Somascape HexaChrom

Somascape has released HexaChrom, a musical performance controller for iPad, enabling you to wirelessly play your OSC or MIDI electronic musical instruments — virtual instruments running on a laptop/desktop computer, or any hardware instruments attached to your laptop/desktop computer.

HexaChrom takes an alternative approach to the majority of MIDI keyboard controllers in that it uses an isometric note layout, where the notes are presented as a hexagonal matrix of keys. There are many such isometric layouts, though HexaChrom uses the Harmonic Table layout, which is a modern variation of the Tonnetz (tone network), devised by the famous mathematician Euler.

HexaChrom features

  • Isometric ‘harmonic table’ note layout keyboard, based on a 52-note matrix (just over 4 octaves).
  • Play simple chords with a single finger.
  • Consistent chord shapes irrespective of root key.
  • Octave transposition provides a total span of just over 7 octaves.
  • Dual view : Portrait mode offers a single 52-note matrix (easy play); Landscape mode has a 104-note dual matrix, with optional split channel operation.
  • Assignable controllers (sliders and buttons).
  • Connects wirelessly using the OSC protocol.
  • Automatic connection using bonjour, or manual connection when bonjour is not an option.
  • Using OSCulator (on a Mac) control any software or hardware MIDI synthesizer, sampler, drum machine, etc.
  • Multitouch interface.

HexaChrom for iOS 3.2 or higher is available to purchase for $3.99 USD.

More information: Somascape