Soundforce SFC-Mini V3 is a new revision of the MIDI controller that gives very Minimoog VST a hardware-like control experience.
Hardware or software synthesizers, modern musicians find their use in both. Hardware always has the advantage that you can touch it where you only have a mouse or a touch display with software. Almost everyone prefers haptic control.
Soundforce from the Netherlands has been offering MIDI controllers for some time that are tailored to specific VST synthesizer profiles. A Minimoog, Pro-1 / Pro-5 … They give these synths haptic control through their optimized layouts. The SFC-1, the Minimoog controller just got a major hardware revision.
Soundforce SFC-Mini V3
The Soundforce SFC-Mini V3 is a boutique class-compliant USB-MIDI controller. However, this is not comparable to colorless, generic MIDI controllers by Akai, M-Audio, and other companies. The Mini V3 follows a concept. It is tailored to Minimoog emulations such as the Arturia Mini V3, Synapse Audio The Legend, Softube Model 72, or even the Moog Minimoog for iOS. Thanks to the class-compliant drivers.
The concept makes sense because it’s designed for a Synthesizer with comparatively few parameters. It gives you haptic control of a VST or iOS app, something we always miss in software products. SFC-Mini V3 is a major hardware revision that upgrades the look and feel of the device. It has new additions including OSC2 CTRL, unison, and poly switches that are mostly specific to the Arturia emulation. Plus you an alternative CC message for each rotary knob via the shift button.
Soundforce ships the controller with the Control Panel chrome web app that allows you to set the CCs for each switch and rotary pot. A downside, it doesn’t offer automatic mapping such as in the Native Instruments NKS standard.
The controller is assembled with the greatest care in The Netherlands with parts from Europe and Asia. The technical details are the following:
- enclosure: 100% sheet metal made by Grawart
- case: bent steel and powder coated in black
- front panel: aluminum, also powder coated and screen printed with scratch-proof white ink
- hardwood side panels of 8mm thickness
USB Power
SFC-Mini only has a USB type B port on the backside, no 5-pin MIDI, that is used for MIDI data and power.
The SFC-Mini V3 is a nice continuation and further development. You can see this when you look at the first version or the wooden version of the controller. Many hours of work went into the new version.
Soundforce SFC-Mini V3 is available now for 349€ (EU) and 288€ (outside EU). For all US-based readers, the controller will also be available from Perfect Circuit soon.
More information here: Soundforce
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