This video, via William Mathewson, is a sneak preview of the prototype WMD Poly Pressure Key-Array, demonstrating a few early modes on the performance side.
The Poly Pressure Key-Array is an alternative music controller that supports polyphonic pressure, allowing for types of expression that are not supported by standard keyboard controllers.
Details on the WMD Pressure Key-Array are still to be announced.
After having used Push for a while now, this seems a bit small. I also wonder why its set to a diagonal pattern.
Last, an advise: Get somebody who can actually play to demo the next time.
Umm…incredibly, no one noticed that the buttons are laid out in what I’d consider three rows of three octaves, just as on a keyboard. Instead, everyone seems to be batching that it’s ‘diagonal’, which I find hilarious. Can’t you see that? It’s quite clear to me. Also, this is a sneak preview of a prototype, likely with CV controls to appeal to the Eurorack market with velocity buttons, not a Steinway grand piano, so I’m not sure what you mean by play. Did you expect a Beethoven sonata?
the diagonal setup is a bad use of the space. sure it will look like other controllers if its a normal grid but you also get more buttons that make more sense, not the accordian-style brainfart like this
I think the diagonal thing is fine, as long as the note layout is logical.
It’s not a very impressive demo, but the polyAT is clearly working just fine.
I like the concept of alt note mappings, but if I’m going to commit time to mastering a key layout like that, I’ve got to have velocity (does this?) and I’ve got to have some kind of key throw (not just wee buttons).
I’m interested but puzzled by the key layout. Do the colors correspond to anything (like white buttons = the white keys on a piano)?
These alternative keyboards are very interesting from an theoretical standpoint, because many of them are designed so that you can play the same ‘shape’ anywhere on the keyboard and you’ll get the same intervals between the notes. So, it eliminates the need to practice in different keys, because every key is fingered exactly the same.
From a practical standpoint, though, I’ve yet to see somebody play one of these alternate keyboards proficiently.
I would love to see its:
-sensitivity
-price
If it is very sensitive, I would pay quite much for a keyboard with more than two octaves.
If it is cheap, I would buy it no matter how sensitive it is.