making beats
Out of context: Reply #390
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I received the Orbit controller from Numark Friday. Though it has similar features to other controllers, it is very engaging and changing the way I look at using controllers in general.
I recently decided to do a show at an unknown date well in the future with another electronic musician hobbyist who is also a friend. This rekindled a wonder over the years of how I would incorporate my controllers into a show without being overly bored and actually changing the sound of a track live instead of simply controlling playback of midi information.
This "handheld, making you use it" approach is well complimented by the wireless dongle which allowed me to walk around the house playing instead of sitting hunched over controllers at the desk.
I feel like the performance becomes game / task oriented. I was able to do a "remix" of one of my tracks doing some simple mapping with just a few of the options available.
I was triggering sections, adding fills on the fly, muting tracks, all stuff my other controllers can do as well, but seemingly with more frequency and enjoyment.
The ability to map a couple of Massive parameters to the X & Y accelerometer controllers also adds easy experimentation and fun I rarely ever bother doing with knobs.
The only setback I've encountered is the midi control software that controls the lights / mapping cause a conflict when opened congruently with Ableton. To make light changes, I must save in Ableton, close, open the editor, make the changes, reopen Ableton.
Aside from that minor technical issue, everything else is seamlessly golden. So far, I've charged it once, Friday, and had no issues all weekend. Great little controller.
I've decided it is either a landmark product that will influence future controllers or become an obscurity the market overlooks. Either way, I'm glad to have it.
- great write up. definitely thinking about getting one to play with.BrokenHD