The box contents are pretty sparse. The controller, a usb cable, and a sheet of stickers with the note names. The axis doesn’t require any special drivers. It’s just a generic midi class device. So it ‘just worked’ in ableton, logic, and standalone NI apps that I tried. When I first plugged it in, I loaded up a piano patch, and started experimenting, before I’d even put the note names on the keys.

One of the concepts with the axis is that chords are built from shapes. With the harmonic table layout, simple shapes yield interesting results. This pdf gives a basic idea, though there are many more. There’s a slew of videos on youtube demonstrating it, including some amusing ‘shred’ videos from Jordan Rudess.

The controller covers 4 octaves, with 2 transpose octave up/down keys to the left side. Each note from each octave appears on two buttons simultaneously. The action on the buttons is very satisfying, not requiring huge amounts of pressure, allowing you to play triads with a single finger.

After having used it for a week, I have to say you have to try pretty hard to make it sound ‘unmusical’. I wish I’d had this when I was first learning music theory. Intervals are a lot more obvious with this layout. The only gripes I have with it are firstly, that it’s pretty chunky. Not really something I see traveling with too much. Secondly, no midi out (though the axis-64 does have this), which makes it a pain in the ass to interface it with hardware synths.

Post from: Attack Sustain

Axis 49

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