There is a similar option from a Columbian company Creart Tech now.
They sell kits to create yor own MIDI controllers. You can pick from a range of designs. They really do a lot of designs the arcade buttons. These might be nice for performance
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Here’s an extra large controller they did for Tom Rowlands (The Chemical Brothers).
Yaeltex has developed the expertise for the custom, and is probably the go-to for any of this sort of work.
Noticed on their YT channel page they have several videos on their YURS software component for their controllers, an open-source Python-based remote script to deeply integrate custom MIDI controllers with Ableton Live 10 and above.
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As i posted upthread Yaeltex is an excellent resource for new product developers to try out larger prototype ideas, inexpensively ( relative to in-house time and money costs ). Attach that to any of the synthesis prototyping hardware, like Electrosmith, and perhaps the advanced keybed development pieces, gives a developer a chance to focus on the custom functionality that will set their products apart.
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Yaeltex V3
With V3 you can now have up to sixteen full-color. one inch micro-screens anywhere on the device. The displays can show things like dynamic labels, value feedback, mode and operational control, and graphics, like meters and such.
V3 also dramatically increases the number of controls you can have, like doubling the number of endless encoders to 64, and analog controls up to 128 now too. You can also add an Innofader capacitive crossfader to your design.
You can add USB-C for both power and MIDI, as well as TRS MIDI outs and ins.
Yaeltex come with source firmware for the controller. It can also be interfaced with Ableton Live.
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Something else to consider :
Now in the age of custom firmware and systems, this custom hardware takes on a new meaning.
It would be possible to drop a suitable processor board with the peripherals and perhaps a larger screen into this system, use the MIDI interface, and create something totally custom of your own imagination. All that for not very much money.
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My biggest concern with this kinda concept: what happens if this thing breaks or gets lost when I build my whole setup around it? it’s impossible to get a replacement in short term. Or maybe Yaeltex even ceased operations at this point. I came to the conclusion that I’d have to buy two. Thats >1k€ for me in Europe before taxes and duties for a small version.
Aside from that, the bundling of potis and encoders to sets of 4 feels kinda limiting if I try to make the most out of the space.
Literally one of the most expensive controller companies around
What would it cost ( in either time, or money ) to make a complex custom hardware and software synth, or effects processor, completely from scratch, using the more traditional methods ?
I would estimate the “cost” would be at a minimum ten to fifteen times the method i outlined here.
My statement placed in the context i gave it, seems completely reasonable.
From my past experience of building many of them from scratch, about 25% the cost.
They are extremely cheap to build.
(Unless youre someone who rates their time worth 200$/hour)
And my statement of them being some of the most expensive controllers there are in the context is completely accurate.
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