September 09, 2012

Since the introduction of Tonal Plexus keyboards in 2007, the most requested feature has been velocity sensing keys. After years of development, with the help of funding provided by Tonal Plexus devotee Dolores Catherino, I'm proud to announce a new line of velocity sensing Tonal Plexus keyboards called MegaPlex.

MegaPlex keyboards not only have velocity sensing keys (having 3 mm travel), but also feature 45 more keys per octave than TPX and U-PLEX keyboards, for a total of 256 keys per octave. The keyboards also feature selectable USB-MIDI and MIDI DIN outputs, six pedal inputs for a variety of MIDI CC control, a tough aluminum exterior, an internal amplifier and stereo speakers, and a built-in Mac with an LCD screen and access to USB, HDMI, Audio IN, and Firewire 800. The Mac produces the audio output for the keyboard.

Below is pictured the first 6-octave MegaPlex, built by hand especially for Dolores Catherino, now residing at her studio in Anchorage, Alaska.

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I am currently finishing a second 6-octave MegaPlex ordered by the New England Conservatory, to be used by keyboard students in microtonal music classes led by composer Julia Werntz.

The planned H-Pi product line includes the above 6-octave keyboard (1536 keys) with the embedded Mac, and a line of controllers without the built-in Mac, having 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 octaves (that's 512, 768, 1024, 1280, and 1536 total keys, respectively).

General pricing for MegaPlex keyboards has not yet been determined. I am considering a KickStarter campaign to fund production and save me from having to build every keyboard by hand. If you are interested in owning a MegaPlex, send an email to let me know. If you would like to be informed of news regarding MegaPlex, please join the mailing list. Thanks as always for your support.