Keith McMillen - K-708 Qu Nexus Smart Sensor Keyboard Controller

Product Information

Preset C (Poly Pitch Bend): This preset allows outputting each key’s message on its own MIDI channel (Channel rotation). You can also think of this preset as having 10 pitch-bend wheels for your 10 fingertips. QuNexus features 4 pre-made presets that you can fine-tune, edit and change within the QuNexus editor. You should get an instant answer on whether your application has been successful, though in some rare cases Klarna or V12 may need to look at the application in more detail. Another thing I need to mention is that the “ Bend” button is not that expressive for me. Not really sure if it’s me who has messed up the settings, but even after I had expanded the range of it via QuNexus editor, it still felt a bit narrow in terms of range. Preset D (Drums & Clips): Lastly, this preset is designed for triggering drums and clips when particular VSTis or software are mapped to the general MIDI standards. QuNexus Editor

As I always say, it’s up to you what to choose. But I can honestly tell you that it’s worth every penny in my opinion. I say that because once, when I lived in Sonoma County, I was driving home on a clear day. Suddenly there were droplets on the windshield. Equipped with 25 keys, the QuNexus's keybed can detect pitch, velocity, slide (y position), and pressure. This MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) capability enhances your playing experience and allows for a more expressive performance. You can send these dimensions of expression to your instruments as a variety of different MIDI messages and control voltages. Pitch and velocity can be sent as MIDI Note-On/Off messages, as well as gate and control voltages compatible with analog and modular synthesizers. Furthermore, key pressure and tilt can be configured to be sent using MIDI messages such as pitch bend, aftertouch, poly-aftertouch, and control changes. This enables you to have precise control over the nuances of your sound. Turns out we were right under the emergency approach to SFO int airport in San Francisco. That day they had an emergency landing...

Specifications

To be honest, I don’t use all the features that it offers in my musical work. But still, I know 100% for sure that I will be able to do whatever I request not only in the digital domain but also in the hardware synths world is really cool! QuNexus is the first keyboard controller to unite four generations of synthesis: MIDI, Control Voltage, OSC and USB. I've had great fun controlling both some large orchestral plugins, guitar, brass and other patches and I hope you'll enjoy experimenting with this too. Imagine, for instance, what happens when you use a standard MIDI keyboard controller, hold a chord, and use the pitch bend wheel. On most instruments (virtual or otherwise), this will result in all notes bending equally. The same is true of other controls, too: if you turn your synth or VST's cutoff frequency control, for instance, it will adjust the filter settings for every voice at once. This isn't exactly a problem per se—but what if you could adjust those settings independently for every note that you're playing? What if one note could bend up while another bends down...and what if the filter on one voice could open while another closes?

Unsurprisingly, the QuNeo (and the QuNexus, as we’ll see) take a lot more mapping than your average controller. That’s not a criticism so much as an unavoidable side-effect of being such flexible devices. If you want to get the most out of these controllers you need to get acquainted with their software editors and dig deep into the available options, which range from standard note mapping through to LED behaviour, velocity and pressure response. The QuNeo is supplied with templates for software including Ableton, Logic, Traktor, Serato and Reason; additional templates can be installed using the Templates Installer application (you can, of course, also save presets and share them with other QuNeo users). The blue Mode button in the top left corner of the unit also allows you to swap between pre-loaded templates on the fly, using the QuNeo for multiple tasks without having to switch presets in the editor application. Obviously it’s not possible to move the controls on the QuNeo, but the touch-sensitive response and the level of customisation remind me of Liine’s Lemur app or TouchOSC for the iPad. This is an astonishingly multi-faceted controller which can turn its hand to just about anything. Ultimately, the value of the QuNeo depends to a large extent on how willing you are to get your hands dirty with the editor. If all you plan to do is plug it in and use it as a pad controller, there are cheaper options. But the QuNeo’s versatility is a major selling point for anyone who wants a controller which can be tailored to meet their exact needs. QuNexus The QuNexus is superficially a slightly more traditional design, essentially a two-octave keyboard with a few function buttons on the far left hand side. Instead of keys it features rubber pads much like those on the QuNeo’s 4×4 grid. QuNeo Sounds more like a manufacturing defect than outside forces especially if it is as common a problem as you are saying.Preset B (Press + Tilt): Pressure is set to modulation, and Tilt is set to pitch bend. Prepared for a more exciting and expressive playing experience. QuNeo is the most expressive and programmable pad controller available to electronic musicians, DJs, VJs and DIYers. Now with MPE support (using the free QuNeo MPE App), QuNeo maps instantly to your favorite MPE software and hardware, bringing creativity to your fingertips. QuNeo supports standard note on/off and velocity messages, and each of the 27 pads, sliders and rotary sensors are also pressure, velocity, and location sensitive. Even the 17 switches are pressure sensitive. Here at Perfect Circuit, we've seen a ton of inventive MIDI controllers over the years that embrace the expressive potential of MPE, short for MIDI Polyphonic Expression. These are often controllers that look nothing like instruments of the past, and go all-in on a forward-thinking mindset in function and aesthetics. Yet somewhere in the middle, there lies a happy medium between the bold, new sounds of the future and the familiarity of existing controllers.