Yamaha's Tenori-On LED-panel instrument

We've always thought Yamaha was a little, let's say, offbeat. After all, how many companies can boast that they make both pianos and motorcycles (we're still waiting for them to combine the two).? And the company's latest project shows that they've still got a few surprises to offer. The Tenori-On is an instrument that looks like a Lite Brite and sounds like a an old sci-fi computer. You play it by running your fingers over a grid of 256 LEDs, each of which has multiple positions offering different tones. Multiple Tenori-Ons can be networked together, creating Tenori-On orchestras. We doubt this will ever be commercialized, but if it does, we want one for our bike, er, music studio.

[Via Music Thing]

[JEN @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

ever heard of a kaospad? really, what they've done here is nothing new.

[tr @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

the korg kaos pad is nothing like this. does the kaos pad have an array of light-topped buttons that you touch, where each light plays a tone? nope. while it does offer sampling and on-board sounds, the kaos pad is a controller, not really an instrument.

the only thing that is really the same about the kaos pad and the tenori-on is that you use your fingers to operate it. so, i guess the tenori-on and the kaos pad are really nothing new, because pianos have had that function for a long long time.

more info:
http://www.siggraph.org/s2005/main.php?f=conference&p=etech&s=etech29

[Slipstream @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

tr is right, the kaos pad is completely different than this. the use of this one is the next step from korg's idea. i want one, it better be commercialized. i would love to hear an orchestra play this, to be honest.

[evo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

don't you realize? this is actually just a viral marketing campaign for the nintendo revolution controller. ;)

seriously, if you go to the link and click through the grey button at the center of the page, you will be treated to a nice little piece of music ostensibly played on the device.

[Matthew Trentacoste @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

actually, this is an exact copy of something from siggraph's emerging technologies area last year.

http://www.siggraph.org/s2004/conference/etech/lumen.php?=conference

http://www.digital.udk-berlin.de/~jussi/pp1/ (about 80% down)

is actually quite cool. a great abient device to have sitting around doing something to add to the mood of something. i'm sure there are lots of interactive uses too, but the cool factor struck me the most.

[Beefforever @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

they also make tennis rackets, pretty nice ones in fact

[sophie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

So... if somebody wanted to buy one of these things... where might they look?