How to Play the Continuum?
The playing surface of a Continuum Fingerboard has a semitone pattern. This pattern is purely a reference and does not enforce any particular tuning system.
The Pitch Rounding feature helps you play in tune while retaining all the nuances of the Continuum. If you keep Pitch Rounding disabled, you can start a note at any pitch.
New Continuum players tend to regularly attack the surface with force. But with practice, it becomes clear how little pressure is actually needed to start and control the sound. This unparalleled control over dynamics makes the Continuum the industry leader among playing surfaces.
The Most Expressive Playing Surface on The Market
The Continuum Fingerboard has an exceptionally quick response time and is the most sensitive pressure resolution electronic music device on the market today. It is very different from your average Midi MPE touch-responsive keyboard or controller.
The Continuum completes a scan of its entire playing surface every 330 microseconds. This surface evaluation speed is crucial for smooth, uninterrupted, organic playing.
The Continuum has a pressure resolution of up to 15 bits for long sustained notes, allowing the detailed expression of tiny pressure-related timbre changes and accurate pitch trajectories in pressure-weighted portamentos.
For MIDI control of external devices, the Continuum can output MPE and MPE+, and can also be connected for control voltage output using the optional CV Controller, using the Haken CV Controller.
Check out the Sound Examples section of this web site:
Introduction Videos
EaganMatrix Examples
Historical Techniques
External Synths
Analog Synths
Many technical details can be found in the Continuum User Guide and the EaganMatrix User Guide (available for download in the support section of this web site).
A Complete Continuum Walkthrough
The video below by Loopop is a good introduction to the Slim Continuum Fingerboard and the EaganMatrix.
Continuum Playing Techniques
Rob Schwimmer is a highly skilled Continuum Fingerboard performer. His compendium of playing techniques may be found here. A playlist of his performances and tutorials can also be found below!
The Continuum is fun and accessible when you first start playing but practicing playing techniques will reward you with unmatched expressivity. The more time you put in, the more the Continuum will give you back. This is what truly makes it a different experience to a traditional synthesizer. Treat it like an acoustic instrument!
For more sound examples, sound design tips and playing techniques please refer to the dedicated section.
Development History
Dr. Lippold Haken started development over 40 years ago on what was to become the modern-day Continuum Fingerboard. The Continuum has been in the vanguard for expressive control & MPE ever since its inception.