Ellitone NotePad, compact, MIDI touch controller with built-in looper

ElliTone NotePad, the second product of the fn_block series, is an affordable, compact MIDI touch controller with a built-in looper.

At the beginning of January, I reported on the Ellitone fn-block 01, an affordable semi-modular digital polysynth with Lo-Fi character. This was also the start of a new mini-modular series. A Synthesizer must also be played. For this purpose, the second device of the fn_block series is now available.

ElliTone has released NotePad, a new companion for its Lofi Synthesizer.

Ellitone NotePad

NotePad is a small, handheld-style MIDI touch controller that can control the synth or any other MIDI device. Ellitone NotePad features 12 touch-activated note keys scattered on a field. If you press a touch, you send a MIDI note.

It’s like a classic MIDI keyboard, but only with touch. You can play melodies or entire chords on it. The selected scale determines which notes are on the respective touch pads. Yes, this small controller also has built-in scales.

You can choose between 12 musical scales: chromatic, major 1 & 2, minor 1, Phrygian, nature (handpan drum scale), Akebono, Enigma (handpan drum scale), and more. NotePad has a five-octave range and offers a transpose function.

MIDI Looper

A highlight of the Ellitone NotePad is its MIDI looper with layering. Press the “mode” button on the hardware to switch into record mode. From here, you can capture up to 30 seconds/50 notes in length. When you are done recording your musical midi passage, press the “end”  button to stop your recording. 

Right after this step, the looper will playback your recording. You can also add notes to existing loops by layering them anytime and shortening them with the “end” button. Clever, you can also change your recorded passage’s scale, octave, and transposition for new variations.

Ellitone NotePad has a simple USB-C port for powering and a TRS-MIDI output for use with external MIDI gear.

More Fn-blocks

According to Ellitone, the new NotePad (fn-block 02) and fn-block 01 Synthesizer are just beginning. In 2025, the developer plans to release more mini-modular devices, including a 4-channel generator sequencer, a 4-channel modulation source, a drum synth, a stereo mixer, an analog voice, and more.

Ellitone NotePad First Impression

It is a neat and very affordable MIDI touch controller. For just $65, the NotePad offers a lot to the user. 

Ellitone NotePad is available now for $64,99 or in a bundle with the fn_block 01 Synthesizer for $124,99.

More information here: Ellitone 

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