are ageing.
Regarding the use of NRPN MIDI control events, that's something that will not necessarily be an issue for all potential customers; and it's really fundamentally a software issue – and there was a
response from Simon on that thread where he says that is a very good point, so who knows? maybe that too will be addressed.
Also, the builders
do have a bit of background: in 2010 they released the '
evo Master keyboard' that has sensors on the tops of the keys for expression by moving your fingers lengthwise along the keys – somewhat similar to the
TouchKeys project is developing as an add-on.
Considering all the points you raise, I still think that this is a very interesting product - and in particular at the price: US$499 for the 61-key version on the IndieGoGo project. And that's for a solidly built product, with some very innovative expression. Sure, it may not be the be-all and end-all of keyboard controllers, but then, for that kind of money, you'd be silly to expect that; and what you do get seems to be quite good, and in particular, seems to achieve what they're aiming to offer.
Best wishes,
// Christian
----- Original Message -----
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From: "Christian Brunschen" <cb@....se>
To: <Ensoniq-VFX-SD@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2013 6:20 AM
Subject: [Ensoniq-VFX-SD] Polyphonic Aftertouch – a new(er) take
Ensoniq owners have long been spoiled with polyphonic aftertouch. But, for
anyone who is looking to get another keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch (or
something similar), there aren't that many affordable options, other than
another used Ensoniq keyboard – and those are getting rarer, and are of
course no longer particularly new; but there just might be another option in
the making. There's an IndieGoGo campaign for the "NDVR Note" master
keyboard, to be available in 25, 49 and 61-key variants, starting at US$235
for the 25-key variant:
http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2013/07/07/ndvr-note-master-keyboard-promises-polyphonic-aftertouch-starting-at-235/
NDVR Note Master Keyboard Promises Polyphonic Aftertouch, Starting At $235
Endevour.de has announced a new MIDI keyboard controller, the NDVR Note
Master Keyboard, that promises to deliver polyphonic aftertouch, full-size
keys and an aluminum body – all starting at $235.
The NDVR Note is a USB MIDI Master-Keyboard, with what the designers call
‘analog keys’. The NDVR has 25 or 49 analog keys that respond based on how
deeply they are pressed.
While the dimensions and playing feel are much like on other keyboards, it
includes optical distance sensors that determine how deeply each key is
being pressed.
These sensors function continuously, smoothly determining the interval
between the upward and downward movements of each key. It’s like Polyphonic
Aftertouch, but with a continuous range of expression for each key.
The campaign alas doesn't seem to have gotten very close to its goal:
they've raised just under $10000 of their $65000 goal, with only 20 days
left. Nevertheless, I'm tempted.
(Note: I have no connection to the campaign – I was just searching for
keyboard controllers that support polyphonic aftertouch, and came across
this.)
// Christian
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