Found this fascinating info on another forum discussing the newly announced Roland SonicCell sound module. Check out the VAX77 portable keyboard made in Austin, Texas (I want one!):
http://www.infiniteresponse.com/complete%20specs.html

Music reflects who you are. Emotions push through you, and find expression in your touch. No matter what you play, no matter how you feel, your instrument must enable that
expression. Anything less is not your music.

Your touch defines it.

The VAX • 77 responds to your touch like nothing ever has.

With existing keyboards, the key must be fully depressed before a note sounds – the speed at the bottom of the stroke determines the volume of the sound. But that limited reaction is history. Grand pianos don’t work that way, and neither should your keyboard.

On the VAX • 77, you can play the lightest trills. Glissandos can actually crescendo. A sophisticated digital signal-processing algorithm (DSP) analyzes the slightest key movement – and your touch defines the music itself. This advance allows every nuance of your performance to present itself, incorporating the full complement of MIDI messages – attack velocity, release velocity, channel pressure, polyphonic key pressure (aftertouch), and many new features. These precise measurements mean that the way you play becomes part of the fabric of sounds you create. And your VAX • 77 will advance with you; it is fully equipped to support the enhanced velocity resolution of tomorrow.

You choose the feeling.

Now, playing music feels the way it should. But does your keyboard?

For too long, choosing between a keyboard and a piano was an exercise in compromise. You gave up the comfortable feel of a weighted key to get banks of new sounds and a higher
degree of portability (something else the VAX • 77 has taken to a whole new level). But keyboards have never been able to duplicate the smooth, natural feel of gravity. Until now.

The keys of your VAX • 77 will feel like nothing else you’ve ever played, because the measured keyweight is perfectly equal throughout the keystroke. Instead of being strung on an axle rod, each key rocks on a stainless steel pin, just like the keys on a grand piano. The keys are long (white keys are over 14 inches), creating a balanced feel and an amazingly fast return – less than one-thousandth of a second. The unique patented action incorporates a number of exotic copolymers to achieve the smoothest and quietest response ever offered.

Together, these features enable the VAX • 77 to respond to you in ways never before seen in a keyboard. Your performance will be faster, more nuanced and more natural than ever before.

For the first time, you can choose among six different action weights. When we custom build your VAX • 77, you choose one of six keyweights, ranging from the light weight of a B3 to the heavy feel of a Steinway. Not sure what action will feel right to you? We’ll give you a chance to try them all out in our showroom.

You’re a performer – not a moving van. You don’t need another piece of heavy equipment to drag around from gig to gig. Your keyboard should respond to your need to get on the road.

Finally, it does. The VAX • 77 is the first professional keyboard designed to move as fast as you do. Unplug it. Fold it. Put it in the shoulder bag. Go.

It folds in half.

Really. We’re not kidding.

When we were designing the perfect keyboard for the live performer, we realized that one of the biggest problems a musician faces is the job of dragging around huge pieces of
equipment. Everything else in our lives has become smaller and lighter – our phones, our computers, even our stereos have been transformed into small, portable devices that allow us to go anywhere and do what we want when we get there. So when does the musician become truly mobile? Today.

The VAX • 77 is the first keyboard that literally folds down to just 23.3” by 14.5” – smaller than an electric guitar. To make this possible, we developed a completely new keyboard design, using sturdy, pre-stressed hinges similar to those on computers designed for harsh environments. When locked in the open position, your VAX • 77 is as solid as any one-piece keyboard. The tough, powder-coated magnesium exterior is designed for travel – you don’t have to worry about damaging a thin, plastic shell.

It won’t weigh you down.

But folding it was just part of the equation. We developed a keyboard that’s as portable as a guitar, but there would have been little point if it weighed as much as a piano. It doesn’t.

The VAX • 77 weighs about half as much as many standard keyboards, coming in at a mere 25 pounds.

Zip it and go.

As a result, carrying your keyboard becomes a whole lot easier. We created a simple shoulder bag designed for your VAX • 77 that fits it snugly, protecting it with the same
high-density foam used to protect sensitive electronic equipment and laptop computers. You’ll be able to pack up and carry your instrument as easily as every other member of your band. Oh – except for the drummer. Poor guy.

Plug and play. When you’re mobile, you don’t want to carry around a ton of peripheral equipment. The VAX • 77 is the first keyboard to feature universal compatibility, automatically recognizing and supporting every brand and model of sustain and expression pedal on the market – just plug them in (up to four) and you’re ready. In addition, the VAX • 77 features MIDI IN, MIDI OUT and full-speed USB capability. Carry just what you need, nothing more.

Your music is you. You play what you feel. Your instrument should be as unique as you are.

Pick your color. Pick your keys. Pick your configuration. Your keyboard will be custom built to your specifications. When was the last time that happened? That’s right – never.

The color of music.

We are offering the VAX • 77 in five dramatic colors. Choose from blood red, emerald green, ocean blue or screaming yellow – unless you want to stay with basic black.

And let’s make sure everyone knows it’s yours. We can silkscreen your name or your band’s logo on the VAX • 77 to make sure that everyone knows who they should envy. Just give us a call and we’ll walk you through the process.

Your keys, your way.

You’ve decided how it should look – now decide how it should feel. We offer a choice of six different weights for each key. You can choose an action that feels as light as a B3 or as heavy as a Steinway. Your VAX • 77 will respond exactly the way you want it to.

Load it up.

We’ll load each synth, bank and patch name you specify in a hierarchical menu format that works the way you want it to. You don’t have to learn the keyboard – the VAX • 77 will learn from you. As technology advances, so will your keyboard. We offer full technical support, and lifetime updates to software and firmware.

You can import MIDI name documents (midnam), Receptor™ bank and patch assignment files, and Cubase™ patch scripts, then drag and drop until you create the menus that you need. Change during rehearsal, then download and go. Buy a new synth? Write a new song? You’re gonna go from a small hall to a large stadium – your VAX • 77 will go with you.

VAX • 77 is not a revision. We built our keyboard from the ground up, designing for the live musician, challenging all that has come before. The results are extraordinary.

Making music together.

You need more than a new set of sounds – you need a better way to control the technology you already have, and take advantage of the advances in sound technology that are yet to
come. The VAX • 77 works with your current equipment, with MIDI IN, MIDI OUT and full-speed USB support. It automatically recognizes and supports every brand and model of sustain and expression pedal on the market – just plug them in (up to four), and they’ll generate any MIDI message you need, including pitch bend and modulation.

The embedded software is optimized for the live performer, designed to simultaneously control a mix of rack mount synths and softsynths running on a notebook computer. Each synth, bank and patch name is displayed on the keyboard (not just patch and bank numbers) in a hierarchical menu format. As you work, you can define your own menus on the computer, then download these patch scripts directly into the keyboard flash memory over USB or MIDI. You’re ready to perform.

Play your way.

You’ve written, refined and rehearsed. You’ve auditioned the sounds, chosen the ones you want, and have them at your fingertips. You’re ready for the stage.

We’ve designed the VAX • 77 for this moment. The most exciting electronics on the market today are those with the cleanest interfaces. Finally, elegant design has come to the
keyboard musician. We’ve eliminated hundreds of buttons and levers (that you can’t read on stage anyway) and created an instrument panel that is simple, elegant, and gives you the
freedom to customize your instrument as often as you like. As you rehearse and develop new music, the sounds you want to use can be moved to a “hot list” menu. An additional key, located adjacent to high C, allows you to instantly switch between sounds in the hot list. It’s the ultimate way to go from accompaniment to lead and back again.

A whole new light.

No matter what conditions you’re performing under – total darkness or a bath of bright stage lights – you’ll be able to see what you need. New display technology, called organic LED, keeps your menus visible regardless of the changes in lighting that occur during the show. The VAX • 77 keeps responding to you.

Complete Specifications

The VAX • 77 responds to you With existing keyboards, the key must be fully depressed before a note sounds. On the VAX • 77, a sophisticated digital signal-processing algorithm (DSP) analyzes the slightest key movement.

The VAX • 77 incorporates the full complement of MIDI messages – attack velocity, release velocity, channel pressure, polyphonic key pressure (aftertouch), and many new features.

The VAX • 77 is fully equipped to support the enhanced velocity resolution of tomorrow.

The measured keyweight is perfectly equal throughout the keystroke.

Each key rocks on a stainless steel pin, just like the keys on a grand piano.

The keys are long (white keys are over 14 inches), creating a balanced feel and an amazingly fast return – less than one-thousandth of a second.

You can choose among six different action weights when we custom build your VAX • 77.

The VAX • 77 redefines “portable”

The VAX • 77 is the first keyboard that folds down to just 23.3” by 14.5” – smaller than an electric guitar.

When locked in the open position, your VAX • 77 is as solid as any one-piece keyboard. The tough, powder-coated magnesium exterior is designed for travel.

The VAX • 77 weighs about half as much as many standard keyboards, coming in at a mere 25 pounds.

You will receive a simple shoulder bag designed for your VAX • 77 that fits it snugly, protecting it with high-density foam.

The VAX • 77 is custom built for you

We offer the VAX • 77 in five dramatic colors. Choose from blood red, emerald green, ocean blue, screaming yellow and basic black.

We can silkscreen your name or your band’s logo on the VAX • 77. Just give us a call and we’ll walk you through the process.

We’ll load each synth, bank and patch name you specify in a hierarchical menu format that works the way you want it to.

We offer full technical support, and lifetime updates to software and firmware.

With our Patch Librarian software (PC only), you can import MIDI name documents (midnam), Receptor™ bank and patch assignment files, and Cubase™ patch scripts, then drag

and drop until you create the menus that you need, then download to the VAX • 77 flash memory in seconds.

The VAX • 77 is the cutting edge

The VAX • 77 includes MIDI IN, MIDI OUT and full-speed USB support.

It automatically recognizes and supports every brand and model of sustain and expression pedal on the market. Use up to four at a time.

The embedded software is designed to simultaneously control a mix of rack mount synths and softsynths running on a notebook computer.

You can define your own menus on the computer, then download these patch scripts directly into the keyboard flash memory over USB or MIDI.

As you rehearse and develop new music, the sounds you want to use can be moved to a “hot list” menu. An additional key, located adjacent to high C, allows you to instantly switch between sounds in the hot list.

New display technology, called organic LED, keeps your menus visible regardless of the changes in lighting that occur during the show.

Keys:

76 custom weight + hot key

Constant force spring lifetime > 10 million cycles

Key weight range: 1.1 to 3.0 oz.

Key sensors: Linear hall effect

Key magnets: Neodymium N42

Input/Output:

Midi: In/Out

USB: Full Speed 1.1 compliant

Chassis:

Magnesium extrusion (AZ commercial alloy)

Powder coat baked to 450º F

Power:

110 - 240 V auto sensed

Power consumption: 10 W

Pedal:

4 inputs

Pedal types supported: tip/shield, tip/ring/shield (potentiometer between any 2 of 3)

Auto sensed on power up

Pedal assignment: any midi controller

Assignment method: text menu

Firmware:

Processor: ADI Blackfin DSP 400MHz

Flash memory: 300K (100,000 erase cycles)

Size:

Size folded: 23.3” x 14.5”

Size flat: 46.6” x 14.5”

Weight: 25 lbs

Displays:

Two 128 x 64 organic LEDs (one each of yellow and green)

Controls:

Modulation wheel/volume (dual use)

Octave shift

Setup mode (synth channel assignments)

Alternate effect mode

Navigation arrows

Standby sound selector wheel

Temperature:

Storage temperature: -40 to 80º C

Operating temperature: -20 to 70º C

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where can I see it?

Right now, we’re still working on the finishing touches of the VAX • 77. But once we’re finished, we plan on taking it on the road! We’ll be visiting cities across the U.S. to give players a chance to try out our board. (Once you do, we’re convinced you’ll never look back.) As soon as we fix the dates and locations, we’ll be posting them to our web site, and sending them out to our email list. We look forward to seeing you there!

Do you have any additional information available?

The information on our web site covers the VAX • 77 as it stands right now. But, we are already implementing new features and increasing the capabilities of our software. Once we have more information about the VAX • 77, we will add it to our site, and send it out to players like you. If you want to be the first to know what shape the final VAX • 77 will take, send us a message at sales@infiniteresponse.com and let us know that you want to be on our email list.

Are the units made in Austin? How do I get one?

Every VAX • 77 is handcrafted in the live music capital of the world – Austin, Texas. No matter where you’re from, we would love to have you come by and try out the VAX • 77 in our showroom. And of course, you can pick up your keyboard when you’re here. If you plan to come to Austin, make sure you take advantage of the incredible range of clubs and bands that perform here every night. Many musicians come by for SXSW in the spring, or NAMM in the summer, and we’d be happy to have your keyboard ready for you when you arrive.

What’s the price?

The short answer – we'll let you know as soon as we make that decision. We have been working on the VAX • 77 for months, and we are still adding new features and evaluating the responses of everyone we’ve heard from. When we finally finish our work – when we’ve written the last line of code and made every last tweak – we’ll decide on a price that reflects the quality of our instrument while keeping it well within reach of the live musician. This keyboard has been designed to meet all your needs; we won’t make it impossible to afford.

How do you bend pitch?

Pitch bend is a very important feature for keyboard players, and we want to make sure that we get it right. We have been gathering responses from keyboard players like you, and we think we have found the right way to incorporate pitch bend into the natural flow of your performance. We’re adding that feature now, and as soon as we complete our work, we’ll post more information on our web site.

Are you planning an 88-key version?

When we were designing the VAX • 77, we wanted to build a keyboard that would redefine the word “portable,” and we’ve done just that. To make it fit in the overhead compartment of most commercial airplanes, we had to limit the size to 77 keys. An 88-key version would have exceeded both the weight and size limits. (Airlines frequently have their own restriction; check with your carrier to find out what limitations they have.)

Does the unit come with a sound bank or does it all have to be external MIDI?

While the VAX • 77 is designed to drive all existing synth modules with clear text menus, we consider that to be a rather transitional use of our product. We believe that soft synths are the future. All the underlying technology in the VAX • 77 has been designed to enable you to control laptop generated sounds without ever touching a mouse or it's keyboard. Whether you have a 5-year-old laptop or you are lucky enough to own a Receptor, VST plugins give you a wealth of capability for a fraction of the price of a stand alone synth module. Compare "Ivory" to any stage piano sound. Is there any debate? Explore the offerings from E-Mu and Native Instruments. We think you will agree that the time is right for the VAX • 77 and soft
synths.

Are any upgrades available?

We have a number of innovative "expression tools" planned for the VAX • 77. They will plug into the pedal ports on the right side.

[This message has been edited by ocomain (edited 03-31-2007).]

WOw!!!!!!

Now that's interesting! Anyone here live near this place to check one out?

I think we are looking at a fake..Susuki folding concept, that didn't work well..

This is definitely NOT a fake:
http://2007.sxsw.com/music/tradeshow/exhibitor_list/index.php?action=exhib_show&id= S07-1105

Soon I can plan a long overdue trip to see my Dad in San Antonio and take a little sidetrip to Austin to pick one of these beauties up!!! Awesome!!! Later this year they will be touring the country demoing this keyboard, so I sent an email asking to be notified of when and where!

Michael

[This message has been edited by ocomain (edited 03-31-2007).]

This looks like a brilliant concept. One limitation that the keyboard is going to have is that it is limited to one feel for key weight. It is too bad that there is no way to adjust it with a knob or something.

I would like to give this keyboard a spin.

Beakybird

The key weight will be customized for each customer which is something I've never encountered before in a keyboard product. Key pressure should be fully adjustable, an assumption based on the amount of programmability that will be featured in this product.

Michael

this is a truly great innovation . A true portable 88 note folding lightweight controller keyboard

Sorry but it's not an 88 note keyboard...only 77 note (76 regular keys and 1 Hot key located at the upper end of the board). If you read the text of the initial posting or go to their website, they explain why they've decided not to produce a product with 88 keys.

"Are you planning an 88-key version?

When we were designing the VAX 77, we wanted to build a keyboard that would redefine the word "portable", and we've done just that. To make it fit in the overhead compartment of most commercial airplanes, we had to limit the size to 77 keys. An 88-key version would have exceeded both the weight and size limits. (Airlines frequently have their own restriction; check with your carrier to find out what limitations they have.)"

Michael

[This message has been edited by ocomain (edited 04-01-2007).]

[This message has been edited by ocomain (edited 04-01-2007).]

thanks for the clarification

Another wasted technology. Why it has big space in the front with nothing on it? They should add knobs, sliders, tiltable bigger lcd screen. Should be able to load samples and play it without the use of laptop or separate sound modules, like a sample playback machine.

This is meant to be the ultimate PORTABLE keyboard controller that can be used with virtually any setup. I've owned keyboards with all the sliders, knobs, etc. and I actually prefer the deceptively simpler interface offered by the VAX 77. It also means that there are less things prone to being damaged while in transit. Suits me just fine!

By the way, I received this email after signing up for their mailing list:

"Thanks for your response! We received fantastic responses to our keyboard at SXSW 2007, and we will be incorporating much of that feedback into the final product. Many people had questions, so we have posted answers on a new FAQ page that's been added to our web site, www.infiniteresponse.com.

We will be adding more information to the web site as soon as we have it, including details about our upcoming tour, where you will be able to get your hands on a VAX • 77 and find out what everyone's been talking about. If you want to be on our email list, just send us a note and we'll make sure to keep you updated.

All the best,

Glenn Chandler"

Michael