"QuNexus: the World's First Portable, Professional Keyboard
The Most Playable, Portable, and Powerful Keyboard Controller Now Shipping
BERKELEY, California – May 21, 2013 – Keith McMillen Instruments is proud to announce the shipping of its QuNexus Smart Sensor Keyboard Controller to customers around the world.
The next generation of portable keyboards
Featuring huge performance capabilities in a tiny footprint, QuNexus gives unprecedented expressive control with KMI's patented Smart Sensor technology that transmits pressure, tilt, polyphonic aftertouch, and velocity. QuNexus unites four generations of synthesis–CV, MIDI, USB, and OSC–for maximum flexibility.
“QuNexus is the most important evolution in keyboards since the Erard Escapement was introduced to pianos in 1821,” said KMI founder, Keith McMillen. “QuNexus gives keyboardists forms of expression that were only available to string and horn players. Although playful in appearance, it performs and feels like a serious instrument.”
QuNexus re-imagines the portable MIDI keyboard with 25 vividly illuminated, Smart Sensor keys that are uniquely interactive and fun to play. QuNexus is designed to talk to analog synthesizers with Control Voltage (CV), USB, 5-pin MIDI hardware, and networked OSC applications.
"We are very excited about the arrival of QuNexus," said John Grabowski, Senior Director of Merchandising at Sweetwater Sound. "Its innovative design and unique capabilities have already translated into strong pre-order demand."
Powerful: crank up your performance
Pros are loving the expressive power of polyphonic aftertouch, channel rotation, poly pitch bend, and the ability to incorporate analog synthesizers with Control Voltage (CV).
"I'm having a great time playing QuNexus. KMI is making products that push the boundaries," said keyboard virtuoso, Jordan Rudess.
"Apart from being a slick, portable USB controller with the unique key tilt feature, QuNexus is a convenient MIDI to CV and CV to MIDI converter, and is extremely useful for integrating my analog gear into the digital world," said electronic musician, DJ and remixer, Jonah Sharp aka Spacetime Continuum.
QuNexus' revolutionary keys can be played faster and more accurately than those of a traditional keyboard. Individual key pressure and tilt sensitivity enable fresh nuance.
"QuNexus is a dope piece of equipment for playing chords and lead lines, and I really like how I can express with the tilt pitch bend and get creative like a guitar or horn player, and do things pianos can't do," said pianist, M.C., and producer, Kev Choice.
Native: plug and play
QuNexus is easy to use because it is class compliant and works with iOS, Android, Mac OS, Windows, and Linux with no additional software drivers required. QuNexus is a powerful companion for a wide variety of music software applications such as Reason, Kontakt, Ableton Live, Logic, Arturia software synths, AudioMulch, Animoog, and GarageBand.
Portable: jam anytime, anywhere
Highly portable, durable, and USB powered, QuNexus allows performers to create and perform songs on the go with synths and piano apps easily downloaded to an iPad or laptop. QuNexus pairs very well with popular piano and music learning apps such as Synthesia, Piano Legend, Symphonix Evolution, and Pianist Pro. QuNexus requires very little power and will play all day.
"QuNexus is solving a big problem for a lot of laptop musicians who want a really portable, but powerful, keyboard controller," said recording artist and sound designer, Richard Devine.
QuNexus Details:
- 25 Smart Sensor keys detect velocity, pressure, and tilt
- Polyphonic pitch bend and aftertouch
- 2 CV/Gate inputs; Gate and 3 CV Outputs (16-bit)
- Pitch bend pad
- Octave up/down buttons provide a 7 octave range
- USB powered, receives power directly from iOS device or Mac/PC
- Class compliant for iOS, Android, Mac OS, Windows and Linux, no drivers required
- Portable: 3.3" (84 mm) x 12.8" (325 mm) x 0.43" (11 mm), 0.76 lb (345 g)
QuNexus has a street price of $149.00 USD.
Learn more at
http://www.keithmcmillen.com/qunexus/overview.
About Keith McMillen Instruments
Keith McMillen Instruments develops innovative hardware and software technologies that allow musicians to interface with computers in exciting new ways. Based in Berkeley, California, KMI's provides musicians with tools that add new dimensions of expression and control to their performances. We believe when a computer is played as a musical instrument it should feel and respond like one, with all the nuance and sensitivity that makes an instrument musical."
QuNexus on eBay
"The synthesia platform is a project whose purpose is to create an Analogue modelling musical synthesizer; that is, a synthesizer implemented using both analogue and digital components that intends to emulate the sounds of traditional analogue synthesizers, whilst being controllable through modern-day digital protocols such as the Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI).
The synthesizer platform exists upon it’s own standalone hardware, and may be controlled using a variety of existing MIDI-capable instruments, including keyboards, guitars and drums.
