True Cuckoo Unleashes the Erae 2: A Controller as Wild as a Roo on Red Bull

Right from the get-go, True Cuckoo makes it clear: the Erae 2 isn’t just another controller you’ll forget in your gig bag. This beast lets you whip up custom pixel-art layouts, with buttons, faders, and keys all arranged to your liking. It’s like building your own musical outback, where every patch is a new adventure. Swapping between layouts is as quick as a kangaroo hop, and you can loop your actions for even more mayhem.

The hardware’s built tough, with a rubber silicone pad that’s stiffer than a cold Melbourne morning. There’s even a softer skin for those who like their touch extra gooey—perfect for MPE noodling but maybe not for drumstick abuse. Swapping skins is a breeze, and the whole thing feels sturdy enough to survive a dust storm or a rogue beer spill. With a stack of ports on the back—USB, MIDI, and CV—the Erae 2 is ready to control just about anything you can throw at it.

The Erae 2’s surface is as responsive as a magpie in nesting season. Whether you’re finger drumming, swiping, or going full MPE, it keeps up with every move. Cuckoo shows how the harder skin is a champ for percussive playing, while the softer one’s a dream for expressive finger work. You can even bash it with drumsticks if you’re feeling brave—just don’t try that on the soft skin unless you want a sticky mess.

With ultra-low latency and the ability to record your gestures for looping, this controller is a playground for both precision and chaos. It’s the sort of versatility that’ll have you grinning like you just found a $50 note at the pub.

If you thought the Erae 2 was just for MIDI, think again, mate. This thing’s got more ports than a Sydney ferry terminal. True Cuckoo dives into connecting it with everything from Elektron’s Digitakt 2 to Eurorack modules like ALM Akemie’s Taiko and QuBit Chord v2. With 12 stereo CV outputs (that’s 24 channels if you’re counting), you can trigger, modulate, and mangle just about anything in your studio or live rig.

Setting up MIDI channels, velocity curves, and custom routings is a breeze, and the controller’s flexibility means you can cook up layouts for drums, synths, or wild modular patches. Cuckoo’s patching antics get deep—so deep you’ll want to watch the video to catch all the clever tricks and see the Erae 2 wrangle both MIDI and CV gear in real time.

Throughout the tutorial, True Cuckoo doesn’t just talk the talk—he walks the walk, showing off the Erae 2’s chops in a stack of real-world scenarios. From finger-drumming on the Digitakt 2 to sending CV to Akemie’s Taiko and QuBit Chord v2, every demo is packed with playful experimentation. You’ll see layouts built for breakbeats, basslines, and even wild FM drums, all controlled with a flick, tap, or swipe.

But here’s the kicker: the real magic is in the details—how Cuckoo tweaks velocity curves, sets up faders for delay feedback, or syncs the whole rig to external MIDI clock. It’s the kind of hands-on nerdery that’s best experienced live, so do yourself a favour and watch the video for the full sensory overload. This controller’s as inspiring as a sunrise over the bush, and Cuckoo’s deep dive will have you itching to patch up your own chaos rig.