What's missing from NI controllers?
What's missing from NI controllers? Posted on: 18.06.2012 by Angella Mosiniak What are some of the obvious hardware flaws in the S4, Maschine, X1, F1?If you could design modular controllers like the CMD line, what would they feature and how would they be different from what is already on the market? I'm starting my own controler company and want your input on where NI went wrong, as well as, where the market is heading. Thanks, Vincent | |
| Cristine Stele 21.06.2012 | An editing tool when the controller is ordered perhaps where you can label the buttons before you buy it rather than have to remember where they are, make crappy stickers, or make an overlay. |
| Brunilda Kora 21.06.2012 | Hardware with an in-built "soft takeover". That'll allow for multiple layers/pages/banks on a single control surface. Multi state LED's to indicate which layer/bank you're in. Multiple bank select buttons, or a notched/indnted rotary switch. You nail that, and I'll be buying. |
| Kellie Myrum 21.06.2012 | I believe that the most of controllers should have multiple layers solution in it for big mappings. It make job easier when you don't need to watch out when you'll hit the modifier wall. My current mapping has nine generic devices for now and that's only because I've burn all eight modifiers in each mapping for making this layer modes. When adding second controller with this many generics to setup it make traktor to take more time for loading and it has crashed few times now during mapping it. Something like xoneK2 but with more than three layers. Other thing are RGB buttons and 4x4 grid as standard to all modular units. |
| Rochel Gleese 18.06.2012 | True that, I come up with ideas all time! |
| Julius Schoenhofer 18.06.2012 |
Originally Posted by Phi
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| Jonathan Chiuchiolo 18.06.2012 |
Originally Posted by Phi
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| Yong Aptekar 18.06.2012 | Let's see some of your ideas. Don't blow your "secrets" out of the water, I would hate for pioneer to steal your hard work on you. Just something to wet out appetites. I've seen lots of DIY controllers, and nobody had fears of another company taking them. Patent your designs and throw them up here. What happens if you believe you have a good idea, make the controller, pay all that money and nobody likes it, because you didn't share it? I get business practices, but unless you are designing a whole new layout, (which may be counter productive to what we use controllers for) let's see some ideas. |
| Shari Conkling 18.06.2012 |
Originally Posted by Phi
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| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 | That is very close to a creative solution that I have. |
| Debby Ramshur 18.06.2012 | I'd like to see something similar to Allen & Heath's X-Link in more controllers. Just more intuitive. Instead of needing an additional cable, imagine two controllers snapping into each other via magnets like Apple's power chord (Don't know how much of that technology is patent protected, but i assume a lot since nobody is doing something even vaguely similar). You could just put 2 modular controllers (say a X1 and a F1) together on the table, connect one to your laptop, push both together and both work. Then add another "deck" module with a Jog Wheel and a mixer module (yes, similar to Behringer) and maybe cases in different sizes where people who want an all-in-one controller can fit a certain amount of modules in without having to deal with extra cables. All modules would have internal soundcards that would also link together and the amount of outputs would scale with the number of controllers used. Add a module called the DVS1 that offers inputs for DVS users. That could look like a X1 with the width and height of an audio 8 with the A8 panels on the Front and Back and additional controls on top. And now make your connection system open source. Offer other developers to connect their hardware to your framework. Earn money via licensing. Now convince on of the big players to build a high-end club mixer with your connection standard that allows to only connect the mixer via usb and just put your controllers next to the mixer where they snap in and work instantaneously. Congratulations, you have just created a new club standard. |
| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 | Judging by the responses I believe you people will be very happy with four of my designs. What about Maschine do you see as a disadvantage? I have big plans for this.... |
| robin loo 18.06.2012 | multi TT usb hubs in controllers. like behringer finally made with the cdm series.. |
| Rochel Gleese 18.06.2012 | Wireless ad-hoc controllers or design your own USB dongle that handles the transmission. I hate cables surely this is possible with either Bluetooth 4.0 or wireless adhoc |
| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 | All of the designs I have would be applicable in traditional or adventurous scenarios. I have multiple threads like this on different community
s to help me control variables. And this is a chance for someone to say what they like/don't to help improve the state of the industry. Thank you for your time. |
| Freida Leash 18.06.2012 | make something that lights up pretty with "spinning" leds on the platter, works most of the time and the public will gobble it up. I'm nearly over gear, or at least gear wars, the only reason i might upgrade is for better four channel control. |
| Jonathan Chiuchiolo 18.06.2012 | i just want the strength of a vestax pmc mixer, VCI-300 jogs, 4 mixer channels with p & g faders and rgb leds in everything... I want to be able to throw something down the stairs, brush it off and plug it in, that's not too much to ask is it? if you going for modular I would love something similar to the novation nocturn with 8 led ringed encoders but with 16 rgb buttons instead of the 8 you get on the nocturn. it would ideally be able to sit above or in front of a mixer kind of like the zomo thing, and made with steel Both of those things aren't going to make you any money though, unless you already own a factory fitted out to make electronics |
| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 | Care to tell me how my designs are legally protected? I have to prototype five-six different controllers, I only have the funding for one prototype at a time so obviously (like any company would) I research what the market has an appetite for. It's basic business folks. |
| Lela Mattero 18.06.2012 |
Originally Posted by oliosky
Sounds like now you have no ideas, and are just milking others to believe for you. I provided stimulus for ideas, but I or no one else here will draft a controller for you. You can always come up with a design, patent it and share it. You're ideas are protected and you can get feedback. edit: And I'm fairly sure the hard working people over at NI and Pioneer are keeping themselves busy with their own ideas. |
| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 | No, I'm researching the viability of my designs without allowing the competition to know what they are yet. When in this industry you have to play your cards close to your chest for your own protection. |
| Johnetta Olewine 18.06.2012 | Wait, so you want folks to give you mad ideas for all your grand plans but you won't share anything? Yeah. Nah. |
| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 | What about modular designs? |
| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 |
Originally Posted by crckrs
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| Lela Mattero 18.06.2012 | Enlighten us with them! Share them and I'm sure people will comment. I understand you want to give people what they want, but people don't know what they don't like until it's in their faces. |
| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 |
Originally Posted by crckrs
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| Jolynn Schroyer 18.06.2012 | I agree they need a better usb connection. Its really hard to take out. When you unplug the usb cord it either needs to be yanked out hard or jiggled out roughly which is probably loosing up the usb connection internally. So i far i enjoy the way its setup. |
| Lela Mattero 18.06.2012 | My vote is take a hint from the MF3D. It brought something new to the table. IMO, for me to say wow at a new controller, it has to perfect what we've already got; but bring something new. What that is I don't know, or I would make controllers haha. Think of a new dimension of controlling music. In architecture you're taught to explore and exploit and ideas - what is a wall? What makes a wall a wall? Why do want the wall? What else can be a wall; it doesn't have to be physical does it? Think of a button on a controller. How do you press that button? What happens when you press that button? What is another way of performing the same action without pressing the button? Idk what I'm getting at, hopefully you understand what I mean and this sparks an idea. TLDR Perfect what we have - enlighten us with something new. edit: Why not even opt for a fully 'unique' controller; similar to how you can 'customise' a midi fighter. I would love to see a blank canvas; a rectangle controller. Let people put buttons where they want, jogwheels where they want, knobs and faders where they want. What colour, how long they are. I have no idea if this is possible, but I know if something like this existed it would put a lot of people out of business, haha. |
| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 | What kind of designs and/or features do you want to see that big companies are too afraid to produce? |
| Random X 18.06.2012 | Haven't had any problems with the built-in sound card yet, though I thing the USB connector on the S4 and S2 could use work. (Loads of these acting up) |
| Angella Mosiniak 18.06.2012 | That's good anything else? What would make you say "wow"? |
| Dione Haimes 18.06.2012 | Inbuilt Soundcards, standalone-ability. |
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