Hornberg MIDI Breath Station

The hb1 MIDI Breath Station from Hornberg Research lets you add natural expression to any electronic instrument or peripheral device with MIDI or USB. Breath controllers have long been used to add critical nuance and detail to standard keyboard performances, but after spending a few minutes with the hb1, you’ll understand why this goes far beyond any typical breath controller. The special wooden mouth piece, a precision sensor and the combination of a MIDI-merger, an integrated MIDI-interface and many innovative parameters set the stage for a high precision and richly expressive performance of your ideas, whether in studio or live.

$899.00

Breathe Life into Your Tracks!

 

NEW: In multi mode you can use up to four hb1 presets simultaneously and with this feature it is possible to control up to four MIDI CCs streams independently.

The hb1 MIDI Breath Station from Hornberg Research lets you add natural expression to any electronic instrument or peripheral device with MIDI or USB. Breath controllers have long been used to add critical nuance and detail to standard keyboard performances, but after spending a few minutes with the hb1, you’ll understand why this goes far beyond any typical breath controller. The special wooden mouth piece, a precision sensor and the combination of a MIDI-merger, an integrated MIDI-interface and many innovative parameters set the stage for a high precision and richly expressive performance of your ideas, whether in studio or live.

This is a beautifully built piece of equipment--both in its construction and its concept. The parameters are versatile and deep. The dual mode is particularly useful, letting me control two different parameters and their various settings in one breath. This is far beyond a usual breath controller with its abilities to determine several aspects of attack, release, velocity, etc. The youtube vids are succinct and very clear. I had this up and running within a two minutes, and understood the control concepts within 20 minutes. You can easily reassign the controls for your own needs, and save to settings. Finally, I think all the youtubes of this demonstrate it with traditional orchestral instruments. I'm using it for unusual sound patches and much more strange fx and sound designs--so it has much more capacity than in a traditional setting. (I'm using Cubase and HALion, and had no trouble with the interface. It was immediately recognized by Steinberg.) —Jewel Dirks, Sound Designer

Ten of the twelve parameters allow you to sculpt various details and impulses during your performance. For instance, the adjustable “Release” allows breathing in without interrupting the arc of the sound. The “Dynamic Attack” parameter allows for sensitive impulse control, even in the finest pianissimo. In multi mode you can use up to four hb1 presets simultaneously and with this feature it is possible to control up to four MIDI CCs streams independently. Realtime data reduction, Inversion and Limitation of the signal and, of course, Drive and Offset are all included as performance options. Each parameter set can be saved in one of 25 available presets. For visual feedback, the breath-data is displayed continuously on the Breath-Value Display. The hb1 approach is innovative and progresses far beyond the possibilities of a common breath controller. Through the integration of standard MIDI and USB-ports, the hb1 functions with or without a computer. The hb1 is hand-crafted in Germany with great attention to detail and with a focus on sustainable manufacturing.

The hb1 is composed of a controller unit and an extremely accurate pressure sensor unit, which is connected to the mouthpiece by a flexible silicon tube and to the controller unit by a sensor cable. Two mouthpieces are supplied in different sizes so that the most comfortable can be chosen for use.

This unit is well-built, and performs flawlessly. Given you can map four data streams independently, possibilities are nearly endless. Very helpful is an graphic editor that gives visual feedback on what your breath is doing in any of the four possible lanes. Great for bringing virtual instruments to life, but also has many performance possibilities. —Greg Mackender, Performer and Composer

Any keyboard (or a MIDI guitar, etc.) can be connected from its MIDI OUT to the hb1 MIDI IN. This means that the merged MIDI data of the keyboard and the hb1 data are accessible on the hb1 MIDI OUT and USB OUT. The MIDI OUT of the hb1can also be directly connected to the MIDI IN of a synthesizer or to the USB port of a computer. The hb1 provides an additional second MIDI OUT through its integrated USB MIDI-interface.

Watch Jason Yang perform with live instruments and the hb1.

 

 

Watch as Mick Baumeister shows off the new Multi Mode parameters of the hb1.

 

Minimum System Requirements for use with a computer

  • 1 x USB 2.0 Port
  • Works with any standard operating system
  • Recommendation: use current operating systems
  • No driver installation necessary (Plug&Play)

Items Included

  • Controller unit
  • Pressure sensor unit
  • Two mouthpieces, made of precious wood of the wild service tree
  • One stainless steel tube with an adjustable air intake valve
  • hb1 Neck Set
  • Silicone tube
  • 2 m sensor cable (4-pole)
  • 1.8 m USB cable
  • 5V USB power supply unit
  • Cleaning swab for the mouthpiece
  • Wool felt carrying case

Technical Data

  • Manufacturer: Hornberg Research GbR
  • Model: hb1
  • Description: MIDI Breath Station

Electrical Supply: U=4,75V - 5,25 V, I < 100mA

  • via USB interface or USB power supply (included)
  • connection via USB Model B socket
  • internal resolution: 1ms

Connections:

  • 1 x DIN-MIDI IN 31250 bit/s, 5 mA
  • 2 x DIN-MIDI OUT 31250 bit/s
  • USB 2.0
  • Connection for the pressure sensor unit