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indestructible onstage midi

(16 posts)
  • Started 1 year ago by Undercult
  • Latest reply from soillodge

  1. Undercult

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    HI GANG!
    I'm looking for a really, really sturdy onstage midi controller (not keyboard) for use in some chaotic gigs planned. This will need to withstand drops and knocks quite often, followed by quite consistent playing.

    Obviously there are numerous midi controllers out there which are 'of sturdy construction' and that can withstand some onstage drops and punishment but I was looking for something which was able to really take some heavy punishment. Also, not being too rediculously expensive would help. I don't mind 'rollcage' mounting something as I've done that a few times, but it would still need to be pretty hardcore.

    Any thoughts? I know its tempting to say 'just don't be so agressive with stuff' but I would be quite interested in any information as I'm sure alot of the more extreme acts
    are.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  2. metaball

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    my Jupiter6 took an 8' drop off a stage lived to tell the tale, but those aren't so cheap these days. the first batch of Ensoniq ESQ1's were made of metal & extremely durable. later models were plastic & neither had 'aftertouch' which may or may not be important for your midi controlling needs.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  3. dogmeat

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    you don't need it to be a keyboard?
    doepfer makes some decent generic midi controller boards, take one of those, get some sturdy switches, pots, sliders, whatever.... get an ammo box, metal tool box, tool chest, the stronger the better the more industrial :) combine all parts, and achieve enlightenment :)))

    Posted 1 year ago #

  4. Undercult

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    Yeah, I'd love to build it myself, but its abit time critical and I'm not really in the position to be able to spend loads of time on designing and building something reallly. I'd be happy to switch a few knobs and faders for sturdier ones if it was nescissary, but I'm looking for something as strong as possible and would prefer to just buy one. I was thinking of lobbing some extra metal round some parts for abit of added reinforcment, but obviously it doesn't matter as much as it'll mainly be the impact damage I'm worried about.

    Don't really need a keyboard, its more to just trigger loops and do sweeps/some controls, so really only switches/pads and a few knobs/faders. I vaugely remember a controller with 'sunk' knobs, which were depressed into the casing (with space for your fingers round them) which made it harder for them to snap off.

    But as I said, it really needs to be able to take some punishment.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  5. metaball

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    if it's going to be that chaotic an environment i'd set up my electronics "offstage" & put some cheap durable drum triggers in the blast radius. glue or tape a piezo type trigger to some metal or something & run some cables under duct tape to a D4 midied to a sampler or something.

    ...or there are Foot Controllers like the Roland PK-5. those have midi & are designed to be stomped on.

    Korg Microsampler has sunken knobs but it's plastic & i wouldn't trust it to resist "impact" damage.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  6. Undercult

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    Yeah, I was thinking of the piezo thing, but didn't know how well they would work really, plus it sounds like alot of work. I know it sounds infinitely lazy, but I'd prefer to just buy something (especially as I'm in need of a good midi controller anyway) that would just be one cable, to offstage electronics (well, out of the way ones). I may have to resort to it though.

    Foot controllers are a really good idea, I had wanted to have something in hand, but foot controllers could be a really good back up, so thanks for that!

    Posted 1 year ago #

  7. metaball

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    i used some like these on my old PVC, saw blades, plexi glass, slinky's, chunks of metal & chains setup.
    wired to a d4. took a ton of abuse & dirt cheap so yer not sad when they break.
    http://www.amazon.com/Pulse-Red-Five-Piece-Trigger-Pack/dp/B0002F5IUA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1300141881&sr=1-1

    Posted 1 year ago #

  8. Mutagen

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    Just get some BCR2000/BCF2000s.

    From Ableton forums:

    "IMO, you can't beat the BCR for value for money. It's amazingly sturdy and very configurable, and the built-in MIDI interface is a bonus."

    Here they are in a live setup:

    [+] Embed the videoGet the Flash Videos

    Posted 1 year ago #

  9. virul3nt

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    Not what I'd call indestructible. I've seen a friend's BCF2000 break onstage.

    I know you see guys like Ritchie Hawtin using BCF2000's, but I don't think that's the whole story. I think he would have a case full of redundant backup hardware if his onstage unit goes down in the middle of a gig. But eh, it's Behrenger, no reason you can't do the same and buy 2 in case one breaks onstage.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  10. Mutagen

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    Yeah, Behringer gear is cheap. You can pay a little bit more and get the Livid Ohm Metal Midi Controller. Comes in a rugged rackmountable metal chassis. $769.00 at Guitar Center.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  11. virul3nt

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    Incidentally, sorry, didn't mean to come across as "the Omnipresent Behringer Hater"!

    Those Livid boxes are haw-t!

    Posted 1 year ago #

  12. Tsarik

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    WILL PROBABLY PISS YOU OFF.

    holyshit that livid controller is over fucking priced

    but i do enjoy the fact that the controllerism crowd is paying stupid prices for controllers

    for fucks sake.. it costs more than my StudioLogic VMK

    flabergasted really at the price/function ratio.. but to each his own

    Posted 1 year ago #

  13. virul3nt

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    Which one's overpriced, Tsarik? The Livid one?

    Heh, I'm happy with my very indestructible Launchpad, which cost no more than $150 new. Usually have it hooked up to NI Battery for fingerbanging out percussion and shxt.

    Edit: re-read, for some reason I didn't see the word "Livid" in your post Tsarik! Oopss.

    Posted 1 year ago #

  14. metaball

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    the Midi Fighter came up in another thread. <$200 & built like the surface of an OG arcade game.
    http://store.djtechtools.com/products/midifighter-diy-kit#

    Posted 1 year ago #

  15. Tsarik

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    WILL PROBABLY PISS YOU OFF.

    meaning it can withstand constant kung fu chops 24/7

    Posted 1 year ago #

  16. soillodge

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    FYI though, the Livid stuff is customizable. Some would not mind paying for that. The idea though that you put electronics in a metal chassis and that makes them more durable is retarded. You need to build a shock mount and then reinforce the insides of your gear so the internal components do not get knocked around. The livid stuff in hard wood would be very durable. Wood also dampens vibrations more than metal does. Not to mention a 200$ difference in the cost for an OHM controller in wood instead of metal.

    The Launchpad does not cut it for me. No rotary encoders. The Livid Code is the hot shit controller. Dual purpose endless encoders and soft triggers.

    `michael

    Posted 1 year ago #

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