So, other than lots of new analog monosynths, the one thing we now have lots of is grids of RGB pads.
Livid is betting you want your touch-sensitive, pressure-sensitive pads paired with some touch faders. So, unlike offerings like KMI’s QuNeo and Ableton’s Push, the grid at the bottom is coupled up with a set of strips for fader control at the top. That opens up some flexibility for expression or as a control surface.
Specs:
- 4×8 grid = 32 pads (so, two groups of 16 pads if you want to think of it that way).
- Nine touch sliders.
- Eight touch-sensitive buttons.
- Eight momentary buttons.
- RGB LEDs… everywhere, really.
- All-aluminum body, extruded aluminum frame.
- Rubber-coated bezel on faceplate.
- No moving parts.
- Editing software for reassigning controls, and setting fader display modes (“walk,” “fill,” “EQ,” and “spread”).
- USB bus-powered and driverless / USB class compliant.
- Assembled in Austin, Texas.
Of course, if you hate this new-fangled stuff, see things like Livid’s Alias 8, which uses conventional faders and knobs and absolutely no light-up disco color pads.
US$399, ships March 1.
http://lividinstruments.com/hardware_base.php