The first Snyderphonics product is the Manta, a touch-sensitive interface for controlling music or video on a computer.

Features:

* 48 touch sensors in a 6 X 8 hexagonal array - each sensor can independently send both continuous control data and note-on/off events with velocity sensitivity simultaneously

* 2 capacitive touch-sensing sliders

* 4 assignable touch-sensing function buttons with LED feedback - can be either momentary or latching

* USB device, showing up as a HID (Human Interface Device) to the operating system, and therefore will operate on Mac OS X, Windows (XP or Vista) and Linux without special drivers

* USB bus-powered - no additional power supply is needed - peak power requirement is around 400mA, so if it's powered by a hub, the hub will need to be plugged in

* 64 user-controllable LEDs

* sturdy handmade wooden casing

* slim profile, 9.75" X 11.6" X 11/32" with no protruding knobs, buttons or sliders - fits in most laptop cases even with a laptop

* comes with a protective padded sleeve case

* low latency operation - around 7ms

* completely made in the USA - including PCB fabrication, assembly, and woodworking

* electronics made to ROHS specifications (lead-free and without hazardous substances)

The Manta is easy to use as an input for software like Max/MSP or Supercollider, and a free program is provided with the Manta that allows any sensor to be routed to any MIDInote or continuous controller for interfacing with standard software like Abelton Live, Kontakt, Logic, or Digital Performer. If you'd like to get on the announcements list and be first in line to order the Manta when it's available, please contact me through the order page.

You can view videos of the beta-version Manta in action (with 42 sensors, no sliders, and no LEDs) on YouTube. The videos are listed under the name of the prototype- the MEAPbook.

Here's one of the YouTube videos that shows the Manta in action. Sam Pluta is the performer in this one: