Korg Nanopad 09/17/2009
 
Review of Korg Nanopad: Cheap, but very capable. The Korg Nanopad is well built and can easily be used for banging in rhythms and controlling your gear via control codes.

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Readers of this blog know I like simplicity. I like screwdrivers that are screwdrivers. Not screwdrivers that also functions a beer opener, has a built in flash light and plays merry melodies while using it.
After my deeply unsuccessful relationship with the Novation Nocturn, I promised myself never to go for anything automatic or “intelligent” again. At least not when it comes to midi controllers.

 
 

Novation Nocturn review: The biggest selling point of the Novation controller Nocturn is its automatic feature for mapping the controllers, but when the dust have settled after its initial impact – does this really make our lives easier?
 

A short history of knobs.

With the analogue synthesizer came a wealth of knobs and buttons. Then came the Yamaha DX that spawned a whole new breed of synthesizers. The new synthesizers were sleek, clinical and without any immediate control over the sound - a rebound effect was bound to happen. A few years later a new generation synthesizers started to appear. Digital reproductions of analogue synthesis provided best from both worlds. Direct control, authentic sound to an affordable price.
The whole circle started again when Steinberg came up with the VST standard and the software plugins. As the hardware started to slowly move into the computer we were again left with lousy control over the sound.

Today most people agree that the mouse is far from optimal to control what’s going on inside the computer. Fortunately there is a vast selection of hardware units designed to do just this: to connect our itching fingers with the geniality of the latest batch of audio software.