TourBox Elite Controller – Now with Bluetooth and Haptic Feedback

Accessories

by Olaf von VossDecember 1^st, 2021

If you work a lot with so-called creative apps, the classic mouse/keyboard approach of telling the computer what to do may sometimes just not cut it. A dedicated controller for a specific app is much more intuitive and makes your workflow more productive as a result. The TourBox Elite is one such device, but it’s app-agnostic and now comes with Bluetooth and haptic feedback, so let’s take a look!

Last year I tested the TourBox 2020 and I must say that I really liked it (and still like it). It offers so much freedom because you can use it the way you want. Left handed, right handed, the choice is yours! You can customize it to best fit your workflow, and since it’s pretty small, you can carry it in your bag and use it anywhere. It really is a pretty unique piece of gear.

TourBox Elite

The company behind it launched the original Tourbox via Kickstarter, so they decided to use that platform once again with the launch of their latest TourBox Elite controller. Watch the launch video below:

At first glance, you don’t notice many differences, except that the TourBox Elite is available in a smoked-black translucent “Special Edition”, in “Ivory White” or in “Classic Black”. But one thing is missing here: the once obligatory USB cable.

The new Elite version sports Bluetooth LE 5.1 dual-channel connectivity, so you can not only cut the cord, but also pair with two devices at once, for example, to easily and seamlessly switch between a laptop and a desktop computer. Of course, you can still use a USB-C cable if you want.

Also added is the newly implemented haptics engine, which gives you haptic feedback on some of the controls (Knob and Dial/Scroll). The haptic feedback is available in 2 strengths or you can disable it completely.

Another new feature is the so-called TourMenu, a software plug-in that you can install on your computer. TourBox Elite can now trigger an overlay menu to quickly access existing settings and change them right there, without having to open the TourBox app itself.

Specifications of the TourBox Elite

• Dimension: 116 X 101 X 44mm
• Weigh: 376g  (without batteries); batteries weigh 48g
• Outer Material: ABS
• Button Material: PC
• Dial  & Wheel Material: PC & TPU Double Injection Molding
• Surface Material (Translucent): No Extra Coating
• Surface Material (Black & White): UV Anti-fingerprint Coating
• Connection: Dual-Channel BLE5.1 & USB Type-C Cable
• Motor: Linear Motor
• Processor: Low Energy Consumption
• Power Supply: Wired: 5V DC, 50mA;  Wireless: 3V DC, 50mA
• Operating Systems: macOS 10.10 or higher/Windows 7 or higher
• Battery life: For now, the prototype already has 2 months of battery life to meet your editing needs with superior reliability. And we will keep optimizing it before mass production. When the TourBox Elite is low on power, a pop-up window as an alert would prevent you from power outage.

Pricing and timeline

Since this is a Kickstarter campaign the price depends on the tier you want to support: The Super-Early Bird tier (there are still a few spots available at the time of this writing) costs $178, which is about 35% of the future retail price of $268.

Please be aware that this is a crowdfunding project and not a retail shop, so do your research accordingly. CineD does its best to only share projects that look legitimate, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

Link: Kickstarter

What do you think? Do you have any experiences with the original TourBox or other control surfaces? Share your experiences in the comments below!