With the recent launch of umidi on Kickstarter, I thought now would be the perfect time to take a look at the custom MIDI controller marketplace.

In case you’ve missed word on the launch of umidi, check out this video:

umidi definitely looks to be an incredibly high-quality controller solution that offers plenty of customization. The controller starts with a single piece aluminum body that can be anodized in your choice of color and/or laser etched with a custom or pre-existing picture or design. From there you can configure the controller in any way you want from the selection of high-quality knobs, faders, encoderes, jog wheels, and (CDJ-esque) aluminum push buttons (up to 36 components on the device) via the internet design tool . The RGB lighting on the unit reacts in a different way than what most of the current market offers by allowing you to create beautiful music driven visuals/animations on the buttons/knobs/faders/etc. from the selection of millions of colors (I didn’t even know there were millions of colors!!!) All of this comes to you in an attractive bus powered device (sitting under an inch thick and weighing less than 3 pounds) that the wonderful people at umidi will build and ship out to you.

Now, while the umidi is plug-and-play compatible with any MIDI compatible software, it’s definitely aimed at the digital DJ market. It’s being touted as the world’s first custom DJ controller (which is debatable since other companies have been making custom controllers for years – albeit in a slightly more boutique way) and it will be shipping with a variety of presets for all the popular DJ tech-tools (pun intended) like Traktor, Serato, and Live. With that said – I’m not a DJ (and probably couldn’t DJ to save someone else’s life), but it’s an incredibly attractive controller and concept that I’m sure I could have fun with even as a production oriented controllerist.

Since we’re here, I’d like to take this opportunity to mention some other flavors of custom MIDI controller candy!

Bassnectar’s Bass-Finger by 60 Works!

First up we have our friends over at 60 Works. They’ve been making custom controllers for years via a specialist/boutique approach. You may have seen the work of 60 Works through Bassnectar’s Bass-Finger and/or Moldover’s MOJO. Beyond 60 Works’ more involved approach to a custom controller, Dave Cross (the expert behind 60 Works) also makes custom controllers through Zayik . Zayik allows you to design a custom controller through an online tool with a pre-existing template and available components which will then be built by Dave and his magic touch.

The Falcontroller (image from custommidicontrollers.com)

Next we have a site you’ve probably ran into if you’ve ever searched for “custom MIDI controllers” – CustomMIDIControllers.com. There you can think of your ideal controller and sketch it up or use their designers toolkit. Then they’ll put it together and you’ll have your custom MIDI controller by CustomMIDIControllers.com! I’d like to be able to offer more info, but I honestly don’t know much about CMC beyond the info available on the website as it doesn’t look like it’s been updated in a while. Which is understandable since Mad Zach seems to be busy Mad Zaching!

The Thesis concept. (Image courtesy of fuzzywobble.com)

In closing, I’d like to mention Fuzzy Wobble‘s Thesis – a LDIY (learn to do it yourself) concept/service in which a controller is designed in whatever way to achieve the intuitive hardware/software integration that the user desires (yes, via a web design tool) and then – here’s the interesting part – instead of the controller being built and shipped to you, the components and instructions are shipped to you and from there you DIY build your own controller!

A company called Loog Guitars manufactures 3 string guitar kits for children. Their philosophy behind the DIY approach is that when you build your own guitar you develop a connection with it and it’s an experience that helps you understand and love the instrument. There’s no reason that same philosophy can’t be applied to any aspect of your musical journey (your synth patches, your effects pedal, etc…) and let you develop that special connection. The few companies mentioned above can help you apply that philosophy to your controllerism setup. So, if any of the companies or their controllers interest you, be sure to check them out at the following links:
umidi / umidi’s ongoing Kickstarter
60 Works / Zayik
CustomMIDIControllers.com
Fuzzy Wobble’s Thesis
Loog Guitars