Maximum MIDI Modularity, Minimal Spatial Demand
Following the passing of the late legend, innovator, and instrument designer Keith McMillen, his spirit of insatiable curiosity and imaginative music making endures with Muse Kinetics and the K-Board-C. This 25-key MIDI controller was built to maximize expression, control, and creativity without compromising convenience or portability. Its Smart Sensor keys are fully endowed with MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) capabilities, recognizing pressure, location, and velocity. It's perfect for players who want the maximum amount of expression in a minimal amount of space. And because it's bus powered via USB-C connectivity, it's the ideal controller for portable use with your laptop, tablet, or smart device — macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, and Android welcome! Plus, the onboard controls and customization capabilities have made the K-Board-C an essential element within the aural arsenals of Sweetwater’s gigging and on-the-go producers. With a durable polycarbonate ABS chassis, you can rest assured that your K-Board-C is primed to endure long-haul use, from practicing in the studio to performing stage-blazing pyrotechnics.
Note: Due to the transition in brand naming, some Muse Kinetics K-Board-C models may feature the original Keith McMillen Instruments logo rather than the Muse Kinetics logo. This superficial difference does not impact the controller’s function, performance, design, or construction. Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer with further questions.
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Multidimensional expression, anywhere
As a task unto itself, blending portability and performance is no simple feat, and Keith McMillen’s genius allowed him to not only clear this hurdle but also send your sonic suite to stratospheric heights of multidimensional mobility and expression. Across fun, flashy finishes and LED-backlit keys, the K-Board-C has no shortage of performance tools, but its onboard MPE capabilities set it leagues beyond its contemporaries. Each key hosts multiple degrees of expression: Tilt, Pressure, and Velocity.
- Tilt: Once a key is pressed, tilting fingers up toward the top or down toward the bottom, respectively, increases or decreases the pitch-bending or assigned modulation parameter.
- Pressure: When activated, the amount of pressure applied to a key increases or decreases an assigned effect or modulation parameter.
- Velocity: The application of greater or lesser force to a key results in a higher- or lower-emphasized implementation of attached values, including velocity or assignable parameters.
The secret to unlocking these features is limited only by your imagination. When considering the virtually limitless possibilities of DAWs and MIDI control, multi-mapping effects, dynamics, instrument-specific parameters, and performance flourishes to one or more singular or simultaneous MPE dimensions allows you to conjure unparalleled expressive possibilities. Moreover, the polyphonic aftertouch, Toggle, and Sustain features can be used alongside the rest of the MPE suite, resulting in a veritable array of galvanizing playability and exceptionally personalized performances.
K-Board Editor: tailoring your tools
While the K-Board-C is teeming with premium playability right out of the box, its suite of customization tools can be fully unlocked via Muse Kinetics’ included K-Board Editor software. On your macOS or Windows device, the K-Board-C Editor lets you adjust the behaviors of every expressive dimension, including ranges of Pad and Tilt bending and Pressure, Velocity, and Tilt sensitivity. MIDI messages, CC (control change) values, and MPE status can all be reconfigured to suit your style, in addition to deep mapping possibilities that let you craft complex presets with evocative expressivity. What’s more, optimizing the playing experience vastly expands your creative and performance capabilities to reimagine how you wield not just software instruments but any MIDI-compatible hardware in your setup.
Muse Kinetics K-Board-C Features:
- Innovative engineering and interfacing gives you multidimensional MPE capabilities in a low-footprint 25-key MIDI keyboard controller
- Built-in detection for Pressure, Tilt, Velocity, pitch-bending, and polyphonic-aftertouch values allows you to maximize expression with each key
- Flexible Sustain and Toggle modes expand performance tools with modular activation
- Included macOS/iPadOS/Windows K-Board-C Editor software enables immense customization and personalization of your playing experience
- LED-backlit keys provide detailed, customizable real-time feedback
- USB-C connectivity ensures fast, reliable MIDI communication and seamless integration in any setup
- Bus-powered design streamlines storage, transportation, and setup while minimizing cable clutter
- Polycarbonate ABS chassis guarantees rugged, enduring performance
