Designer Simon Kemper let us know about some updates to the design of the NDVR Note master keyboard, based on feedback, here and elsewhere:
- There is now a Note 61. Featuring a FATAR TP/8SK keybed.
- All devices are now equipped with a hardware MIDI jack.
- All devices feature standard footpedal jacks.
- Hardware user elements are now on the left.
The NDVR Note is a new keyboard controller design that features polyphonic aftertouch, based on how deeply each individual key is pressed.
Here is an overview of the NDVR Note:
The NDVR Note is being funded as an IndieGoGo project. It’s currently at about $10,000 of its $65,000 fundraising goal. The campaign will only receive funds if at least $65,000 is raised by its deadline.
Years ago I enjoyed using Poly AT on my ensoniq keyboards for all kinds of things. It has seemed odd to me that more keyboard players and manufacturers didn’t embrace it since it is the only per-note, real-time control stream there is.
The NDVR (“endeavor”) Note seems quite different — but good different. The ability to enable/disable the control via footswitch was a welcome addition. And the potential to calculate velocity in new ways is also very exciting. But the thing that most has me jazzed is that they kept the price quite low.
I’m in for a 61-key. Of course, if they don’t get enough folks to pre-order via the kickstarter, well that will be disappointing to say the least. Come on, synthies!!
I really wish this project to succeed , if I can just afford it it will be the day before the deadline for a 61 key .
Instead of expected heavy promotion and promised new player videos things went quiet after launch .
I really hope NDVR can make the final push that reaches their target .
There are some unanswered qustions in forum threads I think Simon should go back through and clear up , especially in KVR forum about key behaviour and whether it can behave like old polyAT where the key reaches the bottom of its velocity travel and then begins to transmit AT 0-127 “pressure”.
I think there is still confusion because , whilst they equate their “keyswing” to “polyAT” in the written explanation , we see from their key action drawing that keyswing is 0-100% and THEN polyAT begins its range .Whilst this does seem to replicate the “pressure” of old polyAT , it isnt clear how this relates to keyswing , or whether the AT pressure would give 0-127 after full key depression .
This all seems to be related to a ratio parameter in the software , yet for true old “pressure” simulation surely its not so much a ratio of keytravel , so much as polyAt “pressure” starting when the key has reached the keybed .
i hope this campaign succeed, unfourtunatly it seems it will not, while it is in my eyes the most interesting thing to happen to keyboards since along time… Prophet 12 was a disappointment, so soft synths it is… and this is the tactile that enables the expressiveness. this post is probably not read or not understood and it doesnt matter, because what really matters is that i expressed… on the internet…. i let out ideas from my brain onto an international computer network… I will probably get the 61 key version, money is being prepared… my girl semi broke up with me, i love her… I lied to her and it seemed to work and im getting her back… thats whats so cool about lying… you can do bad stuff and get your girlfriend back by just using untruth… now you might ask… what does this have to do with the Endeavor Note? The answer to this question is complicated and is not the scope of this post, but considering i am a liar and lies can be truthes… i will say everything… and you will belive me… and so i become right… and all mighty… like god… see god is my friend… sometimes he gets bored playing god and gives me the divine controller… which is probably unimaginable to all you… it has a USB-9999 connection, and you think USB-3 is fast..
my illegal download has just finished, which means i no longer need to entertain myself with this post… good bye. and good luck NDVR (such a cheesy name btw, “Endeavor” was better)
Lovely keyboard, and now there’s 4 and 5 octave versions of it. Nice. 2 octaves sound like a bad joke, but I can understand that some people need a small keyboard because they are more portable. However, for serious use at least a 4 octave keyboard is a must.
This is great news. Now I don’t really have a reason anymore not to ordner one except maybe for the fact that I have no idea where I should put it.
I, like others, am really pulling for NDVR to succeed with this project. It sounds like an overstatement, but I think the Note has the potential to change the momentum of keyboard technology toward a much-needed positive direction. For the most part, keyboards of today are relying on the exact same features as they were 30 years ago, and in many cases, they’ve DEvolved (cheaper keys and build quality, no poly-AT, dwindling instances of even channel AT, no breath control, etc.). This could very well wake up other manufacturers and start an ’80s-esque resurgence of keyboard ubiquity (puzzling that 99%+ of music made today has at least some electronic component and yet keyboard technology is going so pitiably nowadays).
It’s a shame that it got off to a hot start and has now stagnated. Last I heard anything from Simon, he’d gone on a vacation. That was a few weeks ago now. Maybe there’s going to be some big announcement soon?
I’d just like to quote a poster (Jonathan Stubbs) from the Indiegogo page. This suggestion seems very useful and may be the deciding factor in whether the project gets through.
“Would it be possible that a deep pocketed retailer like Sweetwater, B & H, or even Gtr Ctr could pre-order 50-100 units and be the first shops to sell them in the states? Or maybe a few specialty synth stores could pre-order a few of each configuration. Maybe we can send some links out to our local keyboard shops”
I truly wish NDVR all the luck in the world. If I can think of any other outlets to get the word out, I will do so.
-C_C (bvc from the KVR forums)
@C_C , yes I so want this to happen , and am therefore disappointed at both the public response to date , but also I must say the way NDVR seem to have disappeared on the forums when they should be proactive with new videos and responding to queries to show how responsive they are .
I think there should have been much more publicity BEFORE they opened the crowdfunding, with demos of a 4 or 5 octave with a real keyboard player to really show the possibilities of this , and a longer indiegogo campaign period … Announcing this out of the blue , with people unexpectedly having to find the money up front in only two months in the current economic climate may explain the low uptake so far …(it does my own , can just make deadline thanks to payday 2 days before).
As they are German based , maybe Thomann , who supply most of Europe and apparently provide massive European warehousing for the likes of Behringer , and have their own brands should be the people they approach for a bulk order . I really think there would be a demand over the long term , but fear many potential buyers cant make the short deadline , so this would solve the problem .
I also think the fact it offers release velocity has been underplayed , which I’m happy to discover most of my synths respond to , though I’ve never had the keyboard to play with this .
BTW in the list of poly AT responsive synths (and release velocity! ) add Waldorf Blofeld and MicroQ ( & probably their other digital synths )
“Stubbs” had a fantastic idea, there.
One other feature I think hasn’t sunk in for folks is that if you set the Note’s Poly-AT to control Amp and maybe filter cut-off, that you could actually physically create your envelope– beyond ADSR, just full poly control. You could combine this with something like a “modified velocity” that would look at the slope of initial values and scale velocity accordingly. It’s hard to describe but with the data stream and a fairly active open development, this keyboard could, with a bit of calibration and practice, become incredible expressive. Imagine being able to listen to a piece of music and say, “I can tell what controller that is.”
lol at that shirt. NO SALE