R1C1 — Generative MIDI Controller by Spreadsheets Labs

Spreadsheets Labs

The R1C1

Generative MIDI Controller

"Outsource your music theory.
Calculate your sound."

A boutique, standalone MIDI controller that treats complex music theory like spreadsheet data. Map lush jazz chords, neo-soul voicings, and exotic scales to a 16-key mechanical grid — and dynamically expand your harmonies using the physical Spreader fader. High-end corporate leisure for your DAW.

BRAIN Dual-core RP2040 · zero-latency

KEYS 16× hot-swap mechanical + NeoPixel RGB

FADER 100mm smooth-glide potentiometer

DISPLAY 128×32 monochrome OLED

CONNECT USB-C + TX/RX UART MIDI · plug & play

SCALES 13 included · Major → Hirajoshi

VOICINGS 10 modes incl. So What + Spreadsheets

$249 USD → buy now

KEY FEATURES

The Spreader Fader

A physical 100mm slider that controls harmonic density in real-time. Push it up and instantly layer 7ths, 9ths, and vast octave extensions onto whatever chord you're holding. Pull it back for clean triads.

Intelligent RGB Feedback

The 16-key grid is color-coded by chord quality in real-time. Gold = Major. Cyan = Minor. Red = Diminished. Pink = 7ths. See the emotional map of your entire progression before you press a single key.

The Flight Deck Display

A crisp 128×32 OLED shows your current settings at idle. Strike any key and it instantly flashes the active chord name — C Maj7, F# Min9, Bb Dom13 — so you always know exactly where you are.

Built-in Strum Engine

Emulate guitar strums or loose human timing with 3 adjustable speeds. Adds instant groove and realism to your MIDI data without ever touching a DAW.

Dual MIDI Outputs

USB-C for Ableton, Logic, or FL Studio. TX/RX UART for controlling vintage hardware synths directly. Class-compliant — no drivers needed on Mac, Windows, or iOS. Plug in. Play.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX

1× R1C1 Generative MIDI Controller
1× Braided USB-C to USB-A Cable (Beige)
1× "Spreadsheets Labs" Asset Tag Sticker
1× Quick Start Manual (heavyweight cardstock)

C — FAQ

Do I need to know music theory to use this? +

Not at all. That is the entire point of the R1C1. Pick a key (like C) and a mood (like Minor), and every button on the grid becomes a perfectly in-tune chord. No theory required — just ears.

Does it produce its own sound? +

The R1C1 is a MIDI controller. It generates MIDI data — the sheet music — to trigger the software instruments in your DAW (Serum, Omnisphere, Logic's stock synths) or your external hardware synthesizers. No built-in speakers or synth engine.

Can I change octaves? +

Yes. Hold the Shift Key (bottom left) and turn the rotary encoder to instantly shift up or down 3 octaves. The OLED display confirms your new register immediately.

Is the firmware upgradable? +

Yes. The R1C1 mounts as a USB flash drive when you hold the Boot button on startup. Updating firmware is as simple as dragging a single .uf2 file onto the device. No software, no drivers.