One of the first articles I wrote on DJTT was the Kickstarter called the Tuna Knobs. The knobs were meant to add a tactile element that was lost with touch based apps. A common concern for the Tuna Knobs that we saw in the comments was that they seemed to be a little simple for the purpose they were trying to serve. Florian Born, with a similar idea, went to work to create the Modulares Interface B.A. which is a physical interface accessory that compliments the iPad. Read more about Florian’s project below and watch a video of the interface in action.
Insulation and Control
Tactile feedback is a big selling point for many DJs. There is something that feels right about knowing your knob is at 3 o’clock or the fader is slowly bringing in the track. Florian saw the rise in popularity of touch devices and went to create the Modulares Interface B.A. as a physical expansion of a touch device. His interface not only gives the user the ability to create numerous amounts of controllers but also provides haptic feedback for the user to set parameters precisely.
First the iPad is placed into the device where it is held within an aluminum casing. Then the user opens up the Modulares app and configures their custom control by distinguishing whether sectors are knobs, buttons, or faders. The physical aluminum parts are placed on to the device and held together using magnets. All parts are made with a mixture of aluminum and plastic which create a flow for the electricity to travel from the user to the iPad. Also, all buttons, faders, and knobs feature conductive foam that provide a point of contact while not scratching the screen of the iPad. Watch the video below to see a demo of the Modular Interface B.A.
A Contender for Touch Based Accessories
Florian’s rendition of touch based accessories is one of the best to come out on the market so far, in my opinion. While the Tuna Knob and other products perform similar functions, the Modulares Interface B.A. seems to be solid in design and technology. This all in one device performs a full makeover of the iPad into a physical controller that can be used as a tactile control center for the music being played. Products before offered stick on solutions which can work but what I like about Florian’s device is that everything is locked into a box which takes away the worry of knocking off a knob or fader. Also, from a aesthetic perspective, the device takes away the stigma of using an iPad by changing the whole look. The Modulares Interface B.A. is currently not available for purchase.
What are your thoughts on touch based accessories for the iPad? Does tactile control really make a difference?
