MINE – MODULAR CONTROLLER
Mine is designed for DJs, VJs, producers and musicians who are looking for a highly customizable, expandable and reconfigurable product. Mine is a modular midi controller composed by a case which is suitable to accommodate modules. These modules are built by single electronic interfaces in order to offer the maximum flexibility in the creation of your own configuration.
Todays solutions available on the market are not able to completely fulfill the user’s needs.
Mine is the controller that adapts itself to the user, not the other way round!
MODULES
Modules can be inserted into the case or removed at will: in this way you can create a larger number of possible configurations. Right now we have six designed modules:
PAD, 2 BUTTONS, POT, ENCODER, SLIDER, BLANK.
COMPOSITION
Each module is made of a body of polymeric material that protects and covers the electronic components. The module is connected to the mainboard through small connectors under the module. These connectors allow the transfer of information between the individual interface of modules and the Mine mainboard.
Each module can be placed both in horizontal and vertical positions allowing more flexibility of use. For example, a fader can be placed in a vertical position in order to adjust volume of a channel or in a horizontal position to be used as cross-fader.
When inserting the modules, these are automatically blocked thanks to the two clips on the chassis, which are inserted into the slots on the mainboard. Once inserted into the case, the modules become stable. You need two special extractors in order to remove them from the case.
MINE & MINE S
Currently two versions of controller are available: Mine and Mine S.
Mine consists of a matrix of 8 rows × 8 columns, that allows the insertion of a maximum of 64 modules; while Mine S is a matrix of 8 rows × 4 columns and it can accommodate up to 32 modules.
A standard USB port allows to connect the controller to a PC/Mac or to power it. When you connect more LEDs modules together, the intensity of the LEDs lights might be less due to limited power coming from the USB hub. This is a normal behavior. For this reason, we add a power supply connector which can be used to increase the light intensity of the LEDs when you need.
Additional expansion ports are a nearby USB port, MIDI in & out and also a power supply plug; Mine has 2 more ports for expansion and MineS has 1 port for expansion.
SETTINGS
No driver will be needed. Mine and Mine S are full-MIDI class compliant; this will allow to play on all type of platforms and operating systems. The dedicated controller editor software is the easiest way to configure Mine and Mine S. It will AUTOMATICALLY RECOGNIZE the type of module, its position and orientation. Thus, the Mine configuration is very simple. It’s also possible to modify the parameters of each individual module and save the settings directly on the module.
EXPANDIBILITY
The user can connect one device to the other and build it up as one bigger control surface. In this configuration, the controller editor software will recognize Mine and Mine S as a unique control surface.
PARTNERSHIP
We are also proud to announce the collaboration with Isotonik Studios that will allow the free use of a basic-function script to Ableton Live users.
WHY CHOOSING THIS MODULAR CONTROLLER?
The main characteristics and advantages that diversify Mine from all the other controllers and DIY controllers already on the market are:
- CUSTOMIZATION: users can choose their own configuration and place the modules (built by single electronic interface) inside the case to best suit their needs. In fact, Mine is the controller that adapts itself to the user, not the the other way round!
This is the meaning of MINE: being able to create its own personal controller.
- EXPANDIBILITY & CONTINUOUS EVOLUTION: The six available modules are only the starting point. The distinctive trait of this product is the possibility to design and create new modules in the future.
- RECONFIGURABILITY & LESS OBSOLESCENCE: The different kinds of Music software are evolving and are adding new features year by year. This is why djs, vjs, producers and musicians have to evolve their style along their carrier as well as their approach to the instruments. With commercial controllers djs, vjs, producers and musicians have to buy new instruments according to their needs. With Mine the user can adjust the controller without changing it because it can reconfigure its layout over and over again by extracting and reinserting the various modules in the desired position and orientation.
- DIY CONTROLLER WITHOUT ANY ELECTRONICS KNOWLEDGE:
Mine is also suitable for users that want to build a customized controller but they have no electronics knowledge.
- SMART MODULES:
Every module has a “brain” which is able to communicate with the mainboard of Mine. The brain inside the module allows the mainboard to recognize position, orientation and IDs (i.e. what type of control they are). In addition the user can set up some parameters and save them directly in the modules (e.g. speed of the encoder).
- FIRMWARE UPGRADABILITY:
Even the technology that controls Mine has the flexibility to change in order to follow innovative ideas. For this reason it can be easily updated.
- DESIGN:
The case of Mine is made of high quality aluminum. The resilience and lightness of this material is perfect for stability and transportation of the product. Even the carter is made up of aluminum covered by a walnut pattern or black painted.
FEATURED ON
"This Modular MIDI Controller, Specialwaves Mine, Is Smart, Customisable & Sexy"
Rounik Sethi, AskAudio
TIMELINE
THE FIRST PROTOTYPE (Dec 2013)
The first prototype made on December 2013 was partially functional and slightly different from todays Mine (see picture below). But the idea of an individual modular system and the re-use of a wood finishing was here from the beginning.
