Shantea Controls home

Build new ways
to interact.
Without writing
firmware.

Use movement, touch, distance, and light to control sound and visuals. OpenDeck connects sensors and physical controls to your software, configured from your browser.

Open the configurator ↗Commission a custom build →
From physical inputs to MIDI, OSC, and physical outputs Buttons, encoders, potentiometers, force-sensitive resistors, sensors and touchscreens connect to OpenDeck. Depending on the board, it communicates over USB MIDI, DIN MIDI, BLE MIDI or Ethernet OSC, and controls LEDs and relays through suitable output hardware. Buttons Encoders Pots · FSRs ToF · IMU Touchscreens USB MIDI DIN MIDI BLE MIDI OSC · Ethernet LEDs Relays OpenDeck Zephyr RTOS
See the configurator in action →
Open sourceAPACHE 2.0 LICENSE
Your boardOFF THE SHELF OR CUSTOM ONE
Browser configuredNO FIRMWARE CODING
MIDI + OSCUSB · DIN · BLE · ETHERNET*

*Connections and supported components depend on your board.

From DJ controllers to
interactive installations.

MIDI controllers

DAW surfaces, DJ controllers, and synth interfaces. USB, DIN, or BLE MIDI on supported boards. High-resolution control, presets, and displays.

Explore MIDI features

OSC & sensor nodes

Send distance, gesture, touch, and orientation data over Ethernet to your visuals or show-control software. Discover devices with mDNS.

Explore OSC features

Build on the platform

Hardware-independent firmware built on Zephyr RTOS. Add a custom board variant, extend the source, or shape OpenDeck around your own device.

Create your custom board

Built for you

Have an idea but need help bringing it to life? Talk to Shantea Controls about a custom build for your studio, stage, or project.

Custom work →

Control with movement,
touch, and light.

Build an instrument you play without touching, visuals that follow your movement, or a scene that responds to light. Configure the sensor in OpenDeck, stream its data over Ethernet OSC, and shape the response in the software of your choice, including Processing, TouchDesigner, QLab, and many more.

Ambient Light Theater demo showing the physical sensor beside a responsive virtual room

APDS-9960 · Ambient light

Light becomes part of the scene.

Cover or expose the sensor to dim and brighten a virtual room, open its blinds, and change the motion of floating dust.

Try this example ↗

Proximity Bloom demo showing a hand-controlled glowing flower

APDS-9960 · Proximity

Make visuals respond to presence.

Move a hand toward the sensor to grow a glowing bloom, brighten its core, and energize the particles around it.

Try this example ↗

Orientation Cube demo showing the sensor hardware and a colorful cube following its rotation

BNO085 · Orientation

Turn movement into a controller.

Rotate and tilt the sensor to steer a 3D cube. Orientation data connects physical movement to the scene on screen.

Try this example ↗

Time-of-flight demo showing a hand above the sensor and its shape rendered as a 3D point cloud

VL53L5CX · Depth sensing

Explore interaction in three dimensions.

Move your hand above an 8×8 distance sensor and see its shape as a live point cloud. Use the same depth data for position, presence, or touchless instruments.

Try this example ↗

These demos use an Ethernet-capable board with a supported sensor. The Processing sketches run on your computer. Sensor wiring and configuration ↗

Explore all 17 Processing examples

APDS-9960 · Light, proximity & gestures

BNO085 · Motion & orientation

CAP1188 · Capacitive touch

VL53L4CX · Distance

VL53L5CX · Depth & presence

Pick a board. Make it your own.

  1. 01

    Choose your hardware

    Pick the connections and I/O you need, then follow your board’s wiring guide for buttons, encoders, pots, LEDs, or sensors.

  2. 02

    Install OpenDeck

    Flash a supported development board, or start with an official OpenDeck board. Installation and update options depend on the target.

  3. 03

    Configure in the browser

    Set mappings and device behavior, then connect to your music, visuals, or control software. No firmware coding required.

Compare all supported hardware ↗

Built with OpenDeck

DubFocus 16

A custom OpenDeck-powered controller designed by Shantea Controls especially with dub producers in mind. 16 channels, high quality ALPS pots and faders, 32 Omron buttons with integrated red LEDs and USB-C connection. Contact for details on pricing and availability.

Ask about pricing & availabilityWatch the Alpha Steppa demo ↗

Testimonials

“(...) the most affordable and flexible platform for building your own custom MIDI controllers.”
Liam Lacey
“The new interface is a triumph of usability and makes configuring controllers very easy indeed. In my opinion, this is the best MIDI controller available.”
Steve
“It's the pointy, finished and perfect board for all your DIY MIDI”
Manuel
“OpenDeck makes me excited for MIDI controllers like never before. It takes just a few MINUTES to get up and running with OpenDeck! It's literally plug and PLAY!”
Ben Garland
“OpenDeck is the future of DIY MIDI controller builds. Hands down”
Scott Koopmann
“I'm just blown away with how amazing this is. The web interface is super simple and really smooth to use.”
David Dyball
“Literally the greatest product related to MIDI controls I have ever seen”
Barry Limestone
“wow it works right out of the box, impressive”
Andrey
“The OpenDeck platform has been the easiest and most stable board I have used to make a custom midi controller.”
ckett
Close-up of DubFocus 16 faders, knobs and illuminated buttons

Need it built for you?

Bring your idea for a physical interface to Shantea Controls. From studio controls to performance instruments, the design starts with how you want to use it.

  • Custom MIDI controllers
  • Hands-on control surfaces
  • Project-specific layouts
  • OpenDeck-based builds
Tell me about your project

Need technical help? Join the discussion ↗