Description
Kraftor Performer product specifications
Standalone speech-synthesis instrument: Nexus Old-school voice synthesis with NFC “diskette” loading, USB keyboard entry, and optional MIDI control. No computer is required on stage for the full standalone workflow.
What it does
- Real-time text-to-speech, standalone – Type on a connected USB keyboard and press Enter to speak, or load prewritten lines from an NFC tag and trigger them from the front panel.
- Live performance controls – Pitch and speed are adjustable in real time, including while a phrase is playing. A bank selector and five buttons give 20 sentence slots: 5 buttons across 4 banks. Button presses are ignored while the unit is already speaking for cleaner live behavior.
- NFC as set-list media – Place a tag on the reader. Reads can take up to a few seconds. Line 1 is the title shown on the display; the following lines become the loaded phrases for buttons and MIDI mapping.
- Multiple voices – Select voices with keyboard function keys F1-F10, including voices such as Perfect Paul, Vader, Big Bob, and others. See the user manual for the full list. Voice changes can be issued even while speaking.
Hardware interface, typical stage build
- NFC reader – Top or side placement depending on the enclosure.
- Two potentiometers – Pitch and speed. At power-up, move each knob once so the device learns its position. Loading a new NFC tag does not reset pitch or speed.
- Bank selector – Four positions.
- Five tactile buttons – Sentence triggers across banks.
Configurable build options
Regarding the build, Kraftor Performer can be customized to fit different stages and installation needs:
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- Display – The size and type of display can be chosen to match the application, including a larger display for easier reading during concerts.
- Front-panel controls – The number and type of controls can be configured, including knobs, buttons, bank selectors, and other performance controls depending on the desired workflow.
- Materials and colour – The build can be adapted in terms of materials, finish, and colour.
- Standalone vs. MIDI balance – The instrument can be configured as a more self-contained standalone unit, a more minimal MIDI-controlled unit, or a hybrid of both.
- Display – The size and type of display can be chosen to match the application, including a larger display for easier reading during concerts.
- Front-panel controls – The number and type of controls can be configured, including knobs, buttons, bank selectors, and other performance controls depending on the desired workflow.
- Materials and colour – The build can be adapted in terms of materials, finish, and colour.
- Standalone vs. MIDI balance – The instrument can be configured as a more self-contained standalone unit, a more minimal MIDI-controlled unit, or a hybrid of both.
- Hardware design – The hardware can be built as an evolving modular tile system, inspired by Xavier Garcia at Hackin’Toys and by the reusable, interchangeable design principles of OpenStructures. Controls, labels, display area, blank plates, and utility modules can be arranged around the performer’s workflow, then adapted later for a new stage setup, repair, upgrade, or visual identity.
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