#modular midi controller

The iPad and iOS had traditional hardware devices beat in many respects, but it still cannot compete in many others.  Take a MIDI controller like the QuNeo or Kontrol F1.  These hardware MIDI devices have the luxury of having on boards soft pads developed and manufactured to take abuse from humans, all day long.  Even if you were to buy a cheaper unit with built subpar – you wouldn’t feel too bad about damaging a replaceable piece of hardware.  On the other hand, if you beat up your iPad, it will cost you much more to get it replaced.  Soft or hard pads on a MIDI controller have been engineered to respond to the right about of force, while the iPad; not so much. [embed width="656"]http://vimeo.com/59208826[/embed] However, the iOS does have a few tricks up its sleeve, and it comes down to clever programming.  Audulus is a piece of software for the iOS that works much like Touch OSC in that it lets you create and program your own buttons and knobs on your MIDI controllers.  Even better, it allows you to chain knobs together to perform certain actions – something that hardware MIDI controllers are just beginning to explore.  It can definitely make up for not having physical buttons. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2013/02/08/audulus-update-lets-you-modulate-anything

It has been quite a while since the QuNeo made its first debut from its very own kickstarter campaign.  While at the most basic level it is only a controller (and there are many of them out there), it did have the advantage of being somewhat modular and the ability for each user to set it up the way they like.  Since then, Keith McMillen has kept on, producing a slew of gear; trying to keep up his reputation for creating “next level” gear – and for the most part he has done so.  His next creations featured control voltage output as well as many expressive and gesture features that are being integrated into the newest types of mixers today. [embed width="656"]http://youtu.be/s9mdfgfJbDM[/embed] So, does of this new gear to drool over make us forget about the humble QuNeo that started it all?  Have users actually embraced the QuNeo in the ways that they said they would?  This short video reveals that indeed, the QuNeo has found many uses – and these are uses that surpass the needs of a DJ.  The QuNeo has actually become somewhat of an instrument in its own right as you can see users banging out drum riffs as well as intelligent piano scores. http://www.synthtopia.com/content/2013/04/12/quneo-performance-techniques/