Alesis has introduced the Vortex, a USB/MIDI keytar controller.
The Vortex eliminates the barrier between keyboardists and the audience. With an extensive layout of touch-sensitive keys and velocity-sensitive pads on its pearlescent white body, and radical octave and pitch controls on its neck, the Vortex will have keyboard players ruling the stage.
The Vortex includes features never before found on any keytar: both traditional MIDI and USB MIDI are onboard, empowering keyboardists to use the Vortex with all of their software instruments and synths on Mac, PC, and iPad*. They’ll have a virtually unlimited palette of sounds, ready to command with one of the most exciting and eye-catching controllers ever created. And for instant performance, the Vortex comes automapped for today’s most popular software synths and DAWs. Users can customize and create their own mappings for virtually any software they like.
Vortex features
- Dynamic, shoulder-worn performance keyboard with attention-grabbing looks.
- The first USB keytar controller—works with all of your software instruments & synths on Mac, PC, & iOS* devices.
- USB and traditional MIDI jacks for use with virtually any synth, sound module, or other MIDI hardware or software.
- Embedded, MIDI-assignable accelerometer for performance parameter control by tilting the neck.
- Thumb-controlled volume slider, sustain button and pitch-bend wheel on neck.
- Finger-controlled MIDI-assignable touchstrip, sustain, and octave-control buttons on neck.
- 37 velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch for compact, yet complete melodic range.
- Eight velocity-sensitive drum pads/sample triggers enable you to create beats or trigger clips.
- Large transport & patch-select controls for instant access.
- Includes strap; standard guitar strap pegs are compatible with virtually any strap.
- Bus powered when USB-connected to Mac or PC; battery compartment for use with MIDI modules and iOS devices.
Alesis will debut the Vortex at booth #6400 at the 2012 NAMM Show from January 19—22 in Anaheim, California.
