Vidami Blue Review – The World’s First Hands-free Bluetooth Video Controller

Vidami Blue Review…

I have a soft spot for products that enhance or improve upon the performance or usability of other great products, and this goes double for music production, practice and performance tools.   How often have you needed to learn a passage or riff off YouTube, only to have to fumble with the mouse to rewind, find the right spot, play it again, rinse and repeat?  Wouldn’t you like to be able to control the YouTube player with your feet, to be able to set loops quickly and easily for sections to repeat, and even slowing tempo down, at correct pitch, down to half and quarter speed?  Wouldn’t it be cool if the same foot controller acted like a controller for your favorite DAW platforms, letting you record, overdub, listen, etc. with hands-free control?  And hey, while we’re at it, let’s make it a page-turner/lyric scroller for some of the most common chart/lyric apps and websites.  And to top it off, let’s make it wireless via Bluetooth, and able to work with all the common PC and iOS platforms. Well, meet Vidami Blue, the world’s first hands-free Bluetooth video controller. The original Vidami was a wired foot controller designed specifically as a video tool. The “Blue” is their new wireless version of the Vidami pedal, adding DAW and page-turner app functionality. 

I had a lot of questions about Vidami.  What programs does it work with?  How easy is it to integrate?  Is it glitchy?  What are its limitations?  I’m happy to report that in my case, having used it with Apple OS and iOS, performance is essentially seamless.  Downloading the Vidami App and Chrome extension made implementation a breeze, and the unit synced with my devices without any effort. An LED indicator tells you whether you are synced, and another indicates internal battery life, which is rechargeable via the included USB cable. 

As for which platforms it will work with, let’s break it down into its 3 modes:  In Video Control mode, Vidami is compatible with too many websites to list, but the biggies for my purposes are YouTube, Scott’s Bass Lessons and Masterclass.  A full list is available here.  In DAW mode, the Vidami allows you to record, set markers, loop and add tracks with programs like GarageBand, Logic Pro, Reaper, Pro Tools, Studio One, Cubase & Ableton Live. In Page Turner mode, Vidami plays nicely with OnSong, FourScore, Sheet Music Plus, Acrobat PDF and more.   Clearly, Vidami has put a lot of time into its cross-program usability, making a cool product infinitely more appealing, as it not only allows for these three great functions but works with some of the biggest platforms within each arena. 

Vidami’s website is chock full of great info on how to implement the product in each mode, and offers well thought out manuals, instructions and video demos.  My only gripe is that I wish it worked with some of the more popular streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, since so much of my focus is on the Vidami’s function as a practice tool.  However, I’m no developer, and can imagine there are hurdles around integration and compatibility that are above my pay grade.  Truth be told, these days, most anything I want to learn or listen to exists somewhere on YouTube anyways.  Even just as a YouTube practice tool, the Vidami Blue is an exceptionally helpful device, allowing you to keep your hands where they belong, while managing all the necessary functions with your toes, and adding effortless looping for repeating sections.  

Overall, the Vidami Blue is an outstanding tool, especially if you use it for more than one of its intended functions, as a video tool, a DAW controller or a page turner.  Heavy-duty switches and a robust metal casing feel very sturdy and high quality, and the software seems pretty glitch-free. Vidami is a family business, and the pedals are made here in the USA.  The Vidami Blue retails for $229, and the original wired Vidami sells for $149.  For more info, check out Vidami online at vidami.com/