We’ve probably all seen them, people with drums strapped to their backs and ropes around their ankles, a harmonica suspended over their mouths and a guitar in their arms, cymbals wherever they fit and maybe a triangle or maracas. It looks and is fun, almost silly in talented some of the performers are. Over the years, one-man bands have been very popular and quite impressive in their craft, but one new gadget may forever change the way people see them.
ACPAD: The World’s First Wireless MIDI Controller for Your Acoustic Guitar
This gadget was invented by Robin Sukroso, a German musician, along with a team from Mumbai, India. The ACPAD is a MIDI controller that seamlessly attaches to the body of your guitar, and connects to any DAW and MIDI devices to be programmed to play your backup instruments, record and loop, give your songs sound effects and trigger custom samples. All from the comfort of the rolling chair in front of your computer, without the need for any complicated wiring and with compatibility to the most widespread audio engineering software, such as Logic or ProTools.
The power is literally at the tips of your fingers, the ACPAD comes with 8 touch pads, 10 preset buttons which can hold up to 25 presents for use during recording, 2 looper channels and 2 slider faders; all of these are plated with gold and sensitive to pressure. This means that the sounds change according to how hard your fingers press on them.
ACPAD Makes MIDI and DAW Controls Accessible to Everyone
The gadget is super thin and versatile, and it’s able to attach to your guitar as easily as it’s removed, and it can be reattached at any time with no damage to your instrument or its efficiency. Musicians are now able to have bass, piano, percussion and synth without the need of additional instruments, but sounding like you have an entire orchestra under your hands. The gadget connects to your MIDI and DAW devices through USB Dangle or mini-USB cables, where you can easily record from and edit at your discretion.
The project’s mission is to make the ACPAD accessible to everyone. The device is flexible and fits guitar players of any proficiency. Players are able to grow alongside the ACPAD and learn more about MIDI and DAW control devices, making recording, looping and jamming an even more awesome experience.
Retail price for the ACPAD is estimated to be about $390 if it’s mass produced. You can find out more information and support their project here.
