What looks like some huge news gets casually mentioned in descriptions for the upcoming SIGGRAPH graphics conference and on the website of JazzMutant, the developers of multi-touch hardware controllers Lemur and Dexter:

Jazzmutant is proud to have been selected by the Siggraph Emerging Technologies Committee in San Diego to demo a new prototype device for digital imaging involving multi-touch control. This solution will go beyond mere finger-drawing and clearly illustrate a new way to interact and improve productivity with drawing and video editing software. Furthermore, the solution presented will be the very first multi-touch enabled Tablet PC shown to the public.

JazzMutant news

One of my complaints when I looked at the first Lemur touchscreen was that it felt like it had in a way separated display, computer, and interface. A computer with multi-touch? Now we’re talking. Lots of questions here, though: how would a typical PC support the multi-touch interface? How much would it cost? What’s this new prototype device — is it, as the Dexter was, basically just another Lemur with the addition of new control templates?

Time will tell. We’ll be watching. But this is some of the best multi-touch news in a long time.

Thanks to Andreas Wetterberg for the tip!

The perfect computer DJ controller remains elusive. Serious turntablist DJs, of course, will want decks. But what if you’re scratching homebrew Reaktor instruments, or jogging through video for a VJ set (which, sorry, isn’t really subtle enough to require a full deck), or just adding scratch to a laptop set?

Our own Adrian Anders notes the new Vestax VCI-100 in comments:

Vestax VCI-100 Product Page

Here’s what it looks like on paper (or, erm, website pixels anyway):

1. Jog wheel “constructed with a high-resolution pulse sensor; touch sensor and acrylic platter mechanism”. Have to actually try that out to know what that feels like. Jog wheels have built-in “sensor LED.”
2. Hardware-adjustable crossfader controls
3. USB MIDI connection, bus-powered
4. 90 assignable parameters
5. Plug and play (class-compliant)
6. Bundled with Traktor LE

The controller layout is a little unusual in that there’s a loop/sampler section at top left and generic “effects” controls at upper right. I’m guessing some folks will like that, and others won’t.

Pricing, availability — no official word. Hopefully we’ll hear more at NAMM.

Updated: DJDeals is showing March 2007 availability and US$499 price (lower, unlisted price available):
DJDeals VCI-100

I’d want to test it first, obviously, and I’d take reseller availability dates with a grain of salt, but that gives us a ballpark.

NAMM Hands-on:

More on the VCI-100 from Josh Jancourtz on the floor of the Winter NAMM show:
NAMM: Vestax VCI-100, Heavy Metal MIDI Controller for the DJ

M-Audio promised more wireless MIDI devices, and they’ve delivered: a 37-key keyboard in addition to the 25-key model, plus a standalone adapter you can use to turn any battery-powered instrument into a wireless controller.

The M-Audio MidAir 37 is a 37-key version of the previous, wireless 25-key model. That leaves room for extra controllers (9 faders, to be exact) and makes a more playable instrument. US$299, and runs 20 hours on AA batteries. The only problem: it’s not a strap-on, so other than reducing some cables or accommodating a tricky stage setup, you might be better off going with M-Audio’s higher-grade, cheaper wired keyboards instead.

More interesting is the new standalone MidAir adapter. At US$149, it turns any instrument with MIDI into a wireless device. Now we’re talking; at that price, you can buy a couple and start turning everything in your studio into a wireless unit. M-Audio has actually thought through how the adapter will work, with a very compact clip-on unit, and coiled cables (so you don’t get tangled).

Keytars are the first logical application here, and the ability to make a vintage, battery-powered keytar into a wireless device, you have to admit, has some geek-chic appeal. But why stop there? Most of the compact keyboards in my studio are now battery-powered, like the tiny Novation Xiosynth that just arrived. I could even see this used on DIY gear. The MIDIsense board, for instance, or (if you add MIDI ports) Arduino both run happily on a 9V battery. Plug in the sensors of your choice, and your new gyroscope - accelerometer - touch sensor - light sensor - blinkie thing can be set free, wirelessly — all without having to tune the wireless function yourself.

A number of you asked what happened to the competing WIDI line from CME. The answer is, simply, I don’t know; I haven’t seen a shipping version here in the US yet, and those of you who have ordered one haven’t seen it yet. I do notice that the WIDI standalone device looks a little clunkier. If any of you have ordered one and actually got it, let us know. (I also notice the CME looks a little clunkier than the new MidAir.) Until CME can actually ship their device, the M-Audio wins by forfeit.

Let us know what happens to your orders, though.

[tags]CME, M-Audio, hardware, interfaces, MIDI, USB, wireless, preview[/tags]