Keith McMillen

Biography

McMillen was raised on Chicago's South Side. When he was 10 years old he built a guitar amplifier, because he couldn’t afford to buy one, and he wanted to make his guitar louder. Building and repairing musical instruments paid for his attendance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he received a degree in Acoustics in 1977. He moved to California in 1979.

Zeta Music and Octiv

McMillen founded the music company Zeta Music in 1979 to create a modern version of electric and electronic string instruments. He developed a prototype electric violin for musician Laurie Anderson. Zeta Violins are still in production 37 years later. With the University of California Berkeley's Center for New Music and Audio Technologies (CNMAT), McMillen created Zeta Instrument Processor Interface(ZIPI), a high-speed music network, which was included in the Winter 1994 Computer Music Journal and laid the groundwork for Open Sound Control (OSC). The company was sold to Gibson Guitars in 1992. McMillen founded Octiv in 2000, with funding from 3i and Intel Capital. Octiv was an audio signal processing company that addressed the problem of inconsistent volume levels and audio quality across delivery platforms, and produced the popular Volume Logic multiband processing plug-in for iTunes. The company was sold to Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) in 2005, which renamed it as the Volume Logic division.

Keith McMillen Instruments

In 2005, Keith McMillen founded Keith McMillen Instruments (KMI), a hardware and software developer that creates music and stage equipment allowing musicians and sound professionals to interface with computers. He founded the company after touring as a musician with large, cumbersome gear and realized the need for equipment that is compact enough to be easily carried on board an airplane. KMI produces products that provide musicians with the tools to create a new level of expression and control in their performances. These instruments are considered Polyphonic Multidimensional Controllers enabling use of the proposed MIDI extension MPE.

K-Bow

KMI invented the K-Bow in 2008. It is a bluetooth-enabled sensor bow for stringed instruments. It has a grip sensor that includes a flexible, conductive material to sense grip pressure, and sensors to measure hair tension, bow tilt angle and bow position relative to the instrument. The K-Bow is used by numerous musicians including, Jon Rose, and has been used in pieces commissioned by Kronos Quartet, and Paola Prestini. Violinist Julia Ogrydziak performs on the violin using the K-Bow.

K-Mix

KMI previewed K-Mix at the 2015 Winter NAMM(National Association of Music Merchants) show, and showed the finished version of the product at the 2016 NAMM Show. It is a pro-quality USB audio interface with McMillen's design µPre preamps, a fully programmable standalone mixer with flexible routing and per-channel digital signal processor (DSP). It has a precise and unbreakable opto-tactile control surface designed to command any digital audio workstation (DAW). Naut Humon, Jaron Lanier, and Dan the Automator are some of the artists who use the K-Mix. The product has received positive reviews for its compactness, features, and capabilities.

K-Board

K-Board is a plug and play USB MIDI Keyboard. Smart fabric sensors under the keys detect velocity, pressure and tilt. The K-Board is for beginners to expert musicians. Its reputation is one of being an easy way to make music, and unbreakable. Artists that use the K-Board are Diplo, Jack Conte, and the band, Plaid. The K-Board Pro4 was introduced at the 2016 NAMM show and is a 4-octave professional size keyboard with each key having 3 degrees of freedom. A variation on the K-Board is the QuNexus, a compact MIDI/CV smart sensor keyboard controller. Its development was funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised $45,556 from 230 backers, reaching its goal in six days. The campaign was the second successful Kickstarter campaign for KMI, and was the first time a startup company had a successful repeat performance using a Kickstarter campaign. It has received positive reviews for its unique features durability, and versatility. Artists using the QuNexus are Jordan Rudess, Matthew Dear, Richard Devine, Purity Ring (band), Fink (singer), and Cashmere Cat.

QuNeo

The QuNeo controller is a 3D multi-touch MIDI pad controller for electronic music producers and DJs and VJs. Each of the pads are different shapes and sizes and is equipped with various selections of LEDs. It is the same size as an iPad, weighs 14 ounces, compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, and Android operating systems. Smart fabric sensors under each pad detect pressure, position and velocity. The product was funded by a Kickstarter campaign that sought to raise $15K, but brought in 678 backers from around the world and raised a total amount of $165,914. Backers included John Paul Jones (musician) from Led Zeppelin and Herbie Hancock. Reviews of the QuNeo praise its design, control options, and immediacy, but has some concerns about the resolution of the LED displays and issues with the device freezing. Artists using the QuNeo include Richard Devine, Matt Black (DJ) of Coldcut, and Thomas Dolby.

SoftStep 2 and 12Step Foot Controllers

In 2014, The SoftStep 2 replaced the original SoftStep that the company produced in 2011. It is a programmable MIDI foot controller with 10 multi-function pads that are layered with smart fabric sensors that can detect foot position and pressure in real time. It is 18 inches and weighs 1.3 pounds. It is used by artists Robert Henke, Tim Weisberg, and Michael Manring. Its reviews call it an outstanding piece of equipment. The 12 step MIDI foot controller has 13 velocity sensitive pedal keys that allow the user to play notes, trigger chords, and simultaneously take control of two parameters such as volume, modulation, and pitch bend. Musician, Trey Gunn of King Crimson, guitarist, Avi Bortnick, and bass player, Julie Slick of the Adrian Belew Power Trio all use the 12 Step. Reviewers call it portable, flexible, reliable, and praise its design.

KMI Labs

KMI Labs is the R&D dvisions of Keith McMillen Instruments. McMillen outlined future instruments KMI Labs at a Future of Music presentation at the Gray Area Foundation for the Arts in October 2015.

BopPad

The first product to come out of KMI Labs is the BopPad, an expressive MIDI drum pad controller for percussionists, and producers that is the world's most responsive smart drum pad. The Kickstarter campaign for the BopPad reached its funding goal in three days. It advances accurate hit detection via velocity, continuous radius, and pressure sensitivity with an extremely quick playing surface. BopPad's advanced architecture allows for an annovative instrument that "sees" every gesture, hit or tap and responds to the nuances of any percussive performance, perfectly measuring strike velocity from the softest hand-drumming actions to the strongest percussive assault. The BopPad software, which will be available as a desktop download and iOS app—allows four independently programmable zones (or quadrants) to be assigned to play up to six simultaneous notes with six expressive timbre maps. At the heart of the BopPad is the world's largest smart fabric sensor. The smart fabric is the same as that used in products from Keith McMillen Instruments and McMillen's BeBop Sensors.

BeBop Sensors

In October 2014, Keith McMillen launched the company, BeBop Sensors. Businesses were approaching McMillen with interest in incorporating the smart fabric sensors that he was using in his Keith McMillen Instruments into their products. BeBop provides sensor solutions for OEMs ranging from complete wireless solutions to custom apps.

BeBop uses a proprietary monolithic fabric sensor technology that integrates the sensors, traces and electronics into a single piece of fabric. The fabric is ultra-thin, washable, bendable, and has no wires sticking out of it. DuPont Microcircuit Materials prints the conductive inks on the fabric. The sensors measure size, motion, angle, location, weight, bend, rotation, force, shape, and pressure.

BeBop's design creates 3D data maps, which can be built into a 1mm thick shoe insole to measure gait, contact, and fit. The 3D mapping allows the sensors to measure impact under a helmet, or other protective gear. It can be a grip sensor for improving an ergonomic grip.

BeBop Sensors has developed technology for a smart tire, that can measure tread and provide information about suspension. The sensors are being incorporated into a smart steering wheel, and are being developed for use in a shoe insole and other products and items.

In 2015, BeBop Sensors was listed as one of the best pieces of technology to come out of the IDTechEX Show, and a BeBop company executive was interviewed at the 2015 IDTechEx Wearable USA event.

In 2016, BeBop introduced the Automotive Occupant Classification System that can tell in real time the size, weight and movements of the person occupying a car seat. It can sense if a person is crossing their legs, leaning forward or backward, or moving to the right or left side of the seat.

BEAM Foundation

McMillen founded the non-profit BEAM Foundation in 2005. Its mission is to create conditions that will spark a new music movement-the NuRoque (from Neo-Baroque). Soon after it was founded, the BEAM Foundation gained media coverage:

Awards

2010 Guthman award for new musical instruments

Frost and Sullivan's 2015 Innovation Award

BeBop Sensors Named a "Cool Vendor" by Gartner, Inc.

Patents

McMillen is the inventor on the following patents:

US Patent No. 9,183,823: "Pickup and sustainer for stringed instruments"

US Patent No. 9,076,419: Multi-touch pad controller

US Patent No. 9,075,404: Foot-operated controller

US Patent No. D706,230: Musical controller

US Patent No. 8,680,390: Foot-operated controller

US Patent No. 8,581,106: Computer interface for polyphonic stringed instruments

US Patent No. D680,502: Musical controller

US Patent No. D660,808: Foot-operated controller

US Patent No. 8,084,678: Sensor bow for stringed instruments

US Patent No. 7,433,462: Techniques for improving telephone audio quality

US Patent No. D525,231: Personal conferencing node

US Patent No. 5,757,941 Audio signal patching mixer and method

US Patent No. 5,483,535 Communications network interface, and adapter and method therefor

US Patent No. 4,922,754 Acoustic emission transducer and mounting adapter for monitoring metalcutting tools