Back in 2001, Alesis looked at the theremin's invisible control paradigm and asked: what if we made that into a standalone sound machine for DJs and bedroom producers? The result was the airSynth, a device that ditched traditional keys entirely in favor of three-dimensional hand gestures floating above an infrared dome.
The airSynth uses an infrared sensing array beneath a perspex dome to detect hand movements across three axes—left-right, forward-back, and up-down—which Alesis branded as the Axyz interface. Each gesture controls multiple parameters simultaneously, letting you sculpt sound through pure physical expression rather than knob-turning or menu-diving. The unit houses 50 preset patches covering synth sounds, percussion sequences, ambient textures, and effects, all accessible via a simple rotary dial with an integrated power switch. Audio connectivity consists of stereo RCA inputs and outputs, allowing you to blend external sources with the airSynth's output or feed it into a mixer, though the nominal operating level sits at -10dBV. The device runs on an external mains adapter and features 24-bit digital converters with a full-range frequency response from 20Hz to 20kHz.
The airSynth earned a reputation as a playful, unpredictable instrument—brash and experimental rather than refined. Its strength lies in live performance and DJ applications where the visual spectacle of waving your hands around the dome becomes part of the show, and the serendipitous sound discoveries keep things fresh. The lack of MIDI connectivity and absence of onboard editing meant it was never positioned as a serious production tool, but that limitation also kept it refreshingly simple and immediate. For anyone seeking a genuinely different way to make noise, the airSynth remains a cult favorite among those who value playfulness over precision.
