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7 crazy but cool MIDI controllers

By Ben Rogerson
published 21 October 2013

Bored of your keyboard? Here are some out there alternatives

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Go beyond convention

Go beyond convention

Mention MIDI controllers to most hi-tech musicians and their thoughts will probably turn to keyboards and other desktop-bound devices with knobs, faders, pads and buttons on them.

But these aren't the only bits of hardware that you can use to control your music software. A parallel world exists in which other MIDI devices - ones that look more like they belong in a sci-fi film than a recording studio - are released and offer innovative and creative methods of engaging with your DAW and plugins.

So embrace the otherworldliness and take a look at what's on offer. We've bypassed the homebrewed and 'in-the-pipeline' projects in favour of products that are actually available to buy right now, though if you want a truly 'out there' controller, you might have to accept that you're going to have to pay top dollar for it...

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Page 1 of 8
nu desine AlphaSphere (£1000)
'Can I kick it?' That's probably not such a good idea

nu desine AlphaSphere (£1000)

We've all owned pieces of technology that we've been tempted to pick up and throw across the room in frustration, but in the case of AlphaSphere, you might wonder if you should do it as a matter of course.

Each of the 48 pads is pressure-sensitive, meaning that you can manipulate a sound once you've triggered it, and their hexagonal layout is designed to ensure that it's easy to play notes that sound right together.

The fact that the firmware and software are open source expands the creative potential considerably. nu desine has given you the ball - now you need to decide if you want to run with it.

Find out more about nu desine AlphaSphere

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Page 2 of 8
Eigenlabs Eigenharp (from £459)
Elegant and expressive

Eigenlabs Eigenharp (from £459)

Often referred to as a 'space oboe' or the kind of instrument that you'd expect to see being played in the Star Wars Cantina band, the Eigenharp originally surfaced in 2009.

The instrument's '3D' keys are its highlight - they can detect the movement of your finger to within a micron, and measure pressure-sensitivity for adjusting volume, side-to-side movement for tweaking effects, and up/down movement for changing pitch. And all of this is on a per-note basis.

The price of the Eigenharp Alpha (£4950) puts it out of the financial ballpark for most people, but if you want a taste of the Eigenharp experience, the Pico model can be yours for £459.

Find out more about Eigenlabs Eigenharp

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Page 3 of 8
Akai EWI USB (£279)
You've got the digital USB horn, so why don't you blow it?

Akai EWI USB (£279)

We can't imagine that the EWI is Akai's best-selling USB MIDI controller - the company also produces a wide range of keyboard and pad-based devices that we suspect do swifter business - but it's certainly the most eye-catching.

Offering wind instrumentalists a chance to make electronic music, it features multiple fingering modes (stop it) for sax, flute, oboe and other players. The supplied Garritan Aria Player software gives you more than 75 sounds to play out of the box, and best of all, that mouthpiece is dishwasher-safe.

Find out more about Akai EWI USB

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Page 4 of 8
Karlax (€4,700)
Ready, aim... play

Karlax (€4,700)

Part controller, part next-gen sniper rifle, the Karlax looks like it's been built more for military than musical purposes.

It's a wireless device that senses movement and features velocity-sensitive pistons, continuous keys, switches and a mini joystick. Who knows what kind of music you can make with it, but if you pull this bad boy out on stage, you can be pretty sure that no one's going to mess with you (though you may also trigger a security alert).

Find out more about Karlax

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Page 5 of 8
The Skoog (£649)
Squidgy and squeezy

The Skoog (£649)

Pressing or hitting something to make a sound is one of the oldest pleasures known to man, and the soft and spongy Skoog is designed to make it a particularly enticing prospect.

Designed primarily for special needs music, music therapy and inclusive education, The Skoog is a soft, square device that features five touch-sensitive surfaces (including five large coloured buttons). Each of these can be used to trigger a different type of sound.

Allow our old friend Brett Domino to show you how it works...

Find out more about The Skoog

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Page 6 of 8
Naonext Crystal Ball (€500)
Have we seen the future?

Naonext Crystal Ball (€500)

Looking like something off the control deck of an intergalactic space cruiser, we certainly didn't see the Crystal Ball coming.

It's all business down at the bottom, with a keypad that looks like nothing out of the ordinary, but up top you'll find the dome-like structure that houses five optical sensors. Use these two control methods together and the creative possibilities really start to ramp up.

Find out more about Naonext Crystal Ball

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Page 7 of 8
Numark Orbit (£100)
Out of this world?

Numark Orbit (£100)

Looking like some kind of extravagant '90s videogame pad, Numark's Orbit is billed as a "first-of-its-kind wireless handheld DJ performance controller".

We certainly haven't seen anything quite like it before: it offers 16 backlit pads that can be used in four selectable banks. These are designed to be used for adding and blending effects, launching hot cues and samples, and more.

Other controls include four virtual knobs, a touch-sensitive control wheel and two shoulder buttons. A 2-axis accelerometer is built in, though we're not sure if the Orbit is Sega Megadrive or Super Nintendo compatible.

Find out more about Numark Orbit

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Ben Rogerson
Ben Rogerson
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I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it. 

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