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ACPAD – The Electronic Orchestra For Your Guitar
296 922 €
1 204
ACPAD is the World’s First Wireless MIDI Controller for Acoustic Guitar. With ACPAD, you have access to hundreds of instruments, sound effects and loops - right where you want them: on your guitar.
And because we set ourselves to build an amazing MIDI controller, ACPAD is also:
Pressure Sensitivity
Pressure sensitivity is essential for the expressivity of the instruments played on ACPAD. To make pressure sensitive surfaces possible on such a thin device, the contacts of the pads are plated with gold (yes, actual gold). Thanks to this technology, ACPAD is only a few millimeters thick, but it can detect how hard you press the pads with remarkable precision!
The Layout
ACPAD offers a lot of features, so the layout had to be carefully thought-out. We tested extensively with guitar players to develop a button layout that feels intuitive.
The Final Design
Compared to the prototype seen in the video, the production model bears a few design optimizations, such as smaller footprint and more ergonomic button layout. Below is a side-by-side comparison between the prototype seen in the video and the pre-production model.
Attach ACPAD
ACPAD has a gentle adhesive surface and attaches to your guitar in seconds, without any screws, wires or permanent alterations made to your guitar. It can also safely be removed and replaced without leaving any residue.
Connect ACPAD
Plug the USB dongle in your laptop or mobile device and ACPAD syncs wirelessly with your favourite music apps and DAWs (Ableton, Logic, etc.) - no complex setup or cable mess. If you prefer, you can also connect ACPAD with a standard mini-USB cable.
Play!
You can now use ACPAD to trigger a variety of new sounds on your laptop or mobile device (connected to speakers for better audio quality).
Please note that you don't need an analog or MIDI pickup to use ACPAD. You only need an additional microphone or pickup if you want to:
- change or apply effects to the sound coming from your guitar,
- loop the sound coming from your guitar.
ACPAD was made to accommodate all guitar players - from the hobbyist to the performing artist. Whatever your skill level, ACPAD is extremely flexible and will grow with you on your musical journey.
If you're not yet comfortable playing multiple instruments at once, simply pre-record loops or samples, trigger them on ACPAD and focus on strumming your guitar - while ACPAD manages the orchestra for you.
If you're feeling more confident and want to play percussive-style guitar, then you have the ability to get even more creative and play drums, bass or trigger effects and samples while strumming at the same time. ACPAD becomes the perfect companion for improvisation and jamming.
ACPAD also fully supports your favorite DAWs such as Ableton Live and ProTools, which means possibilities are limitless. Let your imagination go wild!
We have already put in countless hours of work and lots of our own savings into the development of ACPAD. We now have working prototypes with which we created very cool music (some of which you can hear throughout our Kickstarter video).
However, the next step is manufacturing, and we need to secure 40,000€ in pre-orders to be able to finance the tooling, molds and materials for the first batch of production of ACPAD.
This is where YOU come in.
We need you to help us bring ACPAD to the world, by pledging and supporting our campaign. In return, we want to make you the very firsts ACPAD users in the world.
We absolutely can't wait to listen to the amazing music you will create with ACPAD!
ACPAD is extremely thin so that it doesn't damp the sound of your beloved acoustic guitar. But despite its incredible thinness, ACPAD has a whole lot of technology inside. Here's more details for all the nerds (like us) out there:
- Adhesive: Sticky polymer mat (residue-free)
- Dimensions: 300 mm X 365 mm; see below for details
- Thickness: 3.5 mm for the PAD; 9 mm for the battery area
- Battery life: 4-5 hours of continuous play; Rechargeable via USB
- Connectivity: Wireless via USB dongle; Wired via USB Mini cable
We are a small but dedicated group of musicians, engineers, designers and tech lovers building something we love. And since we released our first official ACPAD demo video, we know we're not alone. We've been blown away by your messages, feedback and encouragements about ACPAD, and we can't wait to put the final product into your hands!
The idea for ACPAD is born when Berlin musician Robin Sukroso needed a device that would allow him to bring his love of both electronic and acoustic music together. Robin first began experimenting in 2009 by building his own devices.
With the help of a friend, he heavily altered his guitar - drilling holes and running cables through it - which finally let him perform the music he had envisioned.
Robin’s original style of music got him to perform with his prototype guitar in different places around the world. It was in India, after his guitar and prototype was accidentally damaged that he met Amaldev, Deepak and Avinash, three graduate students from the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai, India’s top engineering institute.
What first began as a repair mission soon led to the development of something much more ambitious: a mountable, wireless and super thin MIDI controller for guitar. This was the birth of the ACPAD vision.
After almost 3 years of research, development and prototyping, ACPAD is ready for manufacturing. Robin and his Indian friends have spent countless hours making sure ACPAD not only uses the most reliable technology, but also beautifully preserves the acoustic guitar’s tonal quality.
Risques et défis
ACPAD is a concept that has already seen significant development, research, prototyping and testing. We went to great lengths to ensure that the device we will deliver will be carefully designed and of the highest possible quality.
A bulk of the work on ACPAD has been done before going live on Kickstarter. We have struck partnerships with quality manufacturers and already have production lines booked. With almost three years of the product development phase behind us, we are confident in our ability to successfully bring ACPAD to market.
However, like with any ambitious hardware project, unexpected setbacks can always happen. We will buckle ourselves to deliver ACPAD on time and promise to keep you updated regularly on the advancement and challenges that we may be facing at each step of the process.
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