Actually it's awesome news, I hope to try it. The VAX controller folds up, and has this prefix and seems to be a very well thought out controller.
Let's say on an sample instrument where you have 16 layers triggered through velocity. While these each are triggered at optimal levels per layer, most modern day cheap controllers might be able to trigger 4 of the 16, but the velocities are symbolistic as I have never met anyone who could play with a single finger, each velocity layered sample. In theory we are suppose to be able to trigger each layer by pressing deeper or harder or faster and use curves that are programmable per layer, but the last controller I ever used was the MC3000 with it's 48 Programmable Velocity curves per zone.
127 is just not precise enough, and when MIDI was invented, we had 3 Layers per sample usually on EMU's, Rolands, Oberheim DPX Players, etc. They never thought we would have achieved 32 layered instruments and Keyswitching, etc.
I have not tried it yet, but would assume it's the trick to making Piano's even more realistic. Many libraries sound really nice, but lack the sostenuto pedal, and una corde features ( soft pedal ) that add even more dynamics and performance tricks.
16,000 sounds extreme, but imagine on a controller where each layer is seperated by a unit of 1000....
. You gotta be able to trigger those extra layers now.
I will believe it when I see it. But the guys at
http://www.infiniteresponse.com/ ...could really benefit from a young and upcoming unknown Classical Painist to de a video / audio demo of their own custom made VSTi that comes packaged with the VAX77 purchase.
NAMM Looks To Be Fun This Year.