Published 3/4/08
Controller stalwarts announce new master keyboard
Keyboard and MIDI controller specialists Fatar have announced a new master controller in their Studiologic range.
The manufacturers say that the new controller, the Numa, is “the most pianistic and flexible MIDI controller ever designed”, which is quite a claim.
Unlike many of its competitors, the Numa doesn’t have masses of knobs or faders, instead, attention has been paid to making the keyboard feel as much like a real piano as possible. All of the 88 hammer-action keys are solid (Fatar say that the black keys of some competing controllers are hollow), and the keyboard is graded, so the response of the keys gets progressively lighter further up the keyboard.
The Numa has a touch-sensitive user interface, complete with a large LCD that shows whichever parameter is being programmed. Four hot keys, some arrow pads and a scroll wheel are used to enter and edit information, and a function called YouPlay guides the user through a process that configures the dynamic response of the controller to best suit their playing style. A pitch-bend wheel is situated, rather oddly, on the side of the device, above sockets for MIDI, USB, foot pedals and a power supply.
The body of the Numa is made from a single piece of moulded ABS plastic, which helps to keep the weight of the controller down. Usefully, it has a sliding top panel, which extends to enable the user to place a laptop, sound module or controller on top of the keyboard.
Currently, it’s only available in 88-note format, although smaller versions may be in development.
The Numa costs £900 including VAT, and is due to ship at the end of April.
Arbiter +44 (0)208 207 7860
www.arbiter.co.uk
www.fatar.com
The manufacturers say that the new controller, the Numa, is “the most pianistic and flexible MIDI controller ever designed”, which is quite a claim.
Unlike many of its competitors, the Numa doesn’t have masses of knobs or faders, instead, attention has been paid to making the keyboard feel as much like a real piano as possible. All of the 88 hammer-action keys are solid (Fatar say that the black keys of some competing controllers are hollow), and the keyboard is graded, so the response of the keys gets progressively lighter further up the keyboard.
The Numa has a touch-sensitive user interface, complete with a large LCD that shows whichever parameter is being programmed. Four hot keys, some arrow pads and a scroll wheel are used to enter and edit information, and a function called YouPlay guides the user through a process that configures the dynamic response of the controller to best suit their playing style. A pitch-bend wheel is situated, rather oddly, on the side of the device, above sockets for MIDI, USB, foot pedals and a power supply.
The body of the Numa is made from a single piece of moulded ABS plastic, which helps to keep the weight of the controller down. Usefully, it has a sliding top panel, which extends to enable the user to place a laptop, sound module or controller on top of the keyboard.
Currently, it’s only available in 88-note format, although smaller versions may be in development.
The Numa costs £900 including VAT, and is due to ship at the end of April.
Arbiter +44 (0)208 207 7860
www.arbiter.co.uk
www.fatar.com
