Trigger Finger Aids Drum Programming

(Click for a close-up)

New from M-Audio is the Trigger Finger, a mobile/desktop device for easily triggering and programming drum sounds. The unit can also be used to trigger Clips and Scenes in Ableton Live, video clips in VJ software and sounds in popular DJ programs.

Trigger Finger puts the power to program and perform expressive percussion and drum parts at users' fingertips. At its heart are 16 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads designed to trigger computer- or hardware-based drum sounds with full expression. Trigger Finger also delivers 8 knobs and 4 faders that, like the pads, are freely assignable to any MIDI parameters users want to have at their fingertips, such as volume, pan, pitch, and effects.

Trigger Finger incorporates pre-programmed maps for Live, Reason, GM Drum, XG Drum, iDrum and more that make setup a snap--and full programmability lets users customize anything they want. Settings are easy to store via 16 memory presets or M-Audio's free Enigma librarian software for PC and Mac.

The unit connects to a computer via a simple USB connection. Trigger Finger can also derive its power from the USB bus or a DC adapter. A MIDI Out jack allows it to trigger external MIDI devices as well.

Trigger Finger is class-compliant with Windows XP and Mac OS X, allowing use without drivers. PC minimum system requirements are Windows XP with available USB port, and MME and DirectX are supported. On the Mac, minimum requirements are OS X 10.2.8 with available USB port, and Core MIDI is supported.

Trigger Finger will ship this month and carries a retail price of USD $249.95 MSRP.