Tenori-on

a ‘visible music interface’, or a digital music instrument featuring a 16x16 matrix of LED lights, allowing even non-musicians to play sounds & improvise intuitively. each LED light also functions as a touch-sensitive switch that is capable of emulating related sounds when touched. when users push a switch a short time, a ripple of light & sound spreads out. when a switch is held longer, the light dot & sound will be played repeatedly (looped). several tenori-ons can be wirelessly connected & synchronized.

(via information aesthetics)

I got to play with one of these alongside one of its developers at SIGGRAPH, and of all the emerging technologies on exhibit, it was definitely the most commercial-ready. He asked me how much I thought it should cost, and I said $150 – he nodded and remarked in what seemed liked agreement, but it could have simply been tactful PR. It’s similar to the map feature in a lot of MIDI software like Logic, though obviously geared around live performance instead of straight composition. Their website has a lot more info, and plays sample music in the background to give you an idea of what it can sound like.

LINK [website & music] LINK [Toshio Iwai, designer] LINK [article from SIGGRAPH 2005] LINK [images and more info] (via we make money not art)

Update:

VIDEO [finally, video!]