KMI QuNexus - Full Review

[Tarekith]

I got to play with an early prototype back in December that got me excited to get my hands on one of these. Figured I'd do a full review now that I've had it for a few weeks.



http://innerportalstudio.com/kmi-qunexus-full-review/

[Theo Void]

I was excited when this was announced simply for the expression of the aftertouch feature it has. Looks like so much fun to play.
Good review.

[Tarekith]

Thanks, it is really fun to play.

[Theo Void]

I think I'll grab one. I've been going a little overboard on Ebay lately, buying all kinds of gear just because I'm getting great deals. I definitely would like a small keyboard to travel w/ though. I've been playing synths w/ a launchpad.

Thanks for the reminder.

[Machinesworking]

Tarekith, the Qunexus sends CV data perfectly! you can add that to your review if you want. I have a Metasonix Wretch machine and one of the downfalls of it's MIDI implementation is it doesn't send pitch bend data, but the CV does! both from the keys and from the mod button! I haven't hooked it up to anything else yet! it's such a blast dive bombing tube madness Wretch pitch with the notes on the keys!

Total agreement about the Qunexus, great purchase all around!

[Tarekith]

You're not having issues with Note Slewing? I read something about that from someone too.

[Machinesworking]

Note slewing? as in what? notes gliding for no reason or slurry? Not having that issue.
Curious though if you can point me towards the discussion?

The only odd issue with the Wretch and the QuNexus is that you can very very easily get an on/off stutter effect by decreasing and increasing pressure, but that's with MIDI as well, and probably more due to the Wretch. Tube synths aren't what you would call "stable".

I would call that glitch an unintentional bonus though.

[Tarekith]

Here's what someone sent me about the note slurring:

http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewto ... &start=100

[Machinesworking]

Hmm? I actually do have an Xpander here that accepts CV inputs so I could check that out.
The Wretch responds without noticeable pitch slew, and 15ms which is the delay they're going off about is very comparable to the round trip latency you experience with most soft synths and MIDI, USB etc.

There is a software fix in the works according to that thread, which should be out this week.

[Machinesworking]

Confirmed, on a more traditional analog synth, there's some issues with CV.
I trust them to solve it soon though.

[Tarekith]

Thanks for confirming.

[boboter]

Thanks for the review. This looks really nice.

Since the pads light up, I hope there will be some M4L plugs that make use of it. Like a step sequencer. It's only 15 pads in a row but maybe you just show 1/2 row with 8 pads at a time and use the rest for navigation.

This would make it even more useful when you're using it with just a laptop.

[Tarekith]

The lights can be completely controlled via MIDI, so it should be more than doable.

[boboter]

The lights can be completely controlled via MIDI, so it should be more than doable.

Nice! I really hope some M4L wizards will come up with a few interesting ways of using it. Would be too great for on the road. Probably have to order a QuNexus just for the possibility of that happening.

[Machinesworking]

The 1.1 update is out!! Initial tests are positive, no slurring of notes via CV!!

Haven't had a chance to really run though it yet, but I'm so far in complete agreement with your review.
The keys exist in some weird nether world between drum pads and regular keys. In many ways perfect for the kind of on the go production one might do, and as a back up at home for a conventional keyboard.