The CS X51 Development Process
The practical part of the project began with developing a list of features, testing out existing products on the market and then starting to put together a rough working prototype based around the Arduino platform. Next, the team tested countless switches, rotary pots and sliders to find the best possible components.
The CS X51 Development Process
With the basic functionality in place and decisions made regarding the pots, faders and push-button switches, the process of developing the enclosure began. This started with paper-based mockups and progressed through to laser-cut Perspex. The final product will feature an aluminium enclosure.
The CS X51 Development Process
Even with the Kickstarter project under way, the CS X51 design is still being refined. The latest prototype (right) offers a sleeker, more streamlined design than the previous prototype (left), along with added decals on the front panel.
The unique selling point
I think we have a few USPs. It’s a beautiful machine that’s built way above the specification of many others on the market. It’s built from high quality components providing 51 independent controls in an intuitive layout. It’s also small, light and sturdy enough to endure regular travel, which makes it particularly good alongside a laptop in hand luggage. It has a default usable configuration, just plug in and play with it, no software to install.
The technical challenge
It was a very steep learning curve but we’ve never been shy of a challenge. Once we get our heads down we don’t give up until it works and we don’t accept no as an answer. So much so that we started finding bugs in the hardware and software of other companies’ controllers. We all have technical backgrounds covering a range of different skills, so it was really a matter of re-applying those to a new project.
As with any ambitious project of this kind, you rarely try to do everything yourself. We have a whole army of people around us who are working and advising on different aspects of the project. There’s a large community in Sheffield so if we don’t know the answer, then we can call someone who does.
As with any ambitious project of this kind, you rarely try to do everything yourself. We have a whole army of people around us.
Made in SoYo™
Why did we decide to manufacture the CS X51 in Sheffield? Well, we are very political. After all of the bollocks we had to suffer under successive Tory and Labour governments, where major industry was systematically dismantled, we wanted to do something constructive. Much of the old steel, coal and general manufacturing in Sheffield has all but gone on the large scale. Like many industrial cities in the UK, Sheffield took on the service sector, while cheap products and labour were sourced from abroad.
We wanted to fly in the face of this and start making things here in Sheffield. We have some really skilled people so there’s no reason not to invest in the city and the people. It’s something we wanted to do and we wanted to prove everyone wrong, including our accountant! We also have more quality control when our suppliers are closer – we can go and see people to discuss the options and get the right solutions.
Learning their language
We didn’t encounter too many difficulties working with manufacturers. We just had to learn ‘their’ language. Approaching companies as a potential new client was surprisingly difficult. They often didn’t return phone calls and offered little to no advice in reference to basic questions. That lack of interest and support was really disappointing. Almost as if they’ve forgotten what it’s like to start up. When we contacted a factory in China they had an English-speaking manager all over us from the first email. He couldn’t do enough for us – it was a massive contrast.
We also learnt that just like any other industry, people promise you the earth but don’t always deliver. Our advice is to go out and visit everyone you are planning on working with. Get on the shop floor and ask all the questions you can. Don’t worry about looking a little dumb – you’ll soon be up to speed.
you have to stop and think about what you originally set out to do. For us it wasn't cutting corners by going for the cheapest option possible.
The outsourcing question
We looked into how much cheaper it would be to outsource to China, but there’s a point where you have to stop and think about what you originally set out to do. For us it wasn’t cutting corners by going for the cheapest option possible. We wanted to build a company with people who could make exactly what we needed. Outsourcing might sometimes be cheaper in financial terms but it can cause compromises in other areas. Ideally, we wanted to build our own team with their own ideas.
Kickstarter
The decision to use Kickstarter was driven by two factors. Firstly, the design isn’t yet finalised – we’re still refining the details so the funding will help with additional prototyping. Secondly, we need a considerable budget to produce the CS X51 on a larger scale. Using Kickstarter allows us to talk to people direct and see if they’re genuinely interested. This is something that The Black Dog has always done.
Kickstarter is also low risk as nobody has to pay unless the campaign hits the target. We only need 100 people to commit to a CS X51, so it’s quite achievable.
The future of Machinewerks
We see this as the start of a journey and have loads more product ideas. Quality is ingrained in them all; usability and usefulness are always key design goals. It’s not about plastic boxes that sit unused on shelves, their multitude of coloured LEDs now dark after a fun few evenings. We won’t be driven by compromise – these will be functional and reliable devices, built to last. They will become part of your essential toolkit as a musician.
The Kickstarter project for Machinewerks’ CS X51 control surface runs until October 5th.
04.45 AM
Sorry, but i predict this is going to fail.Why ? Well, because first of all their controller reminds me a lot of everything Livid Instruments has already done.Plus Livid offers all kinds of DIY stuff already so the question is where is Machinewerks USP against Livid ?! I don’t see any.
Second, the controller is missing quite a number of essential controls in my book – like, if you wanna use it in Ableton Live, where are the 3 buttons per channel for mute/solo/arm ? Don’t tell me to shift click the pads on the right for that, we got enough controllers out there with shift click double and triple functions.Just an example for missing functions, i could go on.
Third, watched your vid on kickstarter and honestly guys, is this the way confident, excited, trustworthy entrepeneurs look nowadays ? I mean really, the first guy in the video shows a sad face expression that says “help us, pleaaase !” and the other guys don’t come across very confident either.I know, it’s just an image thing, but no, it’s not.
Last, do you really think it’s SUCH a good idea to post broken gear pics of your competition to make them look bad ? Sorry, might rather make YOU look bad.
Sorry, i don’t wish you any bad or anything, but it just looks like there were some steps and thoughts that you left out during the process so far.
06.48 AM
Frank, you sound like the worried MD of a rival product.
Did you not read the interview or watch the clip? As The Black Dog they’re playing a lot of gigs around the world and have found various failings with the controllers currently available ie they’ve found a gap in the market.
You mention buttons missing blah blah blah. They’re taking their R&D from Berghain at 6am, it’s fair to assume they know what they want.
As for “excited entrepeneurs”, you really are coming across like a proper clown with that paragraph. Maybe they’re just trying to get on and build the controller rather than poncing around “business hubs” and “networking get togethers”.
10.28 AM
“business hubs” and “networking get togethers” ….. massive waste of time in any industry… and total distraction to actually getting on with any start up – avoid at all costs .. and besides who wants to hang out with your competitors?
11.15 AM
Frank, would you really prefer it if the video showed “confident, excited entrepreneurs” instead of The Black Dog?
The whole point of the Kickstarter/indiegogo/crowdfunding model is to give the company direct access to the customer. It turns the whole process of seeking investment into a very simple equation: make cool shit, set a fair price and if enough people want it you’ll get your funding. That’s about as democratic as it gets, and a lot better than dressing up in your best suit to beg the bank manager to lend you some cash. They’ve already raised £8k and even though I don’t personally need a control surface I hope they hit their target.
This isn’t Dragons’ Den. This is all about the product. Maybe if TBD were complete unknowns people might be worried about how they present themselves, but their back catalogue tells the story there. This isn’t Duncan Bannatyne saying “Your expression was sad in the video and you weren’t wearing a tie so for that reason I’m out”. It’s the fucking Black Dog. They know what they’re talking about. If you like it, fund it. If you don’t, don’t.
04.39 PM
My question is: WHAT will differentiate these from, let’s say, Livid controllers, aside from having TBD attached to it. The video is weak at making the case of why we should buy these instead of the competition. If I have a bunch of controllers already, why will this one make a differenc eand eplace them all?
11.57 PM
What Alan said.My main gripe with the video is that for people like me that DO NOT know TBD but might be interested in a controller they just don’t come across as confident and trustworthy.If they rely solely on their reputation than thats a missed opportunity because there ARE people out there that might be interested in investing in a controller but just don’t know THEM so for these people the video DOES play a factor.
And video aside, as has already been said i just don’t see what their controller offers that hasnt already been done by Livid.Just to say “they play at Berghain and know what they do so buy or get lost” might not be the most clever marketing stragtegy, at least not to people that -again – dont know them but are interested in controllers.
Oh yeah btw, i’m not working for Livid nor do i own any instruments by them.I’m just interested in controllers and thus am aware of their product line.
11.59 PM
I appreciate the effort, but this is just another box with knobs and buttons. There’s no shortage of these out there already. Best of luck.
02.24 PM
my only comment is, the goal of 27k is a bit of a stretch, this project could have happened for less imo, and considering that most people will wait for v2 rather than v1 of the hardware (which is also reflected in 83 units out of 100 still being available) further proves this.
great idea, great product, but they havent studied the dynamics of kickstarter as well as they should have…. in all cases, good luck.
01.24 AM
Too much like a UC-33 for me to get excited, honestly. I’d love to be more excited about it.
As far as encoder controllers go I’ve used a UC-16, UC-33, BCR2000, Livid Code, and APC40. The APC, BCR, and Code all feature light-up infinite encoders that don’t require takeover in the DAW. I can see them on a dark stage when I’m using them live. The drawback of the BCR is the huge size and Fisher-Price build quality. The drawback of the Code is the notched encoders (imho, they should be smooth like an APC or Push). The drawback of the APC is that it only has 16 encoders.
What is the differentiator for this device? Is it better build quality alone? It lacks infinite controllers with feedback from the DAW that the APC, Code, and BCR all have. You can get a couple Akai LPD8’s for $50 each if you mind having knobs with limited rotation and a physical notch to indicate the current value (which you’ll have to check by touch on a dark stage)… they’re affordable and have Akai build quality.
I just don’t see it…
08.14 AM
Yes, this does look like a copy of the Evolution UC33. And in my mind – that’s fantastic. UC33 is hard to come by in the states and Livid (who are also making something nice and SORT OF similar) haven’t made the exact setup that many of us want for performance: 8 Faders. With THREE KNOBS directly above each fader, so you can known in an instant what knobs go with what faders. It’s a simple design that the APC40 got horribly wrong.
09.41 AM
Really hope that your project moves forward, honest and conscientious people trying to build a quality product in a market where gimmicks and cheap components are rife. However I have to say that I’m surprised that the final design is as it is, being an Ableton tutor, DJ and producer for many years now I have tried and tested pretty much every controller on the market. Some of the features are, as previously stated, the ‘go-to’ default for DJ-style multitrack mixing (3 knobs above faders) for example. I like the 4*4 grid but it doesn’t relate to the fader count and one of the defining criteria in my own choices is that each track must have at least one hard toggle switch with light indicator, for track on/off. My device of choice is the MPD32, has been on tour with me for years now, bomb proof and all the right controls (except the 3 knobs per track), trouble is it’s big. I also carry a number of other smaller controllers but over the past 6 months I’ve been cautiously moving over to iPad with TouchOSC or Lemur… what can I say, I can design my own multi-touch interface, fully labelled, with feedback and all the controls I need where I need them… I genuinely can control more stuff with less hands with the only outstanding issue being reliability of connectivity and of course the old problem with Betty Swallocks in the club making my iPad all wet and slippy. I’m taking time out to write this cos I really support your ethos and I want to see more homegrown product. I’m headding to Berlin for my Ableton Certified Trainer assessment in a couple of weeks and my final point was that in your video you do not show the potential control setups for Ableton or Traktor or any other product which I think is vital considering the audience/market are gonna want to see how YOU implement it, it’s as much about the workflow and template as the controller itself. I can also think of a product or two that might actually break some new ground and would be happy to discuss this and other help I could give you with promotion, videos, demonstrations etc. Once again, good luck, stick to your ethics, I’d love to be buying quality stuff ‘Made in England’.
11.40 AM
No MIDI controller will ever satisfy the general needs to a point where said product will be the only one/the go-to, as we all hanker for a controller that allows you to control everything you set your eyes on.
E.G. What works perfectly layout-wise for Massive will not work for Diva, etc.
The only solution will be a MIDI controller where the knobs, faders, etc. can be plugged in/removed in a modular manner to motherboards (for want of a generic term) of, say, three different sizes…a bit like Lego. I believe that there was one such project on the same lines some years ago, but it disappeared without trace.
03.23 PM
Just remembered…the one I was on about was the Mawzer Modular MIDI controller (shown at Muzikmesse 2007, disappeared without a trace). Livid have one as well, but the modules still lack something in relation to my needs.