Audio Science

I was thinking of doing something other than a product highlight, but my plans changed when I saw this. This is another one of those one-product start-up companies like I’ve been highlighting, and their product is actually quite similar to the monome 40h and the genoQs Octopus in the way of MIDI control. But, like both of them, it’s got something very unique going on. C-Thru Music is the company making this “keyboard”, the AXiS Natural Keyboard, and it’s handmade in Norfolk, England at an introductory price of 720GBP (about $1400USD).

Basically, the AXiS is a new type of keyboard, departing from the layout of piano keys and replacing them with color-coded velocity-sensitive buttons. The hexagonal keys are arranged in a highly intelligent layout, with the major third of a given note to the upper-right of it, the minor third to the upper-left, and the perfect fifth directly above it. Therefore, you can find any chord by memorizing the structure of that chord and applying it to any button.

From C-Thru Music:

Keys & Notes.

The obvious difference between the AXiS and other music interfaces is its’ keyboard, which gives you a geometric overview of musical harmonies. It is based on the Harmonic Table layout of notes. There are many musical benefits of the Harmonic Table note layout.

MIDI Controls.

The AXiS is a versatile MIDI master master keyboard. Onboard are pitch bend and mod wheels, and two rotary controls. There are sockets for two foot controls or footswitches. The AXiS can calibrate almost any external control with ease.

As this keyboard is made-to-order, you can have the AXiS customized to be any kind of controller you need, such as a one-shot drum controller, a loop trigger device, external control for all your devices, etc.