Homebrew MIDI controller takes performance to a new, flashier level (video)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted June 11th 2010 9:59AM
posted June 11th 2010 9:59AM
While programs like Ableton Live have truly democratized electronic music making, most hardware interfaces can't hold a candle style-wise to traditional instruments (or even the MIDI gear of the Awesome 80s). Rather than merely bemoan this depressing fact, however, a musician from Zurich named Zander Ander has built his own controller -- and it's truly a thing of beauty. Based on the uCApps.de MIDI hardware platform, this thing employs custom acrylic knobs, colored LEDs, and a whole bunch of buttons to bring his DAW controls into the real world -- while kicking the ass of controllers like AKAI's APC40 in the process. But don't take our word for it! Check it out for yourself after the break.
Rock Band 4?
I was hoping it was going to be a sequencer. That thing's just a flashy mute button.
Supra-cool UI!
This is so reminiscent of the Hotz Box of the early 90's with Jimmy Hotz
@mightytalldude Ho! You're damn right! I didn't knew about the Hotz Box but the UI's similarities are way too obvious. Thanks, you nailed it!
Wow, respect due!
@thisNthat DJ Rabbi? Is that you?
@Khris
Who removed my comment? And, most interestingly, why? Is the word Hebrew insulting somebody? Just that you know, I'm half Hebrew.
@thisNthat
Twas the first thing I read myself...thought it might be an article on Infected Mushroom....
Wouldn't an iPad or two or three be cheaper and a whole lot easier?
Is there any future in dedicated controllers that can be replaced by a general-purpose device with a touchscreen?
@Zhuzhu
sure they probably could be replaced with a general purpose touchscreen device, but then where would the fun, creative, original part of projects like this be?
@Chewy71
There's still the programming...
I like hardware projects too, but there's a limit to how much I want to reinvent the wheel, er, knob.
Seriosulsy, dude has some skills. Enough said.
Well at least it's intuitive to use.
As soon as I see the word homebrew, I know it's something interesting, but hombrew is almost always amazing.
@blenderman345: dang, I spelled that hombrew, I know it's homebrew, musta missed that 'e'. Here's the correct comment [dang it Engadget, why not an edit button?]
As soon as I see the word homebrew, I know it's something interesting. Homebrew is almost always amazing.
What did that do besides turn on and off some patterns and up and down some effects levels? I mean, the flashing lights are cool and all, but I didn't see anything that a 10-year-old sequencer couldn't do (besides the flashy lights, that is).
I like the track though.
@n0rb3rt
Its a midi controller for a sequencer software, so that is exactly what it does... Its not an intrument, its not even a real sequencer... but since the sequencer is nowadays a computer software, you need hardware tools... there are some out there, this just looks cooler than others (at least for a few seconds.. I'd prefer a standard looking controller in the long run... if it comes with motorized sliders, and endless rotating knobs)