Starr Labs Alternate MIDI Controllers

via Starr Labs

"Though Starr Labs is well known for our professional line of Ztar MIDI Guitar controllers, it stands to be told (re-told) that we've designed and built many other alternate MIDI control instruments. From keyboard-like controllers with alternate key/note layouts, to MIDI foot controllers and other multi-array MIDI instruments. Check out Roger Linn's site for a great little archive of Alternate MIDI and New instruments for music expression. Here are a few photos of our goods"

STARR Labs (RSS)

Stanley Jordan Demos his Starr Labs Ztar

YouTube Uploaded by StarrLabsZone on May 25, 2011

"A classic from the Starr Labs Video Vaults."


STARR Labs on eBay (RSS)

Update:

Stanley Jordan Starr Labs Ztar MIDI guitar Demo pt 2

YouTube Uploaded by StarrLabsZone on Jun 1, 2011

Starr Labs Summer 2011 press release

"Ztar Models Z6S-XPA & Z7S-XPA, Z6S Ultra MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) Guitar Controllers, the Most Professional MIDI Guitar on the Market
[Starr Labs on eBay]
Guitarists can now control and interact with their modern studios and performance rigs in incredibly creative and accurate ways. The latest Ztar from Starr Labs brings guitarists complete control over synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, keyboards, computer audio software, and other modern music making technologies, in an easy, expressive, and intuitive way without the glitching and delay problems that affect other digital guitar systems.

San Diego, CA May 3, 2011 Harvey Starr, CEO Starr Labs, announces the arrival of the Z6S-XPA, Z7S-XPA, and Z6S Ultra, the flagship models in their line of professional MIDI guitars. Starr Labs Ztars allow guitarists and other musicians to control the vast sonic world of synthesizers, samplers, software and computers, creatively, accurately, and expressively. The XPA’s and Ultra expand on the base Ztar adding powerful new features and functions geared towards providing the professional musician with ultimate control of performance, and creativity of composition within todays tech laden music industry.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Starr Labs Ztar Z6S-P MIDI guitar and NI's Prism

YouTube Uploaded by StarrLabsZone on May 20, 2011

"Jacques returns with some more creative ways to control Native Instruments Prism synth. Using a Starr Labs Ztar Jacques can control any number of parameters found within this soft-synth, such as decay, harmonic ratios, delays, FX, tempos etc. he's easily programmed the touch pads, ribbon, joystick, and volume knob to interact with Prism, allowing for quite an expressive and creative journey into sound!"

STARR Labs on eBay (RSS)

Starr Labs Ztar Baby Z MIDI guitar playing techniques

YouTube Uploaded by StarrLabsZone on May 13, 2011
Starr Labs on eBay
"Hear Jacques demo a few rich and compelling playing techniques on a Starr Labs Ztar Baby Z MIDI guitar controller. Amazingly fast and accurate triggering and note responses with ultra touch sensitivity for subtle strumming and tapping styles."

More Starr Labs Z6S-XPA and Ableton Live Demo

YouTube Uploaded by StarrLabsZone on May 12, 2011
Starr Labs on eBay
"Here Jacques lays it all out with a Starr Labs Ztar Z6S-XPA controlling Ableton Live. This Ztar comes equipt with color-coded buttons on the fingerboard that correlate with the colored channels in Ableton LIve. You can launch and manipulate clips, scenes, FX, samples, and DSP, through the Ztar. The included Ableton Live sysex files come with intuitive layouts and templates. Your upper non-colored frets can be left to control/play any other synth or sound you want."

Create & Play Harmonies w/ Starr Labs Ztar MIDI controller

YouTube Uploaded by StarrLabsZone on May 11, 2011
Starr Labs on eBay
"Jacques gives us a quick demo technique on how you can set up 2 Zones with different sounds and pitch intervals in order to create and play harmonies. Each Zone is assigned to its own MIDI channel, sound, and pitch. Transpose one or both Zones to achieve your desired harmonies. Watch our other videos on how to create Zones."

Starr Labs Ztar MIDI Breath Controlling Native Instrument's Prism synth

YouTube Uploaded by StarrLabsZone on May 9, 2011
Starr Labs on eBay
"Starr Labs Ztar MIDI breath controller lets you control more than just volume or pitch bends. In this demo we hear Jacques control the harmonic ratios within Native Instrument's Prism synth. Assign and program the Ztar breath controller to interact with any aspect of your software synth parameters!"

Starr Labs Wilson-MicroZone U648 Layout & Tuning Demo

YouTube Uploaded by StarrLabsZone on May 5, 2011
Starr Labs on eBay
"The Wilson-MicroZone U648 keyboard was developed by Irv Wilson and Starr Labs as an alternate keyboard MIDI instrument. Multiple zones, layouts, layers, tunings, scales, and key/note arrangements are possible which allow for microtonal systems to be created and performed. Standard layout has octaves running horizontally, 6 ranks of 48 hex keys. An incredibly fun yet expressive way to come up with new chord progressions, composition ideas, and performance techniques. www.starrlabs.com"

Starr Labs Z6S Deluxe in Sunburst with Whammy Bar

via Starr Log

"Here's a look at our Z6S Deluxe in sunburst finish with Log-neck and new Whammy Bar upgrade!!"

Starr Labs on eBay

custom Ztar Z6S-XPA for Pendulum front man, Rob Swire.

via Starr Labs

Check out more Ztars on Starr Labs on eBay.

Ztar Z6S-XPA Deluxe MIDI guitar w/ Ableton Live matrix

via this auction

"This Ztar Z6S-XPA Deluxe MIDI guitar from Starr Labs offers unsurpassed ultra high-speed MIDI performance and creative control over the most robust software/hardware for today’s guitarists. The Ztar differs from other guitar synths in that it provides the industry’s only glitch-free, 6-string x 24 fret touch-sensitive keyed-fingerboard; ideal for playing and controlling all aspects of synthesizers, samplers, DAWs, and sound modules.

Being truly polyphonic, the Z6S-XPA Deluxe can simultaneously play multiple notes per-string per fret. The cutting edge Ableton Live color-coded touch-sensing keyed-fingerboard has been developed with 32 separate programmable zones, each with its own channel, voice, transposition, tuning, hammer-ons and sensitivity settings. The embedded arpeggiator and sequencer, as well as the programmable chording system may be assigned to separate fingerboard zones, layers and/or frets. This fingerboard system is highly suited to Drum mapping when percussion or loop playback is called for, or composition when accompanying chords are needed.

Features:
* 6 Velocity-sensitive String Triggers
* 4-Way programmable Joysitck
* Ableton Live color-coded fingerboard layouts and sysex templates
* 8 programmable pots
* 6 touch pads
* TCA Cap 6 fully programmable touch pads
* 4x4 Ableton Live control matrix
* Custom buffed Pearl finish
* Unlimited string and finger board tunings
* 32 Mappable Zones
* Programmable Chording System
* Arpeggiator, Sequencer
* Volume Pedal Port, Sustain Pedal Port
* MIDI USB i/o
* Power Supply
* Hard case, and all cables included
* StarrLabs Warranty"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Starr Labs Z6S Ztar in Silver

via Starr Labs where you'll find more pics.

The Starr Labs ZBass

"We here at Starr Labs are pleased to be re-introducing our ZBass Ztar MIDI guitar controller, for a limited time only! Please take a look at the attached product announcement for pix, specs, and features, and here for pricing."

"The new ZBass MIDI bass guitar from Starr Labs offers unsurpassed ultra high-speed MIDI control for today’s bass players. The ZBass differs from other guitar synths in that it provides the industry’s only glitch-free, 4-string x 24 fret touch-sensitive keyed-fingerboard; ideal for playing and controlling all aspects of synthesizers, samplers, sound modules, software, and DAWs. Having all of the features of Starr Labs professional line of Ztars, the ZBass will allow bass players to finally jump into the realm of creative MIDI control, and expanded performance capability! (Oh yeah, we forgot to mention the ZBass comes with a wood neck-stock!)

Being truly polyphonic, the ZBass can simultaneously play multiple notes per-string per fret. The cutting edge touch-sensing keyed-fingerboard has been developed with 32 separate programmable zones, each with its own channel, voice, transposition, tuning, hammer-ons and sensitivity settings. The strings have programmable tunings, and each key on the entire fingerboard may be tuned independently as well. The embedded arpeggiator as well as the programmable chording system may be assigned to separate fingerboard zones, layers and/or frets . This fingerboard system is highly suited to Drum mapping when percussion or loop playback is called for, or composition when accompanying chords are needed.

Features:
* 4 Velocity-sensitive String Triggers
* 4-Way programmable Joysitck
* Wood neck-stock
* Unlimited string and finger board tunings
* 32 Mappable Zones
* Programmable Chording System
* Arpeggiator
* Sequencer
* Volume Pedal Port
* Sustain Pedal Port
* MIDI and USB i/o
* Power Supply"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Z6S-XPA Ztars in Black Satin finish

Some pics via Starr Log

See this previous post for specs and the full 2011 line-up.
See the Starr Labs label for more including video.

AirPower in Woods w Jacques Jazz

YouTube via StarrLabsZone | February 11, 2011 |

"Sometimes Jacques prefers to play Ztar in ze woods for ze trees. Using the AirPower MIDI Wireless Solution by Starr Labs, Jacques dream comes true."

Starr Labs MicroZone U-648

via this auction
Just saw this after the previous post. Note this is not on their 2011 line-up, but it hasn't been posted here before.

"The Microzone U-648 is programmable touch sensitive MIDI keyboard arranged as (6) 48-key piano keyboard "ranks" stacked vertically, or in the Y-axis. Think of the ranks like the tiers in a 2-level organ. The keycaps have been placed to identify the black and white keys corresponding to the normal piano keyboard, or six piano keyboards. The keys are removable so that you can create any pattern you like that would reflect your choice of tunings.

Each of these individual keyboard ranks has its own Zone-number and each Zone may be programmed with a variety of response and MIDI performance settings. The Zone boundaries may also be changed to encompass a different range of keys if necessary. You'll want to make changes for instance, when you are creating a tuning map for a new tonal system.

Each key can be tuned individually which allows the U-648 to easily create new scales, note-clusters, patterns, and drum maps for special purposes such as film scoring and multi-media control.

The U-648 is equipped with:
* 4 Programmable Pots
* 4-way programmable Joystick
* Ribbon controller,
* Sustain Pedal jack
* Expression Pedal jack
* Handcrafted Natural Hardwood body
* Each of these controllers may be programmed to (8) simultaneous effects
* MIDI and USB i/o
* Phantom power supplied through the MIDI cable
* Power supply and adapter included.

The instrument is 33” x 14” and weighs 12 pounds."

STARR Labs on eBay & New Software

STARR Labs on eBay

Didn't realize they had an eBay shop. I will add them to the right shortly.

See this post on their latest NAMM releases.


Below: "ZS-XPApros with Ableton Live color coded fingerboard and sysex layouts with .als optimization."

"Finally! Some new software available for download here! You'll find a Master Sysex file that allows you to reset your up-to-date Ztar to factory installed 'song' settings. We've also included a zip-file full of individual sysex files for you to pick and choose from. But what we're really excited about is our Ztar Ableton Live Demo Session pckg download. In it we give you our in-house demo .wavs and samples, sysex files for Ableton Live fingerboard layouts, and the actual .als file. Think of it as a template to use as a starting point from which you can modify and customize to your needs!"

via Starr Log.

Ztar Time: Setting up Zones pt. 1

YouTube via StarrLabsZone | December 15, 2010 |

follow-up to this post.

"This is a quick and basic tutorial on how to set up a 'Zone' on your Ztar fretboard. Here Jacques takes us through a few easy step by step instructions on setting up '1' Zone over half the fingerboard. This is only the most basic of Zone setups. Please be sure to check our other videos where Jacques programs more complex Zones and Chording set-ups!"

Ztar Time: Setting up Zones pt. 2 creating 2 Zones

StarrLabsZone | December 15, 2010 |

"In this installment of Ztar Time: Jacques quickly guides you through the steps of programming a second Zone across the fretboard. Repeating these steps will allow you to custom program up to 32 mappable zones."

http://www.youtube.com/user/StarrLabsZone

Starr Labs 2011 product announcements...

Starr Labs Z6S-XPA, Z7S-XPA, airPad, airPower, and ZS-XPA. Click each image for the full size shot and details. See the Starr Labs label below for previous posts including video.

CLICK FOR MORE »