Alex Moye creates MOD POD MIDI controller after failing to find standalone pitch wheel

MOD POD, protected by a US patent, offers pitch bend, modulation, filters and automated sustain pedal for music producers

Alex Moye, a Florida-based engineer, developed the MOD POD MIDI controller after searching unsuccessfully for a standalone pitch wheel and finding none available. According to International Business Times, the idea came to Moye while he was working on a song and wanted to use a pitch wheel without having to leave his bed to access his keyboard, which was across the room. Expecting to pay around $100 for such a device, he was surprised to discover that no standalone pitch wheel existed.

“I could not believe something that was seemingly so simple and obvious didn’t exist,” Moye said. This realisation led him to create the MOD POD, which he describes as a keyboard without the keys. The device is an expressive MIDI controller that handles pitch bend, modulation, filters, EQ, and effects, while the user plays notes on a laptop or keyboard. MOD POD also features an automated sustain pedal with modes that engage and release sustain automatically, allowing both hands to remain free. MIDI in and out ports enable integration with existing studio or stage equipment.

Moye, who was born and raised in Florida and lives in Jacksonville, comes from a family of civil engineers and continues to work at the family firm. He began writing house and electronic music in his late twenties after watching a documentary about Avicii, and the idea for MOD POD emerged after years of producing music. The night he conceived the device came after his 200th or 300th song idea.

Having learned about patents in college—after discovering a previous idea was already patented—Moye immediately began the patent process for MOD POD. He contacted a patent attorney the day after his initial search and spent four years navigating the examination process, which involved waiting for a reviewer and explaining to examiners why MOD POD was novel. During this period, he returned to his engineering job and taught himself enough electronics to build a working prototype, despite its rough appearance.

The US Patent and Trademark Office granted the design patent for MOD POD in February 2025. About a month later, knockoff versions began appearing online. Moye noted that if these had surfaced earlier, they could have jeopardised his patent application by being cited as prior art. “Had I waited even a month to start that process, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this,” he said.

Following the patent grant, Moye shifted his focus from music production to developing the hardware. “I never planned to be a music hardware developer,” he said. “I just found a need and I went after it.” He dedicated his weekends to research and building the company, pausing his songwriting efforts to focus on bringing MOD POD to market.

Source: https://www.ibtimes.com/florida-engineer-mod-pod-midi-controller-3809432