KVR Audio

BJG145 · Post by **BJG145** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 9:35 am

Hope it's OK to post this here. Just a link to a current Kickstarter I'm supporting for a new hex-layout controller called the Exquis from Intuitive Instruments. These types of hexagonal MIDI controllers have always been expensive and difficult to find.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/du ... sive-music

foosnark · Post by **foosnark** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 3:29 pm

It seems pretty cool. I thought about it, but I've got my Launchpad Pro mk3 with its built-in sequencer, and that's working out well. I think my main attraction to the Exquis is the hex layout mostly because it looks a bit more exotic

SLiC · Post by **SLiC** » Sat Oct 15, 2022 4:17 pm

Looks interesting and fair price but I am more than happy with my OXI One...so many of these things now!

mhelin · Post by **mhelin** » Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:38 am

I would rather have real button accordion scale layout. This one seems to be designed for two hand usage, the chord patterns are different depending on which hand/side you use, and scales seem difficult to play using just one hand.

Constructed Identity · Wed Oct 19, 2022 11:26 pm

Oh yea, accordions were the first to use hex buttons! I don't even think of them as an instrument

BJG145 · Post by **BJG145** » Thu Oct 20, 2022 10:58 pm

There's a particular hex note layout called Wicki-Hayden available on "Duet" concertinas that I've always wanted to try.

There's a guy called Didie who plays one of these...

...and made up a prototype MIDI version by combining a couple of Striso boards.

I'd be interested in trying to do something similar with the Exquis. As well as the "deluxe" cased version, there's an uncased "pure" version aimed at people who want to try building their own alternative designs.

Difficult to find a MIDI concertina. There was once a design called the "S-Wave", but they're super-rare; never seen one for sale. I can't even find a picture of it any more.

Accordions use a different system called "CBA" I think(?). There's a quirky Russian controller for that. Probably shouldn't talk about that.

https://atemp.ru/

Or you could drop £5K on a Roland FR-8xb.

https://www.roland.com/uk/products/fr-8xb/

Clarinette · Post by **Clarinette** » Sun Oct 23, 2022 6:26 pm

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mhelin wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:38 am I would rather have real button accordion scale layout. This one seems to be designed for two hand usage, the chord patterns are different depending on which hand/side you use, and scales seem difficult to play using just one hand.

That's the great thing really. The layout of the key will be completely configurable. I've actually owned a dualo du-touch for years (their previous instrument), and it already has several key layout. The one I use is not the dualo layout. I'm with you on that, the dividing the scale in two parts never really worked for me.

But the du-touch already implements 4 other layouts: piano, accordion, diatonic and universal. I never quite got the logic for the accordion layout but I find it intriguing. Bust just mentionning, the accordion layout... is already implemented even if they don't comunicate on it.

Personnaly, I use their universal layout and I find it totally amazing. The chord patterns are simple, elegant and very logical. Scales and modes layout draw an easily recognisable pattern on the keyboard. Exploring their universal keyboard has enabled me to understand so much music theory that I thought was complex... yet suddenly, it's just a simple drawing, the same in every key..

One of the reason I'm really excited about the exquis and impatient to get mine, is their promess to make the keyboard layout be completely customizable like the online terpstra keyboard http://terpstrakeyboard.com/play-it-now/ (http://terpstrakeyboard.com/play-it-now/) They have not made it clear if they were going to support anything other then 12 equal temperaments in an octave though.

Clarinette · Post by **Clarinette** » Sun Oct 23, 2022 6:32 pm

foosnark wrote: Sat Oct 15, 2022 3:29 pm It seems pretty cool. I thought about it, but I've got my Launchpad Pro mk3 with its built-in sequencer, and that's working out well. I think my main attraction to the Exquis is the hex layout mostly because it looks a bit more exotic

If you intend to only use it like a launchpad, then it indeed has little to bring to the table then it's exitic looks. If you intend to play chord progressions in a creative yet musical way, you will find the keyboard layout is not some fancy gizmo, it's really a super power cheat sheet enabling you to play and harmonize all chords in all keys by drawing easily recognisable and meaningful shapes on the keyboard.

Clarinette · Post by **Clarinette** » Sun Oct 23, 2022 6:37 pm

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BJG145 wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 10:58 pm There's a particular hex note layout called Wicki-Hayden (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicki%E2%80%93Hayden_note_layout) available on "Duet" concertinas that I've always wanted to try

Apparently, lumatone owners quite like the wicki-hayden layout a lot. If you want to explore it, the online terpstra keyboard keyboard has a preset for it. http://terpstrakeyboard.com/play-it-now/ (http://terpstrakeyboard.com/play-it-now/)

I've been intrigues about the striso board for a long time. Have you gotten your hands on one?

Clarinette · Post by **Clarinette** » Tue Oct 25, 2022 5:49 am

BJG145 wrote: Thu Oct 20, 2022 10:58 pm I'd be interested in trying to do something similar with the Exquis. As well as the "deluxe" cased version, there's an uncased "pure" version aimed at people who want to try building their own alternative designs.

Same here. I'm very much looking forward to experiment building a wooden casing for 2 "pure" exquis and a place holder for a phone. Are you a maker Ben?

funkyfx · Post by **funkyfx** » Fri Sep 22, 2023 1:02 pm

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Dear all,
we are very happy to announce Exquis is the winner of 2023 MIDI Innovation Awards!
Exquis has been chosen in front of Roland Aerophone Pro AE30 and InstaChord IC-31 by an impressively famous jury composed by Roger Linn, Nina Richards, Bian Liunian, Pedro Eustache, Jean-Michel Jarre and Michele Darlin.

We are so proud for this strong recognition of our work!
https://www.soundonsound.com/news/midi- ... -announced (https://www.soundonsound.com/news/midi-%20...%20-announced)

2023_MIDI-Innovation-Awards-Winner.JPG

TobyB · Post by **TobyB** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:32 pm

My Linnstrument has been my primary keyboard for many years ... I am mainly a player of stringed things and my skills on B&W keys are pretty rudimentary, and only with the Osmose has MPE been useable. I am looking forward to the hex layout of this ... I am anticipating that it'll be strong for chordal accompaniment...

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:34 pm

funkyfx wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2023 1:02 pm Dear all,
we are very happy to announce Exquis is the winner of 2023 MIDI Innovation Awards!
Exquis has been chosen in front of Roland Aerophone Pro AE30 and InstaChord IC-31 by an impressively famous jury composed by Roger Linn, Nina Richards, Bian Liunian, Pedro Eustache, Jean-Michel Jarre and Michele Darlin.

We are so proud for this strong recognition of our work!
https://www.soundonsound.com/news/midi- ... -announced

2023_MIDI-Innovation-Awards-Winner.JPG

congratulations!

funkyfx · Post by **funkyfx** » Mon Sep 25, 2023 1:29 pm

For those who are interested but has not already supported our project, just a quick note to tell that to get the best price ever on Exquis, you should go on our website, because prices will slowly rise until their "real price", every month until December. First step up on the 1st of October

TobyB · Post by **TobyB** » Mon Dec 18, 2023 9:04 pm

FedEx note says mine out for delivery!

Exquis hex-layout controller (Kickstarter)