Melbourne Instruments’ Groundbreaking Synthesizers
The atmosphere at Superbooth 2023 crackled with excitement as Melbourne Instruments took the stage to unveil Nina, their first-ever synthesizer.
This innovative device featured a unique motorised pot system that immediately captured the attention of everyone in attendance.
Following the success of Nina, the company expanded its lineup with Delia, a remarkable six-voice keyboard instrument powered by the same cutting-edge motor mechanism.
Introducing Roto-Control
Now, Melbourne Instruments is set to elevate the music-making experience even further with Roto-Control, an advanced MIDI controller designed to give musicians effortless command over a broad range of third-party hardware and software.
This sleek tool boasts eight touch-sensitive motorised pots, enhanced by several high-resolution screens and practical buttons, making it both versatile and user-friendly—a perfect addition to any musical setup.
Roto-Control offers three distinct operational modes, each tailored to enhance control over DAWs, plug-ins, and MIDI-compatible devices.
The first, Mix Mode, seamlessly integrates into the audio mixing environment of Ableton Live.
Musicians will appreciate the device’s ability to automatically sync track names and colors within an active Live Set, saving time and eliminating tedious manual entries.
Advanced Features and Pricing
Switching to Plugin Mode unlocks Roto-Control’s full potential, as it adeptly ‘learns’ and manages Ableton Live’s plug-ins.
Parameters can be stored directly on the unit, allowing the host computer to conserve resources for other tasks.
Both Mix and Plugin Modes also feature comprehensive transport controls, streamlining the user experience in Live.
But that’s not all—MIDI Mode transforms Roto-Control into a stand-alone MIDI controller compatible with any software or hardware that supports MIDI.
Remarkably, it operates independently of a computer and can store up to 64 unique setups.
Each setup comprises 64 controls, divided into 32 knobs and 32 buttons.
The flexibility this provides opens up a world of creative possibilities.
In MIDI Mode, Roto-Control truly excels with its Motion Recording feature, allowing musicians to record and play back MIDI data to automate parameters on external instruments.
This functionality can sync to internal or external MIDI clocks and supports up to eight setups, each with eight separate parameters.
Users can also experiment with different step-recording lengths—options include 16, 32, 48, or 64 steps—as well as playback modes such as forward, backward, random, and ping-pong.
Mark your calendars! The Roto-Control is expected to hit the market in March 2025 with a price of $419/£389, VAT included.
To learn more and elevate your musical endeavors, visit www.melbourneinstruments.com/rotocontrol.
Get ready to enhance your music-making journey!