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 Forum index » DIY Hardware and Software » Musical Interfaces
Nifty new 2-dimensional keyboard controller, the Axis-49
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MusicScienceGuy



Joined: Jun 22, 2007
Posts: 97
Location: Vancouver, Canada

PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:10 pm    Post subject:  Nifty new 2-dimensional keyboard controller, the Axis-49
Subject description: Finally an isomorphic, hexagonal, velocity-sensitive keyboard for $500
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I'm an enthusiast for the concept of consistent layout (isomorphic) 2-dimensional keyboards. But until now, if you wanted one, you either had to make your own, as I did, or buy C-thru's $2000 one.

Finally, C-Thru's smaller (98-key) keyboard is shipping.
It uses the "Harmonic table" layout, which is OK, but it can be reprogrammed as I have done, to a standard Thummer Wicki-Hayden or janko layout. It should also be possible to program it to be microtonal, as it has 2 dimensions.

I've bought one, disassembled it, and reviewed it in depth, and its a decent, well made controller.
I've also re-programmed the keys to play in Wicki-Hayden mode.

If you are interested in alternate keyboards, we finally! have one that's worth a look.
Jim Plamondon has proclaimed his Thummer project dead, so R.I.P. Thummer.
For more detail see www.C-Thru-Music.com and my blog, MusicScienceGuy.vox.com, especially "rabbit-catching-how-the-axis-49-keyboard-figures-in".

Ken Rushton, MusicScienceGuy Smile
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seraph
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Nifty new 2-dimensional keyboard controller, the Axis-49
Subject description: Finally an isomorphic, hexagonal, velocity-sensitive keyboard for $500
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MusicScienceGuy wrote:
if you wanted one, you either had to make your own, as I did, or buy C-thru's $2000 one.


you forgot Opal MIDI Keyboards Exclamation

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seraph
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Nifty new 2-dimensional keyboard controller, the Axis-49
Subject description: Finally an isomorphic, hexagonal, velocity-sensitive keyboard for $500
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MusicScienceGuy wrote:

Jim Plamondon has proclaimed his Thummer project dead, so R.I.P. Thummer.


arrow http://www.thummer.com/blog/2009/04/its-over.html

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MusicScienceGuy



Joined: Jun 22, 2007
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Nifty new 2-dimensional keyboard controller, the Axis-49
Subject description: Finally an isomorphic, hexagonal, velocity-sensitive keyboard for $500
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seraph wrote:
you forgot Opal MIDI Keyboards Exclamation

I was keeping it simple. The Opal is made by the inventor of the harmonic table concept (in some fashion affiliated with C-Thru), and is hand-made. I suspect it is more expensive yet. Ken.
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Reptil



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PostPosted: Sat May 16, 2009 7:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

thank you for the review
it was already on my "to get" list
I sold my keystation pro 88 controller keyboard

going to get the axis 64 since I need midi too
looking forward
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BobTheDog



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PostPosted: Mon May 18, 2009 5:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Reptil wrote:
tgoing to get the axis 64 since I need midi too
looking forward


Don't quite understand this bit, could you explain?

Cheers

Andy
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Reptil



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PostPosted: Mon May 18, 2009 7:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

The Axis 49 is USB only
I want to hook it up to some synth directly
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BobTheDog



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PostPosted: Mon May 18, 2009 7:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Ok, thanks for that I did not realise.

I have emailed them for a price with delivery and taxes for the UK. I wouldn't mind one and didn't realise it only had usb.
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MusicScienceGuy



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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2009 11:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Reptil wrote:
The Axis 49 is USB only
I want to hook it up to some synth directly

Be aware that the Axis-64 is an older design and uses the older midi ports (it has a usb port, but that is only for firmware upgrades). It sounds like this is what you need.

The Axis-49 uses USB-midi. Alternately, you can use an Axis-49 and a usb-to-midi-plug converter.

You may get way more instrument for your money by getting 2 Axis-49s, one for each hand, and a Korg nanoPad. See here for an example of both in action.
Ken. Cool
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BobTheDog



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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2009 11:11 am    Post subject: Re: Nifty new 2-dimensional keyboard controller, the Axis-49
Subject description: Finally an isomorphic, hexagonal, velocity-sensitive keyboard for $500
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seraph wrote:
MusicScienceGuy wrote:
if you wanted one, you either had to make your own, as I did, or buy C-thru's $2000 one.


you forgot Opal MIDI Keyboards Exclamation


£2000 for one of these, thats like a Ferrari of the keyboard controller world!

And its handmade, comes with a flight case and looks pretty nice.

Now wheres my wallet....
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Reptil



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PostPosted: Tue May 19, 2009 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

MusicScienceGuy wrote:
Reptil wrote:
The Axis 49 is USB only
I want to hook it up to some synth directly

Be aware that the Axis-64 is an older design and uses the older midi ports (it has a usb port, but that is only for firmware upgrades). It sounds like this is what you need.

The Axis-49 uses USB-midi. Alternately, you can use an Axis-49 and a usb-to-midi-plug converter.

You may get way more instrument for your money by getting 2 Axis-49s, one for each hand, and a Korg nanoPad. See here for an example of both in action.
Ken. Cool


mm yes - but I need old style midi - I want it to be very very tight, and most USB-midi converters work but introduce another bit of latency.
and I want to avoid more pieces of gear. trying finally first time in my life the KISS principle. Smile
more to the point - I'm moving away from the computer as the centerpiece of a live setup - going back to hardware sequencers - use my AMT-8 as a midi patchbay, and use the computer as just one part (sampler) - not the master clock.

Please note - that is just my idea of how things should be though.. that Axis 49 plus nanopad looks awesome in action too!
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TonE



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PostPosted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 3:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I am reading in the subject description in the beginning "Finally" then in the end "$500". I think it should mean sort of "so cheap"... which is a little only funny. Laughing
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MusicScienceGuy



Joined: Jun 22, 2007
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

TonE wrote:
I am reading in the subject description in the beginning "Finally" then in the end "$500". I think it should mean sort of "so cheap"... which is a little only funny. Laughing

Yes, it is cheap, compared to the alternatives.
Ken.
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TonE



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PostPosted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

MusicScienceGuy wrote:
Yes, it is cheap, compared to the alternatives.
As Einstein said, "anything is relative", also cheapness. But as long as the world has enough non-thinking or less-thinking consumers everything is ok. Smile
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seraph
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 3:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

these kind of controllers are not mass-produced (yet) so they are relatively expensive (even the "cheap" ones) and forget about the hand-made ones (like the Opal Chameleon)
Wink

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jksuperstar



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PostPosted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 7:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I have one, I wouldn't say it's any less quality than the typical plastic keyboard found in 99% of all synthesizers. It's certainly different, in both feel and response (not polished plastic, but something with a more tactile surface, and not the same key travel). But for a "new" instrument that most first time purchasers have NO prior experience with, it's a great introductory piece of gear compared to spending a a minimum of double the price for the next similar device - which, by the way, has the exact same physical keys and response.
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