Soundwave Transformer gets MP3 player upgrade

As some sort of sick consolation prize for not getting to appear in the new Transformers movie, Soundwave has had his cassette tape guts ripped out and replaced with a cold, MP3 playing heart. For around $100 depending on the edition and shipping, you can purchase Takara/Tomy's Soundwave MP3 player. Instead of taking clunky tapes, the Soundwave MP3 player has a slot for SD cards, along with the usual headphone jack and music controls. And yes, it does do the whole transforming bit: there wouldn't be much point otherwise, donchafink?

[Via Dosboy]

[Kevinleemonster @ Jul 15th 2007 11:20AM]

My son would love it. The movie was way better than I thought. Tough though, if I can't sync it to his iTunes. I think I would still get it for him, I guess I can do some extra work and be one of those daddy's that more than meets the eye.

[melloncollie @ Jul 15th 2007 11:52AM]

Oh wow, kudos to you.
I hate to say it, but I laughed out loud.

[Big @ Jul 15th 2007 12:45PM]

You're right, the movie was pretty good.
This toy is pretty cool to. I'm not certain why Transformers are making such a comeback but I'm anxious to get my hands on Galvatron and Dreadwing.

[XavierAlucard @ Jul 16th 2007 2:43PM]

I believe hlj.com and action-hq.com are still taking orders. I have two pre-ordered with HLJ and I have the Frenzy/Rumble earbuds pre-ordered too. :) Good times to be an adult kid.

[M. Dizzy @ Jul 15th 2007 11:30AM]

Soundwave was in the movie...he was the boombox that hacked into the NSA database.

[Reid Sorenson @ Jul 15th 2007 11:38AM]

Yeah, and instead of shooting tapes out of his chest, he launched CDs. Did you guys even watch the movie?

[Maneki Neko @ Jul 15th 2007 12:00PM]

If that was Soundwave, he's pretty different from back in the day. He was a pretty big guy in the original. That thing that hacked the NSA struck me more as a minion that Soundwave would shoot out of his chest. Of course, who knows, they played pretty fast and loose with the transformers anyways.

[Scott @ Jul 15th 2007 12:05PM]

Actually you are wrong. The little guy was "Frenzy" not Soundwave. He's listed as Frenzy in both the movie credits and on IMDB.com They've actually talked Soundwave being in the next transformers movie.

[scorp508 @ Jul 15th 2007 1:11PM]

That was not Soundwave, that was Frenzy. Frenzy actually is one of Soundwave's cassette buddies in the original cartoons along with Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble, Buzzsaw, and Ratbat. In the G1 cartoons Frenzy is more humanoid than whatever the heck you want to call him in this movie.

Soundwave was not in this movie because Michael Bay did not want any "mass-shifting" transformers. He felt it would cheapen up the movie to have something the size of a cassette deck transform into one of the biggest decepticons. This is just one of the reasons Megatron didn't turn into the normal generation one Walther P38. It is also the reason why Optimus Prime was a Peterbilt and not his original cab-over truck design. Bay wanted Prime to be the biggest Autobot and there were no big enough cab-over trucks to make him bigger than the other Autobots; thus the Peterbilt.

What irritated me was all of this was known before the movie, and then that damn Allspark cube shrunk from building size into a cute little 6" block.

What the hell, Bay, then why no Soundwave!? I'll take the shifting Allspark and the existance of Frenzy as hope that Soundwave is not dead and may appear in the next film. Maybe he'll be (like usual) ratting out Starscream for trying to take over Megatron's leadership position or something.

[Rockmsockm @ Jul 15th 2007 4:01PM]

Actually, Reid, you're a smug dolt. YOU'RE the one who "didn't watch the movie." That was NOT Soundwave--nor did it have anything to do with the Soundwave character. It's even CLEARLY STATED in the movie several times that it's "Frenzy." Even people who have no clue what a "Transformer" is before this film would know that from looking at the film.

Next time you're unsure about your facts, try not to talk down to the rest of us. When you do that, and you're WRONG, you'll be singled out and insulted, instead of merely corrected.

[Doug @ Jul 15th 2007 4:29PM]

Scorp, you are right on with your comments!

My feeling is that it was easier to "explain away" a somewhat "mystical" cube that basically folds in on itself (Instead of technically "mass shifting"). Know what I mean?

Though I don't agree with it 100% (I LOVED Soundwave!) I have to somewhat agree with Bay that it might have been a little strange in a live action film.

That being said, I have a good feeling you'll see Soundwave in the second film. I was reading somewhere online where a great idea would be some sort of large surveillance vehicle (?) Why not? As long as I hear that signature voice, it should be cool lol.

[bossmsx @ Jul 15th 2007 11:31AM]

ZOMG!!! Now when do they release the boombox (think it was Soundblaster, no?) MP3 player? I had them BOTH.

[dani @ Aug 24th 2007 11:22AM]

I already have the soundwave MP3 player, its pritty good, but you would want to be gentle with it its not really suitble for young children. i bought mine off the internet cant remember the exact site though. good to have one, although the instructions for it arnt in english so im still trying to sort out the mp3 player part.

Still waiting for tomy to release a "blaster" MP3.. now that would be cool

[Forrest @ Jul 15th 2007 11:30AM]

I can understand why he wasn't in the movie.... kids would have been confused by those giant plastic things flying out of his chest :(

[imental @ Jul 15th 2007 11:51AM]

Yes! About time - Decepticons, Attack!

[melloncollie @ Jul 15th 2007 11:51AM]

Oh wow, kudos to you.
I hate to say it, but I laughed out loud.

[Mike @ Jul 15th 2007 12:04PM]

Bossmsx

Yeah I watched the movie....twice so far.

That actually was not Soundwave in the movie. That was a character named Frenzy.

They wanted to put Soundwave in the movie but they didn't want a 20 foot robot turning into a small boombox so they changed the character to Soundbyte and then to Frenzy.

This toy/MP3 player does have potential though.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 15th 2007 12:09PM]

"Music Label" Soundwave?

What does he do, attack college students via the legal system?
Is he endorsed by the RIAA or something?

Just wonderin' is all.

[Darwin @ Jul 15th 2007 8:33PM]

I didn't see what was so funny in the original article until I read this comment. THIS is funny.

[Gabe McGuinness @ Jul 15th 2007 12:41PM]

I think he'll get over it... eventually:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TYzRanykbQ

[Will @ Jul 16th 2007 6:09AM]

dude, that shit is HELLA funny, especially when soundwave gets the phone call from starscream.

[Ji Money @ Jul 15th 2007 12:58PM]

What are you talkingabout? He looks like a ninja if anything. He's a robot with a humanoid form like all transformers.

Are you black? If you're not, that comment of yours is a bit offensive.

[Big @ Jul 15th 2007 1:07PM]

whether I'm Black or not, to me SOUNDWAVE looks like a Black guy.

You're not pulling that Don Imus bullshit on me. I can say what I feel like sayin.

[Ji Money @ Jul 15th 2007 1:48PM]

Man, who cares about Imus. He got what he had coming.

Soundwave looks black to you huh? Alright, well he looks like a ninja to me.

[Craig @ Jul 15th 2007 1:27PM]

soundwave was the best... i spent many an hour as a kid listening to footloose and michael jackson on him. and an american tail.

[Kaleigh and Sky @ Jul 15th 2007 1:47PM]

Hahaha, thats amazing :)

[Trace The Hedgehog @ Jul 15th 2007 2:00PM]

Sounds neat!

[tony @ Jul 15th 2007 2:40PM]

I find it interesting they upgraded soundwave but now they will have to figure out how to redesign all his little buddies ravage rumble frenzy lazerbeak and buzzsaw and ratbat who were deguised as cassette tapes to fit in the tape player in his chest.
also I noticed they screwed up in the movie megatron is supposed to transform in to a gun not a starship at least he did when transformers were originally made then he eventually became galvatron who not only transformed in to a gun but could also transform in to a canon

[Rockmsockm @ Jul 16th 2007 1:24AM]

Actually, tony, they really didn't "screw up" in the movie by making that choice for Megatron, but I totally understand you. I loved the old "Megatron-turning-into-a-gun" thing, but I believe the filmmakers discussed some reasons why they chose not to:

1) The filmmakers were wary of how they could explain the shift in size from small gun to large 'bot--something you could get away with in cartoons. Yes, I know the Allspark shifts it's mass, but it's a little easier to depict a "mystical" cube folding in on itself than a "real world" robot. This is one of the reasons they did not depict Soundwave (yet).

2) Since G-1, there have been several anime/cartoon Transformer series, and in each one, Megatron has been "more than" a gun (tank, plane, whatever). Many of the creators of these series probably felt the same way as the filmmakers did.

3) Believe it or not, many states in this country don't allow the sale or purchase of "real looking toy guns" to kids (which, while I understand, still irks me). Megatron transformed in to a modified Walther (I think), and that would probably never get adapted to a toy line and/or SOLD as a toy if it WAS adapted. It sounds like a dumb reason, but it was definitely a contributing factor.

I remember the good old days when you could buy a toy gun and realize you were holding a toy--and knew NEVER to use the real thing--because you had good parents that taught you right from wrong. ;)

[Fett101 @ Jul 15th 2007 6:08PM]

You're sure you know why toy guns can no longer look real? It's so police officers don't think the kid down the street has a real gun and shoot him (as recently happened in West Memphis). Has nothing to do with teaching kids right and wrong.

[Doug @ Jul 15th 2007 7:16PM]

Actually, Fett, it's both reasons--so no need to sound like a pompous ass.

Parents groups were coming out INDEPENDENTLY of police concern for YEARS trying to get toy guys that looked real off the shelves.

Toy guns that looked real were available (without orange tips) until the 1990s, and there has been no statistical proof that there have been any less shootings as a result of NOT selling toy guns that look real.

Rock's point--i believe--was an attempt to address the parent's groups attempts to quash toy guys--NOT the police's reasons. It's just another in a long line of changes in our society spawned by parents who would rather have TV, movies and toy companies raise their children instead of themselves. I think he makes a good point--and he did it in a non-insulting manner.

[Rob @ Jul 15th 2007 7:05PM]

Atually, yea, I agree--that's what I think the "Side point"
was that was being made...
ANyhow, back to normal! lol Megatron ended up being kinda cool anyhow in the pic lol

[shadow shaper @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:43PM]

they didnt make the movie just to copy off thet 80s movie this time it was a diffrent fight and a difrent place oh and evey octomisprime and magatron and so on and so forth arnt the same there difrent models a versions of him everytime theres a new war the old octomusprime gives his matrix to a new one like for example he a sami truck octomis gave his matrix to the other octomis that can transform into a fire truck there never the same the only reason why they know about megatron and the war cause they had to fight them and he downloaded the data tracks from old prime to the new version of octomis prime

[Camperton @ Jul 15th 2007 3:26PM]

Are you high? How, exactly, does that robot look like a "black guy" to you?

[Doug @ Jul 15th 2007 4:08PM]

Well, Big, I don't agree with you--but I have to agree with your right to say it. (Even though I TOTALLY agree that he looks like a Ninja!! :) )

Imus' comments were heinous, but his punishment was unwarranted. CBS/Infinity smelled blood and handled it poorly (Firing him DURING his S.I.D.S./Cancer telethon).

Anyhow, I'm lovin' this new toy! I was always jealous of my friend who had Soundwave as a kid!

[Jared Stander @ Jul 15th 2007 4:10PM]

But does it play Ogg Vorbis!?

[uhsf @ Jul 16th 2007 12:28AM]

Evil Decepticons don't support Ogg Vorbis, only Autobots will play the Free format.

[Doug @ Jul 15th 2007 6:56PM]

Thanks... nice to see *someone* got the side point. Never said someone MIGHT have gotten shot by accident while pointing a toy gun at a cop--that wasn't the angle. The fact is there are groups out there who were against toy guns for pseudo-moral reasons.

(Although I was never stupid enough to even think of walking around with a toy gun that looked real--much less brandish it. Guess my parents taught me that :))

[Doug @ Jul 17th 2007 7:54AM]

oops, rob--wasn't sure who you were responding to! lol!

And Megatron was cool nonetheless :)

[jpmidura_305 @ Jul 16th 2007 10:38AM]

I still have my original :)

[Rboyett @ Jul 16th 2007 9:10AM]

Well Crap

/prepares to spend more money on Transformers

[Dave @ Jul 16th 2007 10:12AM]

The movie was terrible, I tried to go in with a clean slate cause in my mind this was not transformers. I would love to thank mr.bay for ruining something that was great. I watched the show as a kid, they got primes voice, no soundwave, turned down the real voice of megatron. They spent more time on the humans fighting the decepticons.

[Oldewest @ Jul 16th 2007 9:38PM]

Intriguing, isn't it, that even THIS can get people's blood boiling. After reading nonsensical political debate by the unenlightened, this is entirely too close of an approximation.

Why can't we just enjoy our toys???

[Doug @ Jul 17th 2007 8:21AM]

Wow. Way to make your point by insulting people! I guess we're all "unenlightened" and "nonsensical." Thanks for saving us from ourselves.

Neither adjective applies.

[Barricade_x @ Jul 17th 2007 9:04AM]

Couldn't have said it better myself, Doug.

Maybe Olde thought it was "nonsensical" 'cause he couldn't understand it? lol
Last time I checked, "enlightened" people don't talk down to others!

Back on Soundwave: I think someone already said this, but damn if I also wasn't
jealous of a friend who had him! He also had the full Voltron set. lol.

[Seroth @ Jul 16th 2007 6:24PM]

I'd totally consider buying it...if it had a built-in speaker. I dunno. I just think it'd be cool to just have a little Soundwave bursting out your tunes through the toy itself, rather than having to plug in headphones (though that should be an option as well).

[zenxy @ Jul 19th 2007 7:05AM]

i love the transformers movie too.... but i tot this is a Soundwave MP3 discussion and comment... how come now become movie talks.... ahahah.. maybe everyone too exciting on the TF movie.....

So is anyone bought the MP3 and try b4? how's the sound quality?

[shadow shaper @ Aug 3rd 2007 4:46PM]

they didnt add sound wave to the movie cause wouldnt it ruine the movie if they had every carecture pluss te movie makers said they will add sound wave and a bunch of the other favorite transformers in the next transformers movie whitch is gonna be the transformers movie 2 but i dont remember the name of the secound transformers movie and that sound wave was made to anor the apple ipod compny they also made a octimus prime with a ipod speakers trailer and rumbel and frenzy transformers headphones all of these transformers i just named were to celebrate something about ipods i cant qite remember why but all this is old news that you should of learned from the year 1999 and if you found out this stuff in that year congrats

[Doug @ Aug 7th 2007 1:52AM]

Dear God. Please make shadow stop.