What was the first USB controller ever?

Alextronica · Post by **Alextronica** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:58 pm

I'm so curious to see the thing that started it all!

I figure its probably a self made thing somebody had the insight to create.

Anybody know the history of USB controllers?

How bout the first production USB controller?

I'd love to know!

beats me · Post by **beats me** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:22 pm

I'll take "conversation topics that will prevent you from getting laid" for $500, Alex.

nuxnamon · Post by **nuxnamon** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:50 pm

beats me wrote:I'll take "conversation topics that will prevent you from getting laid" for $500, Alex.

lol.. you do have to admit that while we all love our gadgets and what not, the question asked exponentially oozes geekiness on a whole new level..

Alextronica · Post by **Alextronica** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:14 pm

Thanks guys

I was more hoping for an answer like Brian Eno or Thomas Fehlmann, maybe to get some inspiration of where to grab some samples that might be hip of the oldest school of electronica.

I could see you cracking on me if I'd have posted a poll about

"does this post make my ass look fat?" or something.

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=63566

Jekblad · Post by **Jekblad** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:26 am

zing!

synnack · Post by **synnack** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:25 pm

I have no clue what the actual first usb controller was. But the first one I remember seeing mass produced and marketed was the M-Audio Oxygen.

I think that's the one that started the explosion, if if it wasn't actually first.

This is a picture of the newer rev but the original one they released of this was pretty popular.

ethios4 · Post by **ethios4** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:39 pm

Evolution was putting out USB controllers pretty early on, before being bought out by M-Audio. Not sure who was first though.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:46 pm

interesting geek question. I couldn't google it. I guess one could start naming controllers and look up when they were released. my guess would be that it was a full on synth that first had USB, the controllers followed afterwards?

USB 3.0 is just being released
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/21/firs ... oser-to-b/

aeon_flux · Post by **aeon_flux** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:21 pm

tempus3r wrote:I have no clue what the actual first usb controller was. But the first one I remember seeing mass produced and marketed was the M-Audio Oxygen.

right. can't recall any other manufacurers but oxygen was the ultimate choice that time. even for those that do not needed keyboard but some knobs.

simpleton · Post by **simpleton** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:29 pm

Any old keyboard with a midi port. I used a Casio with Sonar 2.2 XL. Shortly thereafter I got an M-Audio with just midi, before they went usb.

josephjobling · Post by **josephjobling** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:57 pm

according to wiki dave smith invented midi but it doesn't say what the first controller was.

Michael Hatsis · Post by **Michael Hatsis** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:18 pm

A friend of mine had one of these. before m-audio changed the name...
http://www.synthman.com/midiman/117720.html

this is the first thing with knobs that i can remember, there was another one too maybe? or maybe one with faders? don't remember...
http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/phatboy.php

shuutobi · Post by **shuutobi** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 11:26 pm

Still the question is, what was the first USB controller... (e.g. I'm assuming he's referring to a MIDI over USB controller specifically.)

Here is the earliest mention of MIDI over USB I could find, but I'm not sure if that company released any sort of controller rather than just MIDI interfaces w/ USB connectivity.
http://news.harmony-central.com/Product ... s-USB.html

If it was anything from Midiman, the Keystations or the Oxygen8 were the first offerings...
http://web.archive.org/web/200201262039 ... ts/usb.php (earliest archive from 2002)

Could have been an early offering from Evolution as well...

Not counting custom/prototypes.

What was the first USB controller ever?

What was the first USB controller ever?

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