KVR Audio

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:19 am

@ Bone- Glad to hear its working OK for you now and that it's just a firmware updated need (returns sound like a bit of a nightmare if you have to claim import duties back, it was one of the reasons I was waiting for it to be in a UK shop!)

I see there is a user Bitwig script (Bigwig is my preferred DAW for MPE stuff, but I also use S1 so be interesting to see how that goes) anyone tried the 3rd party script? https://github.com/BeneathClouds/erae-touch

I am still amazed there is so little on YT about this device, no real user reviews at all.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:48 pm

What do you need a script for? I only need to play instruments, so plain old MIDI is fine for me. I like that different elements in a layout can send on different MIDI channels, it means I can play multiple instruments from a single layout (haven't tried it yet).

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:57 pm

BONES wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:48 pm What do you need a script for? I only need to play instruments, so plain old MIDI is fine for me. I like that different elements in a layout can send on different MIDI channels, it means I can play multiple instruments from a single layout (haven't tried it yet).

I assume scrips give control surface (DAW control) support, but if you only want to play instruments then you are right, no need...i quite like the idea of switching from playing to DAW faders, mutes and even clip launch.

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Thu Sep 08, 2022 1:36 pm

SLiC wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:19 am I see there is a user Bitwig script (Bigwig is my preferred DAW for MPE stuff, but I also use S1 so be interesting to see how that goes) anyone tried the 3rd party script? https://github.com/BeneathClouds/erae-touch

Thanks for pointing that out... I hadn't noticed that there was one available!

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Thu Sep 08, 2022 11:36 pm

SLiC wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 12:57 pmI assume scrips give control surface (DAW control) support, but if you only want to play instruments then you are right, no need...i quite like the idea of switching from playing to DAW faders, mutes and even clip launch.

I'm only looking at this for what it can do for me on stage, it had never occurred to me to use it in the studio (I have a mouse for that). It seems like massive overkill for that kind of thing. MMC might be handy, though, but AFAIK it doesn't support that.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Sun Sep 11, 2022 1:41 am

Custom.jpg

This is my first custom layout. Across the bottom is two octaves of keys. Each key is three lights wide but the edges are black so you only see the "fill" column. I find it more visually appealing than the inverse, which is how Erae does it by default. And when you press a key, all three light up. If you increase pressure, it will light up more surrounding lights without triggering adjacent notes. i.e. It is a purely visual cue of how much pressure you're applying.

The top row is another row of keys, as are the three big pads in the centre. My thinking is that I'll mostly play the bigger keys at the bottom, I'll use the big pads as drum triggers and the top row of keys can either be to play a different instrument or just to play in a different octave to the main keyboard.

The colours are really washed out in the photo but in person they are bright orange and bright green. Customising colours is a breeze and sending stuff between the device and the computer is really simple, too. The only downside is that, on PC, the device can't communicate with the Erae Lab app and your DAW at the same time. That means you can't easily tweak things to get them perfect but that's not really a big issue for me.

The +/- buttons on the left side of the device allow you to change the octave separately for each "element", depending on which you last played. Each element can also be set to a different MIDI channel, so you can control multiple instruments at once.

I love playing this device. It is far less fiddly than a Seaboard, without feeling less responsive at all. The keys/buttons are bigger than on a Lightpad Block, which makes them much easier to play without having to stare at the device to make sure you hit your target squarely every time. And I don't get any of that accidental triggering of adjacent notes that happens all the time with my Roli stuff. If Embodme can iron out the glitches, which they seem very confident about, then this will be worth every penny. For a first gen device, it is already very accomplished.

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 11:18 am

SLiC wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:19 amI am still amazed there is so little on YT about this device, no real user reviews at all.

I'm surprised how little interest there seems to be for it here. It's an amazing device that isn't horrendously expensive and has a lot to offer, yet there are only a handful of us that even seem interested, let alone willing to take the plunge.

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:15 pm

BONES wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 11:18 am
SLiC wrote: Thu Sep 08, 2022 8:19 amI am still amazed there is so little on YT about this device, no real user reviews at all.
I'm surprised how little interest there seems to be for it here. It's an amazing device that isn't horrendously expensive and has a lot to offer, yet there are only a handful of us that even seem interested, let alone willing to take the plunge.

I guess we have no idea how many they have sold, may not be that many bin circulation...they obviously didn't send them out to any of the usual YT influencers ..I am still waiting for mine to even be dispatched (despite them still saying they have them in stock on the web site) due to them not having any UK PSU

pdxindy · Post by **pdxindy** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 1:53 pm

SLiC wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:15 pm I guess we have no idea how many they have sold, may not be that many bin circulation...they obviously didn't send them out to any of the usual YT influencers ..I am still waiting for mine to even be dispatched (despite them still saying they have them in stock on the web site) due to them not having any UK PSU

You sure they are not stringing you along on purpose?

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 2:14 pm

pdxindy wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 1:53 pm
SLiC wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:15 pm I guess we have no idea how many they have sold, may not be that many bin circulation...they obviously didn't send them out to any of the usual YT influencers ..I am still waiting for mine to even be dispatched (despite them still saying they have them in stock on the web site) due to them not having any UK PSU
You sure they are not stringing you along on purpose?

I could call their bluff and ask then to send me an EU plug and just use an adaptor...they said to contact them again if it hadn't shipped by last Friday- I did and they haven't got back to me yet...If I don't hear anything in a couple of days, I'll just get a refund from PayPal.. they are still selling them as 'in stock' even though they haven't been in stock (at least for the UK) for over a week that I know of.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 3:58 pm

SLiC wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 2:14 pm
pdxindy wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 1:53 pm
SLiC wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 12:15 pm I guess we have no idea how many they have sold, may not be that many bin circulation...they obviously didn't send them out to any of the usual YT influencers ..I am still waiting for mine to even be dispatched (despite them still saying they have them in stock on the web site) due to them not having any UK PSU
You sure they are not stringing you along on purpose?
I could call their bluff and ask then to send me an EU plug and just use an adaptor...they said to contact them again if it hadn't shipped by last Friday- I did and they haven't got back to me yet...If I don't hear anything in a couple of days, I'll just get a refund from PayPal.. they are still selling them as 'in stock' even though they haven't been in stock (at least for the UK) for over a week that I know of.

most things these days, seem to come with those blank plugs that you slide one of the adapters on to.

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 4:25 pm

Yeh, EARE is the weirdest shopping experience, they have 4 plug types to choose from!

https://www.embodme.com/erae-product-shop

Pick the wrong type and they don't ship anything!

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 4:37 pm

SLiC wrote: Mon Sep 12, 2022 4:25 pm Yeh, EARE is the weirdest shopping experience, they have 4 plug types to choose from!

https://www.embodme.com/erae-product-shop

Pick the wrong type and they don't ship anything!

have they gone with a proprietary plug for the unit end? meaning if it needs replacing it's only theirs you can buy?

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 4:45 pm

I guess so- @ Bones- what's the PSU like, a block with a built-in plug I assume?

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Mon Sep 12, 2022 11:38 pm

It's a standard barrel connector at the device end and the plug is one of those clip-in jobbies at the other end. Output is 15V, 2.3A so it's nothing special. When you think about it, it's kind of annoying it doesn't power via USB, especially as it comes with a nice, braided USB cable.

Erae Touch - All-around MIDI 2.0 controller?