Tenori-On video on YouTube


Awakened Yeti writes: "Hey man here is a 5 minute video of the Tenori-On in action, being demonstrated by the creator, Mr. Iwai - and as you can see its pretty freaking impressive... I've lusted after one of these things since I first heard about them on your site last year or so... It definitely looks like more than just a toy, however its still probably a longshot for this thing to actually make it to market... one can only hope." (First time I've posted an embedded YouTube clip. Let me know if it works OK.)


Comments:
Video works well for me!
 
That thing looks really hard to use, would probably be like learning a new instrument! I don't have that kinda time! I already did that!
 
The clip worked fine for me on a PowerBook running OS X 10.4.5.
 
I'm calling bullshit on this one...

apart form the 'ooh look at the pretty lights' aspects (which is pretty cool) it seems like it does nothing but offer a distracting way to set some sequence going and play some notes... well so what? It's like i'm concentrating so much on looking at all the lights that I almost forgot to use my ears.
 
it does seem like a toy. an anything sounds pretty good kind of toy.
 
I, for one, like all the recent controller-looking devices that use visual feedback.
 
brian said:
It's like i'm concentrating so much on looking at all the lights that I almost forgot to use my ears.

heh heh thats one funny comment brian!
so i presume you dont use a computer for your music? i mean shit, computers are just FULL of distracting lights & stuff, how ever could you concentrate on music??? me, i have a brain that cope with using my ears AND my eyes at the same time - its amazing i know but I think with that respect I am in the majority...

anwyay i'm just calling bullshit on your call of bullshit ;) i prefer to reserve judgement until i get to play on one... in the meantime it looks VERY intriging & if it does make it to market I hope it has wireless MIDI & a controller template for ableton LIVE - that grid of lights reminds me an awful lot of ableton's session view!?!
 
Looks really neat to me.
 
I had the opportunity to play around with one of these at LA's Siggraph convention last year. Not only do these machines have those pretty lights (and squishy buttons - it's kinda like popping bubble wrap) but the lights come in different colors. Besides the white lights in the video here, I also recall some sweet orange lights.

I messed with its sequencing features for a couple minutes and the best I can liken it to is making a melody in Reason by clicking those little read rectangles instead of using a midi controller. The interface isn't as awful as it looks; while I wasn't exactly dropping beats like on a drum machine, I did manage to make a little ditty.

Unfortunately, I did not notice any midi outs (but I could be wrong about this) so one would be limited to the cheesy built-in sounds which, while fun to play with, are probably not good for much more than just that around. I suppose it might serve as a decent portable sketchpad if you are inspired but don't have access to a sequencer.
 
Looks a lot like Elektroplankton on DS.
 
Hi Tom,

For me the clip worked real well.

I saw Iwai's products -- including Elektroplankton, by the way -- at Transmediale last fall. I, too, fell in love with them. I mentioned them in my review for Computer Music Journal and only wish I had had my blog (or yours, for that matter!) at the time so I could have made reference to it. Hope you've had fun at the Musikmesse and look forward to your remarks.
Losangelino
 
p.s., sorry, I meant saw them at the ars electronica in linz, not at transmediale. LA
 
I see that alot of people don't understand the point of the Tenori-on. It's not made to replace all of those piano lessons that you had to learn when you were a kid which still does not mean you know how to play at all anyways, its made to be somthing new. Don't get me wrong, IT IS A TOY - it's just a new toy... the 303 is a toy and look at how well it has done... I really don't think that the Tenori-On was made to replace anything, it was made to add somthing fun and new to the table.
If you want to say that this thing is bull go ahead- you can keep working on your "musical skills" at home with your parents.
 
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