Members tagpass Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 I'm a big fan of integration, and I'm all for the elimination of cable clutter in the studio, but come on now -- this thing is just silly: "Thing" is the operative term here. It looks like something someone cobbled together in their garage. I'm not typically one to bash gear, as I believe that good use can be made of anything that generates any sort of tone, but something about this particular item is striking me as one of the most hideous and unnecessary frankensteins ever released. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Metrosonus Posted July 25, 2011 Members Share Posted July 25, 2011 I don't understand why someone hasn't made something like a normal keyboard workstation the size of a normal keyboard! and simply added a monitor out and USB jacks. Roland makes those V studios the size of a 909, why can't someone do it with a keyboard and not make it look like something that was hacked together in a garage? I guess for it not to be, it's going to need to come from someone like korg or roland or yamaha and not someone that's sticking off the shelf components into a box.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mildbill Posted July 26, 2011 Members Share Posted July 26, 2011 Looks pretty decent to me: http://www.musiccomputing.com/studioblade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted July 26, 2011 Members Share Posted July 26, 2011 neo-brutalism at its most functional I wouldn't touch it with a barge-pole, too ugly. But controllers, for the most part, ARE ugly, I believe. They suffer from a lack of curves, too many disparate controls, and too many layout choices. I'm watching the "plug an ipad into a keyboard" thing; that could be super functional and visually stunning. Just not yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nobeatnik Posted July 26, 2011 Members Share Posted July 26, 2011 It's the same as the OpenLabs Neko concept, except with a server motherboard and possibly more powerful processors...and much cheaper it seems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mate_stubb Posted July 26, 2011 Members Share Posted July 26, 2011 That's because it is the same people as OpenLabs - they lost OpenLabs and started this venture. No thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nobeatnik Posted July 26, 2011 Members Share Posted July 26, 2011 At least they took out the integrated qwerty keyboard this time, and made the screen tiltable. The 88-key looks sort of like the love child of an Oasys and Fusion The pricing is interesting, smack in the middle of Kronos/XF territory. It could be a viable alternative to the Kronos in particular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MartinHines Posted July 26, 2011 Members Share Posted July 26, 2011 The keybeds on the MusicComputing StudioBlade series are M-Audio Keystation 61es/88es, inexpensive keybeds: http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=USBkeyboardcontrollers Given the looks of the keys on the new ControlBlade, I suspect the keybeds are M-Audio Axiom 25 and Axiom 61. Here is the ControlBlade photo: Here is a photo of the M-Audio Axiom 61: Both OpenLabs and MusicComputing products seem catered for non-keyboardists -- producers, DJs. As a keyboardist, I want the better, higher quality keybeds you find in pro keyboards from Yamaha, Korg, Roland, Kurzweil, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mate_stubb Posted July 27, 2011 Members Share Posted July 27, 2011 Look how uneven the natural keys are in the 61 image above. BWAA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tronophile Posted October 7, 2011 Members Share Posted October 7, 2011 Okay, so it's ugly and the keybed isn't great. It seems like good bang for the buck. A strong i7 quadcore-based system with 8 gigs RAM, DVD burner, wi-fi, Windows 7, 61 note keyboard, preloaded with full version Studio One Pro DAW and around 5,000 preloaded sounds, plus the capacity to sample and run samples in the gigabytes of resolution as opposed to mere megabytes other workstations feature. All for around the price of a 88-key workstation. In addition, you can run video editing software, 3D animation programs, CAD programs, etc. What's wrong with that? Yeah, OpenLabs failed, but then, who could afford them? This is affordable. I'd like to audition one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members donaldcrunk Posted October 7, 2011 Members Share Posted October 7, 2011 i would never buy anything from any venture involving victor wong, the openlabs guy. seems a little sketchy. the short tiny one seems especially ugly and useless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Plink Floyd Posted October 7, 2011 Members Share Posted October 7, 2011 Nice job! Please elaborate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nice keetee Posted October 8, 2011 Members Share Posted October 8, 2011 ha ha, this one was made in garage, but i like it.... I agree with Plink Floyd!, please elaborate, and post a better pic.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted October 8, 2011 Members Share Posted October 8, 2011 it's based on an x-station Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zoink Posted October 8, 2011 Members Share Posted October 8, 2011 I actually like the Control Blade concept quite a bit. If they sold one with a better keybed, Core i7, 2TB HD, 8GB RAM, and touch screen for 2 grand I'd get one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Plink Floyd Posted October 8, 2011 Members Share Posted October 8, 2011 it's based on an x-stationYeah, but the case is nice. You might also say it's based on whatever DAW software is running on the puter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ChipCurtis Posted October 8, 2011 Members Share Posted October 8, 2011 Look how uneven the natural keys are in the 61 image above. BWAA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! That is from JPEG dithering due to lossy file compression. The keys are evenly spaced in real life. I like the curved-back M1 look of it, though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ChipCurtis Posted October 8, 2011 Members Share Posted October 8, 2011 it's based on an x-station It looks like an x-station built into a wooden housing, with everything else simply plopped on top loosely. The only question is where is the PC guts? (in the housing?). If there's a PC tower needed here, but not visible in the pic, it's not that impressive -- Just some good carpentry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nice keetee Posted October 8, 2011 Members Share Posted October 8, 2011 Are some all in one PCs small/light enough to fit there, like an Imac? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members donaldcrunk Posted October 8, 2011 Members Share Posted October 8, 2011 for sure. a friend and i have been doing some experiments with the mini-itx computers you can get now, not up to snuff for most audio tasks but they can certainly be used for other applications. i'm sure someone that knows more about them could make them a great softsynth platform, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DJ RAZZ Posted October 8, 2011 Members Share Posted October 8, 2011 It does not bother me at all and I think if you were a song writer, solo artist, jingle guy, DJ or live performer, it would be alright. Can you rewire VST's though and is Pro One the only DAW that can be used. Not crazy about the Presonus interfaces either. This could be a good backing track machine or recording while traveling. I am surprised Roland has not tried something like this yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members IMAGINE Posted February 11, 2013 Members Share Posted February 11, 2013 We have been using a ControlBlade for several years, in all types of gigs and studio work. It is not a "Garage Monster," but rather a powerful, quality performance tool. The sound production is awesome and the video capabilities are over the top. We can run multiple touch screens and mix on the fly. This unit is flexible and adaptable, easily upgraded with TOTAL one-to-one support when needed. It is light, and easy to carry...great when there are no roadies to mess with your gear.We heartily reccommend Music Computing and the ControlBlade...both more than meet our musical needs.For those of you who have never seen or used a ControlBlade...research first...then make a constructive contribution. If you are a doubter...try one out before you comment.We are confident you will be blown away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zoranko Posted February 12, 2013 Members Share Posted February 12, 2013 Plink Floyd wrote: Nice job! Please elaborate. If somebody would be accidentally still interested, here is something more about... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/X-Station/photos/album/46658144/pic/1657316094/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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