Ellitone KeyControl MIDI/CV Keyboard Controller and Sequencer

video upload by ellitone instruments

00:00 Wooden Touch Keys
01:22 Selectable Musical Scales
01:51 Mode 2 'Ambient Poly Sequencer'
02:37 Transposing a Sequence
04:19 Control Voltage Outputs"



via Ellitone

"The Ellitone KeyControl is a MIDI/CV Keyboard Controller featuring 12 velocity-sensitive wooden Touch Bars and a built-in ‘ambient poly sequencer’ mode.

This device comes in two versions, with or without AAA portable battery power. The version without AAA battery power is 25% slimmer and is powered via the USB-C connection.

The KeyControl is designed to be widely compatible with many different types of existing gear including: Computers and Phones running DAWs (USB MIDI), vintage and modern keyboards /synthesizers /drum machines that support classic 5-Pin MIDI, modern synths that support TRS MIDI, and vintage/modern analog synthesizers that require Control Voltages.

The KeyControl features 12 musical scales from around the world. Inspired by hand-pan drums, The 12 chosen musical scales each offer a different mood for your playing and exploration. The best thing about these chosen scales is that it is impossible to hit a “wrong note”. No musical theory is required to create impressive melodies and chord progressions. Quickly swap between scales with the tap of a finger!

The default operation mode for KeyControl is ‘KEYS’ - Tap any of the 12 wooden touch keys with your finger (or object) to trigger a note (polyphonic). I am proud to say that the wooden touch keys are also velocity sensitive! A light tap on the wooden bar triggers a quiet note (low velocity) whereas a harder strike triggers a louder note with more force (high velocity). Of course, this velocity output reading can be used to control any parameter within your DAW or synthesizer/instrument device you are controlling with the KeyControl. By default, the 12 wooden Touch Bars are assigned to the notes of the chromatic musical scale. By simply holding down the SCALES/MODE button and tapping one of the twelve touch keys, you can swap to a different musical scale. The other controls in this mode include:

OCTAVE+++ / OCTAVE---- / SUSTAIN

KeyControl also includes an ‘ambient poly sequencer’ mode. This mode offers a different way to trigger notes and scales based on a series of 12 independent note timers. First, switch into Mode 2 by simply pressing the SCALES/MODE button. Tap a wooden touch key to activate a note timer on that key. Keep tapping to increase the time between note triggers, it’s that easy! Swap out different musical scales while the sequence is running, transpose the entire sequence by semi-tones or octaves to find something unique and interesting. The magic behind this mode is that each of the 12 note timers are completely independent of each other, which results in unpredictable sequences and melodic phrases unbound by a master clock or tempo.


MIDI Features include:

⁃USB MIDI output via USB-C

⁃3.5mm TRS “Style-A” MIDI output that can be easily adapted to classic 5-pin MIDI output using an inexpensive “TRS style-A to 5-pin midi” cable adapter.

⁃MIDI output messages include CHANNEL, NOTE ON/OFF, VELOCITY


Control Voltage (CV) features:

-3 outputs on the right side of the device (3.5mm) provide voltage outputs for NOTE/PITCH, TRIGGER, VELOCITY

-monophonic NOTE/PITCH output voltages are standard 1 Volt Per Octave and have a range of 4 octaves (0-4V)

-Trigger voltage output provides a 25 millisecond pulse at +5 volts whenever a new note is triggered

-Velocity voltage output has a range of 0-4 Volts


Change the output MIDI CHANNEL of the KeyControl (1-12) by pressing and holding down 3 buttons:

Sustain/Octave++/Octave—

then tap one of the 1-12 wooden touch keys while holding all three buttons down to select and new MIDI CHANNEL (1-12)

⁃Default MIDI CHANNEL is 1 and will always power up on this channel

***This device is handmade in Missouri with LOVE! Thank you to everyone who has supported my journey over the years. I will continue to dream, design, and build musical devices that inspire -Ellis"