Our Mission & Story

At Yaeltex, we believe your creative tools should be an extension of your artistic identity. We are a collective of musicians, engineers, and designers united by a single, passionate purpose: to craft durable, beautiful, and deeply personal MIDI controllers that empower artists to connect seamlessly with their work.

Our Philosophy: Technology That Adapts to You

Our mission is born from a simple yet powerful conviction: technology should adapt to you, not the other way around. This principle is the heartbeat of everything we do.

• Bespoke by Design: We specialize in unique, plug-and-play hardware designed by our users. Your controller should feel like it was made just for you—because it was.
• Freedom and Productivity: We aim to expand your artistic freedom by providing a tool that removes friction and enhances your productivity in the digital realm.
• Built for a Lifetime: We design against obsolescence. Your Yaeltex controller is a robust, repairable, and upgradable instrument meant to be a long-term creative partner.

The Yaeltex Journey: From a Patagonian Hobby to a Global Studio

The Spark (2009)

Our story began not in a boardroom, but in a grandmother's house in Patagonia. That year, the very first custom controller, "La Sensible," was born—and it still works today. Co-founders Ale (a film student) and Mat (a sound engineering student) were inspired when Ale returned from Berlin with a pre-Arduino processor. This simple chip sparked the creation of La Sensible and planted the seeds for what would become Yaeltex, a name already in use for their ambient band's custom gear.

Building the Foundation

The initial designs and prototypes for the Kilomux—our core controller brain—began to emerge, built on open-source software and the power of Arduino. The team grew as Sano joined to significantly advance the Kilomux development. Soon, we launched our first website, selling DIY MIDI kits and components with PCBs we made ourselves.

Learning from the Community

A pivotal moment arrived with our first 100 custom controllers. These were designed not through a web app, but through personal emails, detailed briefs, and shared-screen video calls. This process provided priceless R&D. We were directly tapping into the needs and pain points of real-world artists, learning and evolving with every single build.

The V2 Revolution: The Factory is Born

The lessons learned from that first community of users paved the way for Yaeltex V2—a complete overhaul of our hardware, software, and production system. This new framework coalesced into The Factory, our intuitive online customization app that puts the power of design directly in your hands. Alongside it, we launched innovative new components like our compact Mini Elements and the Live15 controller for Ableton Live, which quickly became a user favorite.

In the Hands of Artists

Today, we are humbled and proud that over 500 custom Yaeltex controllers have been shipped worldwide, becoming integral to the setups of inspiring artists such as Richie Hawtin, The Chemical Brothers, Rosalia, Satori, Jacques, The Blaze, Thylacine, and Duki.

The Next Chapter: Yaeltex V3 and Beyond

Our journey is one of constant evolution. We are now in the era of Yaeltex V3, a major update that brings even more power and possibility to your fingertips. This new generation includes a redesigned Kilomux with expanded capacity, modern connectivity like dual USB-C ports, exciting new elements like full-color displays, and a fully re-engineered Kilowhat configuration tool to match the new system's power.

The People Behind the Tech

Yaeltex is more than a brand; it’s a tight-knit team of childhood friends from Bariloche, Patagonia, who have been building and innovating together for 15 years.

Our core team includes:

• Alejo F. Yael: Co-founder & Powerful Jedi Master
• Mateo Ferley Yael: Co-founder & Undercover Director of Translations
• Franco Grassano: Co-founder & Director of Moving Electrons
• Franco Zaccra: Electronic Engineer
• Joaquin Arregui Caviglia: Industrial Design, Digital Manufacturing
• Juan Correa: Production Team
• Rocio Custmano: Social Media and Press
• Axi: Audiovisual Content
• And Kiki, our beloved furry therapist!

Our Manifesto: The Principles That Guide Us

Our work is guided by a core set of beliefs that we call our manifesto: Learn. Build. Share. Repeat.

• Tools Shape Creation: We know the instruments we use define the boundaries of our art.
• Empowering Prosumers: We strive for more people to become active creators of technology, not just passive consumers.
• Human-Centered Technology: We champion technology that adapts to humans, celebrating individuality and diverse workflows.
• Community and Shared Knowledge: We believe tools are enhanced collectively when knowledge is shared.
• Sustainable Production: We promote on-demand manufacturing and reparability to minimize environmental impact.
• Durability by Design: We choose robust materials so that your hardware can last a lifetime.
• Disobedient Technology: We defend the creation of specialized, low-scale technology that challenges mass-produced norms.
• Investing in the Future: We are committed to open systems, human-centered design, and sustainable innovation.

At Yaeltex, we're more than just a company; we're a community dedicated to helping you build the interface of your dreams. We're excited to see what you'll create.

Updated on: 26/07/2025