Although most major MIDI controller manufacturers and software developers market and sell their products using primarily the English language, creativity, hacking spirit and innovation in controllerism and music technology are obviously not limited to the English-speaking world. The language barrier often prevents news of breakthroughs and innovative work from reaching interested parties, and that’s a shame.

Such was, until now, the case of Buenos Aires-based brothers and controller creators Alejo Yael and Mateo Ferley Yael, and their small but ambitious company YAELTEX.

The beautiful Yaeltex Kontrola. Image courtesy of Yaeltex

Alejo and Mateo started making MIDI controllers in Patagonia in 2009, when they teamed up to put together their first unusual creation, a sensor-laden controller called “La Sensible” (“The Sensitive” in Spanish):

“We wanted to do something that enabled the user to interact with music or video in an unusual way,” YAELTEX co-founder Mateo Ferley Yael told controllerim.com. ”Alejo had all the electronics from a recent stay in Berlin: some buttons, some sensors and a decoder.  After a few months, we got a final version with 16 buttons, 2 pressure sensors (one for the right thumb and one in all the controller base), 2 flexibility sensors for the right hand fingers, a light sensor in the back along with a little LED light, a joystick for the left thumb, and a distance sensor in the back. We also added a Firewire port to connect an iSight video camera and microphone.” 

After creating La Sensible and inventing a series of uses for it – “a sequencer, a sample looper machine, a live video looper (using the mounted camera to capture video in real time and controls to manipulate loops and effects), a multi synth controller and some more” - the two brothers decided to move to the heart of Buenos Aires and start YAELTEX, naming their company after a textile company their grandfather founded after moving to Argentina in the 1950s.

Their next project was La Kontrola, a controller they have the coolest possible description for: “a giant 16-step battle sequencer made with 64 arcade buttons with LED indicators, MIDI fighter style, and 4 potentiometers”. 

La Kontrola was meant to be a part of a 2 controller series called ‘Kaos and Kontrol’ but what was supposed to be the Kaos controller evolved and mutated into a whole new idea: Metropolis. Before I lose myself burst out in geek joy, here is the project plan:

“Metropolis is a prototype series of 4 controllers: Atenas (Athens), Damasco, Manchester and Milan.

Atenas is the main controller, and it’s a huge mixer with full Ableton Live control, including a 15” touch sensitive screen and an Audio/Video synchronization module.

Damasco is a powerful rhythm/synth sequencer.

Manchester is a synth controller with a really interesting FX control module and a full synth parameter control as well.

Milan is a double circular sequencer, Buchla inspired.

You will see some pictures of them soon. We are just finishing their designs and starting with the assembling and programming part.”

Interactive Kinect installation at the Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Diseño. Image courtesy of YAELTEX.

YAELTEX are also developing Kinect musical interactive applications, real time visuals, and are starting their own musical project, among others. They’re planning to start creating and selling controllers on a larger scale.

If terms like “giant battle sequencers” and “Metropolis” don’t get your geek juices pumping, you can check out the YAELTEX website and Facebook page for all kinds of other awesome projects Alejo and Mateo are working on.