
Known for always having the latest in gear, software, and audio technology in general, Richie Hawtin (Plastikman) acted as the spokesperson, co-developer, and first official user of Liine Griid, and announced the new modular touch control system for Ableton Live and iPad at the Sonar International Festival of Advanced Music and Multimedia Art, 2010.
Griid is a tool that Liine hopes will help redefine the way people interact with sound. The first in a series of interconnected control modules for Ableton Live, Griid, is an advanced Clip grid interface that makes sure that you are able to find and fire any Clip at any time, without missing a beat. Finely tuned for rapid navigation, Griid allows you to play Live sets of any size with ease, even those sprawling Live sets that have grown a life of their own, according to the manufacturer. You can transform and interact with Griid using gestures familiar to iPhone and iPad users.
Liine describes the new modular touch control system further, saying that Griid's specialized touch objects and gestures are refined through a back and forth process that blurs the boundary between stage and laboratory; the result is a playful and inspiring tool, augmenting the Ableton Live experience.
Three types of Griid are available: Griid Pro, which banks on the iPad's larger screen size; Griid for iPhone and iPod Touch, a more portable version of the control system; and Griid Lite, a free, scaled down version. Each version will feature the same attention to detail and design, making all critical Clip information easy to see at a glance.
Griid's features will be announced at a later time, and more control modules will be developed as well. When Griid is officially released, you will be able to get it from the iTunes Store.