This.is.NOISE Inc MIDI Blaster, is a new expressive infrared-based MIDI MPE controller allowing parameter tweaks by hand movements.
A classic MIDI controller often consists of a keyboard, some knobs/encoders, or sliders. These elements allow musicians to play instruments, whether hardware or software, and interact with the produced sounds. This way of performing is the most well-known and classic form. With today’s technologies, however, there are many other possibilities for sound interaction. See the novel MPE keyboards like the ROLI, touch interfaces (iPads…)…
This.is.NOISE Inc, the developers of the tiny USB controller Noise machine have dedicated themselves to the infrared technology for their latest MIDI controller. It’s called MIDI Blaster and is now on Indiegogo.
This.is.NOISE MIDI Blaster
MIDI Blaster is a new type of MIDI controller without knobs, sliders… Instead, it uses infrared sensors to track the movement of your hand along 4 points. These are housed in a rectangular rounded small box paired with 4 RGB LEDs that gives you real-time feedback.
The technology then captures the movements, transform them, and sends them out as MIDI CC or MPE messages for your DAW, Synthesizer, or effects processor… Nice, MIDI Blaster allows you to control not only a single parameter, but up to 4 at the same time. Thus you can shape sounds very deeply through hand movements. Particularly interesting for music and art performances.
Then, it also has two assignable buttons. While we’re already on the subject of assignable controls. According to the developers, the controller is fully customizable via the bundled desktop application. You can customize the MIDI messages (CC or MPE), MIDI values, freeze/hold, sensor range/sensitivity, sensors on/off, LED effects and colors… And settings can also be saved in presets.
Connection side, you get a USB MIDI port and MIDI jacks on TRS connectors.
An interesting little MIDI MPE controller with which you can edit parameters very expressively. For me, it’s positive to see such products that bring musicians new ways to interact with sounds and parameters. According to This.is.NOISE, MIDI Blaster is the only infrared MIDI device out there capable of controlling 4 effects/notes simultaneously yet individually.
This.is.NOISE MIDI Blaster is available now for pre-order on Indiegogo for an early bird price of 126€/$125 USD (reg. 201€). Shipping starts in May 2023.
More information here: Indiegogo
This has been possible for years with a Leap Motion Controller for less money, combined with the free Geco app. But this adds pretty lights and a few buttons which might make it worth it the extra money for some people.
Does it work with any standard synth?