Скачать или смотреть Vidal Piano Controller - amazing handcrafted controller

Keyboard controllers are funny things: they’re musical instruments that don’t make any sound, yet they sit at the center of many composers’ workstations. They range from tiny, portable one-octave controllers up to 88-key instruments that aim to emulate the feel and action of a concert grand piano. The Vidal Piano Controller is firmly in that latter camp.

There are a few controllers from established companies like Kawai and Roland that use complex combinations of carbon fiber, springs, and elaborate linkages to approximate this feel. Two blokes from Philly—Tom and George—took a different approach: why not start with the basis of a real piano keystick and build a controller around that?

There are clear benefits to this approach. Given the length of the keystick, the physics and balance of the action closely resemble that of a grand piano. Using wood, ebony keytops, and high-quality felt results in a familiar, organic touch—and a subtle sense of vibration—as you play.

One quality that separates ordinary pianos from exceptional ones is the amount of time spent on regulation: not just voicing the hammers, but carefully aligning and weighting each one. Vidal have paid close attention here as well. The symmetry and consistency across the keyboard are excellent.

The keyboard is housed in a beautifully crafted black walnut case. Since the controller typically occupies the central position in a media composer’s workspace, it’s genuinely more inspiring to sit in front of a thoughtfully made wooden object than a large slab of plastic.

Unsurprisingly, it plays as you would hope—capable of handling demanding piano repertoire—and it’s equally inspiring for day-to-day programming.

The Vidal Piano Controller is a compelling option for anyone who values handcrafted excellence, high-level keyboard performance, and a workspace that reflects those priorities.