Gigantic Ambassador controller built to handle Ableton Live

Some fairly fantastic homegrown controllers have graced our eyes before, but seriously, we have no idea how a human brain could actually keep track of all the possibilities on this one. Regrettably, we have no idea how many square inches (feet?) this thing encompasses, but the aptly-dubbed Ambassador was reportedly built with arcade buttons, an aluminum top panel and a wooden case with the sole purpose of controlling Ableton Live music software. Of course, a custom driver had to be created just to take everything in, and quite frankly, we're not too sure this thing was actually hand built as opposed to being ganked from a UFO's control hub.

[Via MAKE]

[rock99rock @ Mar 26th 2008 10:46AM]

"I'm givin her all she can take captain, I DON'T- HAVE- THE POWER!"

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 26th 2008 10:47AM]

Kind of reminds me of the original Xbox's Steel Battallion controller...

[Phoenix @ Mar 26th 2008 10:50AM]

Was that the game where you drove the mech and needed about 7 hands to use the controller, plus both feet?

I remember playing that once... Starting your mech took like 7 presses of buttons that were then used for nothing else... there was even a windscreen wiper button!

[daaper @ Mar 26th 2008 10:56AM]

yes

http://www.golem.de/0212/23214-steel%20battalion%20controller.jpg

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 26th 2008 10:59AM]

That game always looked really fun... Had a lot of cool features- definitely wish I could have tried it out.

[Brian @ Mar 26th 2008 10:54AM]

Must... comment... to... change... password...

[Idlemind @ Mar 26th 2008 10:57AM]

There are so many buttons on there it makes more sense to just use the keyboard.

[EricR @ Mar 26th 2008 11:00AM]

I would like to see this with OLED keys

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 26th 2008 11:03AM]

Optimus-Ambassador.

[Persio @ Mar 26th 2008 11:07AM]

Looks like an arcade controler... from SFII

[jamie @ Mar 26th 2008 11:08AM]

Where's the joystick....????

[ReggieXuk @ Mar 26th 2008 11:12AM]

Daft Punk would be all over this shits

[Phoenix @ Mar 26th 2008 11:32AM]

nah, they have Lemurs. Much better

[Jack @ Mar 26th 2008 11:36AM]

they also have a light up pyramid which is awesome

[Phoenix @ Mar 26th 2008 12:33PM]

they have a light up pyramid with Lemurs mounted in it! It's like the best thing ever!

[mymaclife @ Mar 26th 2008 11:16AM]

Try doing a hard reset on this baby!

[Bucky @ Mar 26th 2008 11:35AM]

If the keys lit up, it would be one hell of a game of SIMON.

[Daniele @ Mar 26th 2008 11:41AM]

Is Windows Vista capable, there is the ctrl-alt-del button!

[Josh L @ Mar 26th 2008 11:45AM]

Do these keys change colors, or did they just arbitrarily make some red because they ran out of white stickers?

[Beatrat @ Mar 26th 2008 11:49AM]

If you've used Ableton Live then I think this controller makes more sense.
I'm no expert user but I see huge potential in this interface. I want one!

[Sync @ Mar 26th 2008 12:20PM]

I've found a better DIY Ableton controller. If you use Ableton for DJing, you'll understand.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/x-mob/2342982455/

[crho85 @ Mar 26th 2008 12:29PM]

Where's the any key? I cant even find esck, citarle or pigup!

[Brian @ Mar 26th 2008 12:33PM]

He said "ganked"...sweet.

[DQKennard @ Mar 26th 2008 12:52PM]

Where's the steampunk version? If you're going to do something like this, there should be lacquered wood, brass 'n stuff. Except for the OLED keys.

[blackfeather @ Mar 26th 2008 1:36PM]

but can it play... chinese checkers?

[Karl Hackswell @ Mar 26th 2008 1:47PM]

I wonder how many people on here are actually Familiar with Ableton Live? Its an awesome software, ive used it for DJing and creating loops for various bands ive played in.

[fuma @ Mar 26th 2008 2:07PM]

this is so ghetto, come on engadget, can do better than recycled arcade buttons!

http://www.jamespatten.com/audiopad/

This one is 5 years old now, and blows this controller away!

[EMaster @ Mar 26th 2008 3:21PM]

Does it play Street fighter II as well? Those look like arcade buttons.

[Jordan @ Mar 26th 2008 4:09PM]

Does it play DOOM?

[Paul Agee @ Mar 26th 2008 8:19PM]

Those are standard arcade pushbuttons in the middle. They are 1.32" across so if you measure that and figure the rest of the width it comes out to around 15 1/2" wide.

[Jake Leenerts @ Mar 26th 2008 8:23PM]

Looks more like nerd art.

[Reekdik @ Apr 12th 2008 11:24AM]

i want one. bring it to the club w/ my laptop and rock up dem loops