Ableton User Group Austin: 2010

Livid Instruments Block Review by Jimmy Allison

(Lux Divon, Ableton User Group Austin)

http://luxdivon.com/

http://abletonatx.ning.com/

Livid instruments is a small software and midi controller
manufacturing company. Livid is Based out of Austin Texas
and are dedicated to making high quality products manufactured locally.

http://www.lividinstruments.com/index.php

Livid Instruments Block

http://www.lividinstruments.com/hardware_block.php

Out of the box the Block is a very attractive bus
powered midi controller. it basically looks like a monome 40h but
with a larger foot print, 2 faders, 8 knobs, and some extra buttons.
The block is made from real wood and metal. The knobs are smooth,
tactile. I lifted the block completely off the table grabbing only
a knob and the knob did not come off or break. The knobs are not
endless which is a big big plus for me and they feel like pots you
would find on a good analog synthesizer. The faders have a short
run which are fine for my needs and they are nice and smooth. The
faders are well connected to the Block. I do have an issue with the
Akai mpd 32 fader tops flying off while I am performing, so I was
quite pleased with this too. All and all I would say its a very
attractive controller that would look equally as great sitting next
to a Martin Dreadnought acoustic guitar as it would in a full on
Midi studio. The Block could handle impacts, drops and it looks
like it is very easy to take apart.

I give it a 10 for build quality.

The Livid Block is USB bus powered which is really nice. Personally
I would like to also have the option to use a power supply and midi
cable instead of USB. In Lux Divon we use one laptop and 2 humans
with lots of midi controllers, so I need to be very mindful of my
USB power draw.

Ergonomics of the block are pretty sweet. You can easily use it in
any position simply by pulling off the knobs and repositioning them
to suite where you want them to be. You can also rotate the grid
using the block software editor. With these simple and easy
modifications the Livid instruments Block can be a left handed midi
controller or can be suited to what ever your ergonomic needs are.
It would be nice to see some redundant usb ports so that the cable
could be attached for different positions. I could also see some
people wanting to daisy chain the block as well. The only issue I
have found was when sitting at my desk my wrist would get a little
irritated by the edge of the controller. An easy fix would be to
just put some fabric or an extra mouse pad between your wrist and
the edge of the Block.

I give it the livid block a 9 for Ergonomics

The Block Software editor is how you edit the midi implementations
of the block. I personally think this area needs a little work, but
its very usable especially with the edition of bomes midi
translator. I have also heard a rumor that Native Kontrol is
working on some midi implementation scripts. When these scripts
come out look out because the full potential of the block will be
readily available to the non hacker type. For those with a little
hacker blood in them you could use the Livid Block and bomes midi
translator to take over the galaxy, or at least a planet or two. I
would like to be able to edit the blocks midi functionality from
the block itself. I know this would add cost but to be able to
quickly shift through presets without using extra software is a big
plus for me. It would also be helpful for ergonomics if you could
switch the polarities of the knobs and faders. The Livid Block midi
editor does have a nice walk through which is helpful for getting
to know the feature of the editor. Reassigning values is a bit of a
chore if the value is already assigned. I was not able to change
midi channels for each individual knob, fader, and button, which
would be very helpful when shifting through presets to have the
maximum control assignments. I personally do not consider the
software editor all that useful and I would use third party apps
like bomes to get what I want. I would like a good sit down session
with the programmers to work through some of the issues I am
finding with the limitations of the editor.

I give software editor a 4.

OK now after all that I fired up my Daw of choice, Ableton Live.
Big ups for getting the Ableton Live Auto map features up and
running! Yes a red box! Yes Auto map! Hello Akai APC 40, hello
Novation Launch Pad, you now have a well crafted contender. One
that is not a cheaply made hunk of plastic. Every thing works as it
should in Ableton, I can use the auto map mode or over ride with a
direct midi assignment. Easy navigation of the red box using the
extra buttons on the side and the pads give me visual feedback when
a clip is playing. I think the Livid Block pretty much blows the
Novation Launch pad away. Even though the Launch pad has RGB lights
and some better auto map features. The Block will be around and
functioning in 10-20 or more years plus the Livid Block has real
knobs and faders. If livid could work in some RGB lights for the
pads it would be all over. You will pay twice as much for a Block
but it will last ten times as long as the Novation Launch pad. Plus
your supporting a small independent business. Your paying for
quality and your going to get a quality product, which is very
refreshing in this day and age.

Now as far as a comparison to the APC 40, The block definitely has
a better build quality but the APC-40 does have some key features
which just work very well with ableton. So that's a tough one for
me to make a comparison. The ohm 64 is going to be a better match
for the apc 40 which I will cover in my review of the Livid Ohm
64.

Next I fired up Cell DNA VJ software, can you say o ya! That was a
very pleasant experience. I have hardly used Cell DNA so when I
fired it up with the Livid Block and everything was ready to rock I
could auto map and go. I could perform a VJ set tonight if I wanted
to. Fire video clips with the pads tweak effects with the knobs
cross fade and fade to black with the faders.. fun stuff. I'll save
the rest for my reviews of Cell DNA which I will do in a few
weeks.

Over all the Livid Block is great controller that will stand up to
time and abuses of the road. In the end the $400 price tag is very
economical because it will last and be reliable. I would love to
see a version with RGB lights and visual feedback for the knobs
which I would easily pay an extra $100 for. The main short comings
are with in the software editor which I'm sure will be improved
upon over time. There is one other thing I didn't mention that is a
huge plus. The Livid Block works with all the monome 40h
applications and is basically a quality monome 40h substitute with
knobs, faders, and some extra buttons.I would say this product is
well worth the asking price.

My over all rating for the Livid Block is an 8

Livid Instruments Block midi controller

http://www.lividinstruments.com/hardware_block.php

--review by Jimmy Allison of Lux Divon

http://luxdivon.com/

Founder of the Ableton User Groups of Texas

http://abletonatx.ning.com/

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