Edison competes in the West Coast Championship Controller Battle in San Francisco, 6.25.11. Photo - SpaceCat Photography

A heroic battle of epic proportions was waged on Saturday night at Public Works in San Francisco, where more than 600 onlookers cheered as 17 controllerists engaged in fierce combat for gear and glory in the first ever West Coast Championship Controller Battle. Celebrity judges Zach Huntting, J.Tonal, Laura Escudé and Daniel Dubsworth scrutinized their every move and ranked their musicality, virtuosity, innovation, showmanship and audience reaction.

“I was really impressed!” said Keith Tidd, Expressions College graduate and controllerism fan, “Each progressing round shattered my expectations of what a controller is and can be.”

In the end, the mighty Edison took the title, followed by Rich DDT in second place. Artful Codger and Sabotage tied for the third place spot.

Contestants wielded a variety of musical weapons throughout the battle, everything from Nonagon’s Monome to Colfax’s Handsonic pad controller to Artful Codger’s one of a kind Space Palette, complete with analog swinging tennis ball rhythm sequencer.

The contestants didn’t hog all the controller fun though, the audience was able to try their hand at controllerism too. Escudé and others gave educational playshops at the beginning of the evening and The Digital Jam Lounge space on the second level of the nightclub gave audience members the opportunity to experience new music technology from several sponsors including: DJ TechTools, Keith McMillen, LoveTech, Novation and Pyramind.

The event also featured expert exhibition performances by Ean Golden and our very own Moldover.

If you missed all the controller battle action or you want to re-live it, check out the footage from the live web stream at justin.tv/lovetechsf.

Watch live video from movecraft on Justin.tv