Indie software developer Thomas Walther has released Blind Control, an iPad MIDI controller app for the Waldorf Blofeld synthesizer. It is specifically designed for stage usage, and allows keyboarders to control ten sound parameters of their Waldorf Blofeld synthesizer with one hand without looking.
Blind Control lets the user freely control the parameters to be controlled from a simple list of named parameters. It completely hides MIDI numbers and other technical details from the user.
Additionally, Blind Control stays completely synchronized with the settings on the synthesizer even when the user changes the sound or loads different presets on the device.
The app uses the whole iPad screen as one single touch canvas. The user alters a pair of Blofeld sound parameters by swiping horizontally or vertically on the screen. The user can control one pair by swiping with one finger, and different pairs when swiping with two, three, four or five fingers. The swipe gestures are relative, meaning that only the distance of the movement matters, not the initial position of the fingers.
Blind Control can be connected to the Blofeld synthesizer with any MIDI connection that supports System Exclusive (SysEx) messages. The recommended way is to use an Apple Camera Connection Kit and a USB cable.
The app also features eight color-coded preset slots and the ability to choose whether changes to the sound should be reverted once the user lifts his or her fingers off the screen.
Blind Control is available in Apple's App Store for the iPad for £5.49 / €6.99 / $7.99.
