NDVR Note Master Keyboard Promises Polyphonic Aftertouch, July 8, 2013
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ndvr-note-midi-controller

Endevour.de has announced a new MIDI keyboard controller, the NDVR Note Master Keyboard, that promises to deliver polyphonic aftertouch, full-size keys and an aluminum body – all starting at $235.

Analog Keys

The NDVR Note is a USB MIDI Master-Keyboard, with what the designers call ‘analog keys’. The NDVR has 25 or 49 analog keys that respond based on how deeply they are pressed.

While the dimensions and playing feel are much like on other keyboards, it includes optical distance sensors that determine how deeply each key is being pressed:

ndvr-midi-keyboard-controller

These sensors function continuously, smoothly determining the interval between the upward and downward movements of each key. It’s like Polyphonic Aftertouch, but with a continuous range of expression for each key.

Conventional keyboards record movement using two points consecutively measured during the motion. The time difference allows the speed of the key stroke to be determined. The NDVR Note adopts the same principle, but refined, boasting not two points of measurement, but a theoretically limitless number of such points, sampled at 1 kHz with an internal 12-bit resolution.

By mapping this movement to parameters within your MIDI synths, the depth that they key is depressed can be used to change any aspect of each individual note in a chord.

Features:

  • Class-compliant USB MIDI Interface – the Note has a 100% MIDI-compatible interface and generates “Polyphonic Aftertouch” MIDI messages to transmit the Key-Swing. Connect the USB interface to the host system and the unit can be used with any synth software.
  • Standard-sized Keys
  • Anodized Aluminum Housing
  • VST/AU Plugin – The 100% Class-Compliant USB MIDI interface guarantees compatibility with common music software. A VST/AU plugin, though, can be used to let you use the Note’s ‘swing’ expression with software that can’t support it directly.

The NDVR Note is currently under development and being funded as an IndieGoGo project. 25 and 49 note versions are planned, with prices starting at US $235. See the project site for details.

[Synthtopia]