30 years on and MIDI is alive and kicking. But what about the next 30 years? What about current and future alternatives? G. W. Childs investigates the emerging technology for musicians.
It might not be new, but the Moog Slim Phatty still draws gasps of admiration from musicians everywhere. Mo Volans digs into this modern classic by Moog to find out how it stacks up.
Arturia announces Holiday season deals throughout November and December 2013. Pick up and Minibrute or SparkLE and get some instruments/packs for free!
Nektar, the Californian music gear makers, are now shipping their latest and greatest controller keyboard: Impact LX 49. Priced very competitively, this keyboard is also packed with useful features.
We interviewed the crew behind the Seaboard when it was a prototype and were left mightily impressed by the innovative playability and control on offer. You've got to play it to believe it though...
In a world where we try to have one device do everything (iPhone I'm looking at you), it's refreshing that Akai have created the MPX8 with specialist sample player and MIDI controller functionality.
Probably the most talked about analog synths in 2013 are from Korg. G. W. Childs wasted no time getting hands on with the Volca Keys, which at under $150 is a steal, but how does it sound and perform?
Now up to $300 less, MPC Renaissance and MPC Studio now feature updated MPC Software with standalone functionality and new MIDI Control Mode for '¨mapping to other DAWs. Check out the good news below.
Searching for a new MIDI controller? Uninspired by what's on offer? UK based company, Machinewerks, have placed their vision of the perfect bit of kit on Kick Starter. Mo Volans finds out more...
If you're into MIDI controllers, you've probably lusted over Livid Instruments gear. And now you can create your own controller with Builder DIY kits for the Livid Brain & Brain Jnr. platforms.
Last week Novation announced 3 tasty new products. Along with the Launch Control and the Launchkey Mini, the Launchpad Mini is set to to appeal to the iPad generation, as well as the Mac and PC crowd.
On the face of it the Alesis QX61 appears to be just another MIDI controller keyboard with knobs, sliders and pads. But, is there more to the QX61 than meets the eye? Mike Watkinson finds out.
So, you've got a drum pattern in your head that you want to get into your DAW, but are lacking a drum pad / MIDI keyboard. Enter Pulse controller which Toby Pitman discovers is a little known gem.
Do you use (or lust after) Livid Instruments' many controllers/instruments? Have you ever wondered how they are made, and by who? What's it like inside Livid HQ? We snuck in to find out...
Can you ever have too many MIDI controllers? Of course not! Tadhg Leonard gets hands...in (sic) the Hot Hand USB MIDI Controller for some Sci-Fi style wearable tech control. But how effective is it?
Arturia's Spark was critically acclaimed by Mo Volans earlier in 2013, so how doe the slimmed down, more portable Spark LE perform? Find out in our detailed review.
If you want to play impossible (or just tricky) patterns and chords on your keyboard, Logic Pro X's Chord Trigger is the MIDI FX plug-in of your dreams. G. W. Childs tests it out.
Creating interesting sonic textures in Reason just got a whole lot cooler! Mo Volans shows how to create super modulated instruments with a lot of crazy modulation routings involved.
Buttons, pads, flashing lights. You've seen them all before in a MIDI controller, right? So, what does Numark's Orbit controller bring to the mix that makes it so impressive? G. W. Childs finds out.
Sturdy, lightweight and portable, the Oxygen 49 MIDI Keyboard Controller by M-Audio is under the spotlight in this review. Hollin Jones puts this on his fast fingers and DAW brain in this test.