Alesis Vortex Keytar Controller

The Alesis Vortex Keytar Controller is for keys players and front-people who want the full freedom of the stage, but want the scope to play creative synth and piano lines. The creative possibilities are huge with the Vortex, which is amogst other things the first MIDI keytar controller to feature a MIDI-assignable accelerometer. That means you can control LFO's, pitch bends, volume swells and other parameters by tilting the neck during performance. The keys are dynamic, so you can play with natural expression.

There are octave select buttons, a pitch wheel, volume slider, 37 keys, 8 velocity sensitive drum pad/sample triggers, transport and patch select controls and more. These controls give you the kind of flexability you need to control virtually any MIDI compatible synth (software or hardware). The finger-controlled MIDI-assignable touchstrip, sustain, and octave-control buttons on neck keep your left hand in control of parameters while your right hand focusses on the performance. There is both standard MIDI out (requires batteries for power) and USB (bus powered - if available) so you can use a PC, Mac, laptop, sound module, drum machine, iPad or even iPhone for sounds. There is also a footswitch controller input, for times when you need a sustain pedal on the floor rather than using the thumb switch.

There is an adjustable guitar strap included with the Alesis Vortex, and with standard guitar strap pegs on the body you can use any guitar strap you like (be it a studded leather one, pink fluffy one or otherwise). This kind of performance freedon makes playing keyboards and synths much more fun, and with the surge of interest in electro and dub-step production in all genres of music, this synth controller will prove incredibly useful.