Alternative key layouts have popped up in commercial hardware and now iPad apps and such, but there’s nothing like trying to build something to grasp how it works. An intrepid group of makers who call themselves Louisville Soundbuilders are working now to clone the C-Thru Music AXiS-64. The goal: their own, original instrument that uses the isomorphic array of keys the AXiS does, which by organizing notes by harmonic interval makes complex melodies and harmonies much simpler than on traditional fretted instruments and keyboards.

You can see results in the video. (It doesn’t make sound until the very end. This is how instrument building goes — dedicate months to build, then months more to practice!) The discussion of how it’s made is especially interesting, and offers some tips to people who are building entirely different devices – check out what they learned about switches and velocity sensing. See the forum:
Soundbuilders Discussion

Thanks, Nick Sturtzel, for sharing your work.

And that really brings us to the value of cloning.

To me, the presence of these DIY boards shouldn’t detract from the value of C-Thru’s product. C-Thru’s gear is superb, and clearly, a lot of their market wants a pre-built project and not a few months in a local hacklab. In fact, clones could add value rather than subtract: by putting these instruments in the hands of people who can’t afford the C-Thru, the project helps evangelize isomorphic layouts. The real challenge for clever key layouts has been that their use is so limited, which means you never get a chance to build a scene and a practice around their musical application. Lastly, as the exploration of switches and velocity shows, building a clone of something else and getting involved in how something is made can yield entirely new designs – especially since this is a group of hacker musicians, not a factory making knock-offs.

I’ll be interested to see how this goes … and now I’m curious to build something like this.

Bonus points to this group for being from my hometown, Louisville, Kentucky. (I was born and raised, before moving to New York. If I ever move to Baltimore, I’ll have the Triple Crown.) For the correct pronunciation, think not how the French who settled it would speak, but instead imagine stuffing a pile of these keys in your mouth, and try to say “Louisville.”

In fact, that “lvl1.org” domain isn’t really even some hacker thing. “lvl” is probably the proper way to spell what people in Kentuckiana actually say. Hope I get to come visit folks in Louisville soon; it’s always good to come home.

The IR-909, a simple but lovely-looking Roland TR-909 drum machine clone, is now available for the iPhone. Description:

IR-909 is a drum machine for the iPhone inspired by the Roland TR-909. IR-909 features a 16-step sequencer, 4 patterns and 8 different drum sounds. IR-909 includes individual pitch, attack and length controls for each sample. By default IR-909 comes with 6 different sample packs, these include the original TR-909 pack, TR-808, TR-707 and TR-606 packs, plus two additional ones called "Tech House" and "Kärv".

This isn’t without some caveats. Reader Todd notes that it lacks pattern saving, audio export, and audio import, and tempo adjustment is a bit crude. Then again, it’s available, it works (apparently), and maybe we’ll see some other adjustments in the future. US$4.99 via iTunes.

Interestingly, you can still download the beta for the 1.1.4 iPhone firmware for free – useful if you haven’t yet taken the leap to the new firmware, which is causing some bugs and crashes for many readers.

IR-909 @ roventskij.net

The app we’re really waiting for from developer Einar Andersson is his iPhone synth, a beautifully minimalist synth plus step sequencer with modulation via iPhone tilt.

I will actually stick by my earlier claims. The iPhone is cool, and there are some interesting apps for it, but you may actually get a richer experience on a cheaper device via the hacked gaming systems out there and even Palm and Windows Mobile. On the other hand, what we’re hearing from many readers is that the iThings’ controller capability is the real star, and well worth jailbreaking your iPhone/iPod Touch for. (We expect some official controllers, sans jailbreaking, soon.) Then again, that’s why choice is always, always a good thing. A “state of the mobile plaforms” post is clearly in order – expect something later in August.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m back to playing with the DS-10 that just arrived. More soon.