Eigenharp Alpha's biggest fan pens 11,000 word guide

Earlier this month, lucky musician Geert unboxed an Eigenharp Alpha for the whole world to see. Now he's jotted down a few thoughts on the 132-key digital instrument... oh hell, let's just call it a primer. Calling out years of musical study as proof he knows what he's talking about, the man delves into enough detail about the mind-blowing multi-instrument machine to teach Eigenharp 101. If you want to know whether dropping £3,995 on the musical creature would be worth your while, you'll find all you need to know at the source link, but be aware the sheer complexity here may serve to daunt some would-be casual learners. If you need to regain your enthusiasm afterwards though, there's no quicker way than watching an Eigenharp jam session -- we recorded one at the company's London HQ, and you'll find it after the break.

[mbg19 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:03PM]

This should be ALT

[Teslanaut Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:22PM]

@mbg19 Anyone got requests?

*Whispers* Play the same song again

Okay!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdJG9hkrUHo

[MojoRising Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:26PM]

@mbg19
I'm thinking that since Engadget Classic did the Eigenharp a while back, it was grandfathered in.

[tekdemon Posted Jun 23rd 2010 12:27AM]

Just FYI for anybody who's wondering, the song is a cover of Extreme Ways by Moby. It kinda sounds like a cover of the Bourne Ultimatum version actually.

[btm231 Posted Jun 23rd 2010 1:22AM]

@mbg19 Why? Looks like a gadget to me...

If anything, I wonder what the purpose of the Mobile section is... most of Engadget is littered with mobile content anyways.

[painfull2006 Posted Jun 23rd 2010 7:04AM]

@mbg19 Engadget, Gadget news, not iphone news, gadget news looks like a gadget to me.

[Colours Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:03PM]

I did not understand a single thing in that post.
Also, isn't this what ALT is for?

[Colours Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:04PM]

@Colours: Guess I got ninja'd. Wish there was an edit button.

[mbg19 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:05PM]

@Colours

lol we posted at the same time

[Teslanaut Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:23PM]

@Colours The comment system needs a lot of things. Painfully.

[Dante of the Inferno Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:05PM]

And yet the manual is still smaller than that of a TI-83 Calculator.

For all the creator's work, hopefully it's a bit more intuitive.

[Wharoll Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:06PM]

I thought it was a gun at first sight

[Ducman69 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:21PM]

@Wharoll Ditto, thought it had a bayonet stuck in the ground, heh.

[Vellie Posted Jun 23rd 2010 12:14AM]

@Wharoll Same here... Thought it was some kind of paintball marker without the Nitrous tanks attached

[Punisher Plum Posted Jun 23rd 2010 2:40AM]

@Vellie

I think that without reading the manual theres no way we can rule out it functioning as a gun aswell.

[huskie fluff Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:07PM]

you recorded this? this things been on youtube for a bit now, how did you record it?

[Redline Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:42PM]

@huskie fluff

Follow the links wise ass.

[huskie fluff Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:10PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_k3wwTIXgk
engadget, infringment whores :/ uploaded to youtube 2009 , yet apperently this guy made it?i think not unless thats his youtube channel.

[FRPk Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:19PM]

i want my iPhone :)

[Kur10uCity Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:19PM]

Makes me wanna watch the Bourne Identity

[Spartan32393 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:23PM]

This is a funny instrument, I thought it was a bedazzled replica rifle

[project109x Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:28PM]

I must have blue balls bad for my new iPhone I can't pick up until Thursday, since there is no way engadget would have a harp story...

[DJMason199 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:29PM]

Holophoner says what?

[MojoRising Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:30PM]

Any chance the Engadget Editors can get these guys to demo/play the Eigenharp at an Engadget show?

[adamorjames Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:38PM]

@MojoRising
I second this.

[smellylettuce Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:35PM]

Looks like an interesting instrument, I'd be inclined myself to get one and learn to use it if I wasn't so constrained by time and money.

[jacquesass Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:35PM]

Does every Eigenharp song sound like it was written by Moby?

[bd Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:38PM]

These guys should play at that cantina on Tatooine.

[CRA1G Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:52PM]

@bd That's exactly what it reminded me of, too.

[darthnazgul Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:55PM]

@bd
Damn, you beat me to it :P

[darthnazgul Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:54PM]

Looks like a Mos Eisley cantina instrument.

[firelinestudios Posted Jun 23rd 2010 12:23AM]

Isn't that the closing theme to all the Thorne movies?

[Mike V Posted Jun 23rd 2010 12:53AM]

I wouldn't been seen dead playing that thing.

[Bhima Posted Jun 23rd 2010 2:19AM]

Wouldn't it just be easier to have a nice Keyboard with Garraton's instrument set? Would probably be cheaper and you could do the same thing, but instead of trying to hit Droid-sized keys to play notes, you could hit piano keys.

[JRKScope Posted Jun 23rd 2010 8:19AM]

I highly approve the song choice (Y)

Seems like an interesting instrument to say the least.

[Zhuzhu Posted Jun 23rd 2010 10:41AM]

Looks like it's designed for taking pot shots at the Chinese (assuming you're in N. America).

[golfnz34me Posted Jun 23rd 2010 2:09PM]

At that price the eigenharp does not sound at all like a good eigenvalue.