@LongDriveChamp03 Thanks for the question. I wanted to try improvising in a tuning I hadn’t used before. I dialled up layout 100 in the ‘Serial’ menu. The first arpeggio ascends and descends in alternating octaves of minor 3rds. In this layout the opposite diagonals would have been alternating octaves of major thirds. Then I switched to layout 97: ascending m3-M2-m3-M3 repeating; descending m3-M2-M2-4 repeating. There are 7 different diagonal sequences in this layout; 3 up-left & 4 up-right.
the keyboard shown on this video is mine. It was hand-built by Peter Davies and Jim Wills in the UK. I can assure you it can be a very valuable machine.
I was trying out a new tuning, created by substituting the steps of the chromatic scale with different notes (& octaves). This determines the repeating sequences of notes in the diagonal rows, and the alignment of these rows to produce different sequences of notes in the diagonals crossing the opposite way. Each direction, horizontal, vertical & diagonals left & right at 30 & 60 degrees, has its own sequences, giving a symmetrical lattice. The symmetry makes it intuitive to learn & improvise.
@AlexWerkmeister712 Well, that may be so, or you may find otherwise - but I don’t know the size of your fingers! I’d be interested to know what instrument(s) you play. These key-buttons are the same width as piano keys, and the sides are rounded off into a ‘bun’ shape with a dip in the middle, to avoid knocking the surrounding keys (and also to enable fast runs through rows of keys). The contact footprint is larger than that those of a guitar fretboard.
@AlexWerkmeister712 I’m sorry to hear that. If I had the resources I would build a version with bigger key-buttons. I have many more designs other than this one, but unfortunately no opportunity to take them any further :-( Maybe this will change - no idea how, but, who knows.....
Is this similar to a button accordion layout? (Organized by the table of fifths?) Or something completely different -- and, now I read more comments and I see you answered that.
@Zylstra555 Hello - Thanks for your visit and comment. I just watched your demo of the Allen Organ, interesting - that card system! You might be interested to have a look at my video, 'Hammond Sound with Hidden Animals', where I hooked up a sonome to a Roland VK8 to demonstrate certain intervals, using an organ sound for a change. It was my response to people new to the layout commenting that the 4th wasn't where they expected it should be in relation to the root!
@RapIsDeadly Well, bringing it into existence was the hardest thing I ever did, now the challenge is to keep it off the ‘endangered species’ list! Better get back to work…
OK, I want to make one of these. I have jeweler's skills (sculpture/design mold/cast), my daughter can low-temp solder. HOW do I do this? I know little about electronics, but play guitar in 5 tunings. CAn you tell me where a detailed schematic and parts list might be found, and how to get a pcb specific to this?
What kind of speaker system would work with this? Thanks. Katy
@kystemusicandart Hello Katy, I like your enthusiasm for building a sonome! Unfortunately there’s no parts list as we make all the parts ourselves except pots, knobs, fixings and electronic components. Electronics & software are designed & built by my electronics engineer so they’re not mine to offer. My input is the original concept of the instrument and the timber casings. There is a forum of people trying to build these, I’ll send you a message with the link :-)
@rixclipz Hello... no, the pattern I’m using here is one of 4 ‘Harrmonic Math’ sequences included in the Menu of 100 Serial layouts, as opposed to the Chromatic layouts in the ‘Tunings’ menu of 16 layouts - including Melodic (Harmonic) Table and C & B System Accordion.
interesting instrument, can't say I would be able to play one very well, what with all those little buttons. Great job sir, but I'll stick with a piano/keyboard :)
@TraceofHatred Thanks for your kind comment. Nothing wrong with the piano keyboard, this is just a different instrument. The buttons follow a pattern; once you know the pattern, the quantity of buttons is not an issue. Each button is the width of a piano key, a bigger footprint than, for example, the area available for a finger pressing a guitar string on a fret. Unlike a piano, you don’t have to learn a different pattern for each key change; the sharps and flats are part of the pattern.
@TraceofHatred I wish there was a cheap version too, but there's no large scale manufacturer of the sonome - yet! We build the defintitive version by hand - which is why they can't be cheap, but some apps have copied my instrument, like HexaChrome by Somascape. Thanks for subscribing :-)
@TraceofHatred With this instrument, it's easier to make some cliche music patterns like triads. You can play a triad by only pressing buttons on a triangle. Search for Axis 64 of C thru music, in their site, they show some chord shapes. You gonna be amazed at how easy are some of the hardest chors for piano.
Good God! You need to put CCTV in your studio and see if your Chameleon escapes at night to look for insects! It's definitely been kidnapped by the Matrixsynthosaurus, cloned and returned unseen! Check the serial number...
*Transpose: Transposes selected zone(s). Choices are: -12 to +12
*Note: It is possible, using Octave, Transpose & Tunings, to set the opal to play out of MIDI range. In this case, keys set above or below the limits of MIDI send no data.
I see :) But what I actually meant was - sorry for using the wrong term - If I picked a C, and then moved my finger to the top left from C, what note would my finger be on? What about top right?
I see what you mean, THIS layout! I don't have a diagram for this one. I'll ask Jim about it tomorrow; he came up with this one and added it to the tunings menu! I don't have an Opal to work it out from right now. Thanks for asking about it :-)
Yes, several. One request, one by volunteer, and some 3-D graphics projects, all of them very code-intensive. However despite that the more I look at these neat opal boards the more I want to recreate them in flash. :) I was planning on creating one where LED lights are underneath each key and the colors of the keys change depending on which layout you want to use.
That is what we aim for with our instruments but is still some way off. A flash version would be an amazingly useful tool. Good luck if you free up the time to get into it, with your ongoing projects!
What are the arpeggios you play in the beginning of the video comprised of? Are they fourths, fifths? What?
LongDriveChamp03 1 week ago
@LongDriveChamp03 Thanks for the question. I wanted to try improvising in a tuning I hadn’t used before. I dialled up layout 100 in the ‘Serial’ menu. The first arpeggio ascends and descends in alternating octaves of minor 3rds. In this layout the opposite diagonals would have been alternating octaves of major thirds. Then I switched to layout 97: ascending m3-M2-m3-M3 repeating; descending m3-M2-M2-4 repeating. There are 7 different diagonal sequences in this layout; 3 up-left & 4 up-right.
notepool2 6 days ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Wow this is a pointless machine. Why don't you just get a piano and learn theory? Or do you not have any musical talent?
dzlvs8 2 weeks ago
@dzlvs8 You may be right, but that wouldn’t explain why 26,000 people watched it, or why a talented Xenharmonic composer paid good money for it!
notepool2 2 weeks ago
@dzlvs8 What a fucking dick. Get a life.
OneTakeJesus 2 weeks ago
@dzlvs8
the keyboard shown on this video is mine. It was hand-built by Peter Davies and Jim Wills in the UK. I can assure you it can be a very valuable machine.
check out some of my videos playing it.
iranief 1 week ago
OMG I SAW HIS or was it her FACE JEST PAUSE ON 0:00
supergodmusic2 3 weeks ago
very interesting! what is happening when you are playing the notes diagonally?
AkanMeister1 4 weeks ago
I was trying out a new tuning, created by substituting the steps of the chromatic scale with different notes (& octaves). This determines the repeating sequences of notes in the diagonal rows, and the alignment of these rows to produce different sequences of notes in the diagonals crossing the opposite way. Each direction, horizontal, vertical & diagonals left & right at 30 & 60 degrees, has its own sequences, giving a symmetrical lattice. The symmetry makes it intuitive to learn & improvise.
notepool2 3 weeks ago 2
A regular piano anyone?
RealitieBeats 1 month ago
@RealitieBeats If I only had the space for one… I love pianos!
notepool2 1 month ago
@notepool2 lol i can understand that .. i also love piano's .. i wish i could play on mine better :)
RealitieBeats 1 month ago
My fingers are far too fat for this instrument.
AlexWerkmeister712 1 month ago
@AlexWerkmeister712 Well, that may be so, or you may find otherwise - but I don’t know the size of your fingers! I’d be interested to know what instrument(s) you play. These key-buttons are the same width as piano keys, and the sides are rounded off into a ‘bun’ shape with a dip in the middle, to avoid knocking the surrounding keys (and also to enable fast runs through rows of keys). The contact footprint is larger than that those of a guitar fretboard.
notepool2 1 month ago
@notepool2
I have elephantiasis.
The only thing I can play is bongo. :(
AlexWerkmeister712 1 month ago
@AlexWerkmeister712 I’m sorry to hear that. If I had the resources I would build a version with bigger key-buttons. I have many more designs other than this one, but unfortunately no opportunity to take them any further :-( Maybe this will change - no idea how, but, who knows.....
notepool2 1 month ago
Is this similar to a button accordion layout? (Organized by the table of fifths?) Or something completely different -- and, now I read more comments and I see you answered that.
Zylstra555 1 month ago
@Zylstra555 Hello - Thanks for your visit and comment. I just watched your demo of the Allen Organ, interesting - that card system! You might be interested to have a look at my video, 'Hammond Sound with Hidden Animals', where I hooked up a sonome to a Roland VK8 to demonstrate certain intervals, using an organ sound for a change. It was my response to people new to the layout commenting that the 4th wasn't where they expected it should be in relation to the root!
notepool2 1 month ago
Cool! I don't believe I've seen this video before - I want one of these - its on my list :-)
clones98 2 months ago
@clones98 Thanks, we’re honoured that it’s on your list – we’d be happy to build one for you some time!
notepool2 2 months ago
Dig.
rick4318 2 months ago
What the.....
Never knew such a thing existed.
RapIsDeadly 3 months ago 4
@RapIsDeadly Well, bringing it into existence was the hardest thing I ever did, now the challenge is to keep it off the ‘endangered species’ list! Better get back to work…
notepool2 3 months ago 9
OK, I want to make one of these. I have jeweler's skills (sculpture/design mold/cast), my daughter can low-temp solder. HOW do I do this? I know little about electronics, but play guitar in 5 tunings. CAn you tell me where a detailed schematic and parts list might be found, and how to get a pcb specific to this?
What kind of speaker system would work with this? Thanks. Katy
kystemusicandart 3 months ago
@kystemusicandart Hello Katy, I like your enthusiasm for building a sonome! Unfortunately there’s no parts list as we make all the parts ourselves except pots, knobs, fixings and electronic components. Electronics & software are designed & built by my electronics engineer so they’re not mine to offer. My input is the original concept of the instrument and the timber casings. There is a forum of people trying to build these, I’ll send you a message with the link :-)
notepool2 3 months ago
does that follow the same pattern as a button accordion?
rixclipz 3 months ago
@rixclipz Hello... no, the pattern I’m using here is one of 4 ‘Harrmonic Math’ sequences included in the Menu of 100 Serial layouts, as opposed to the Chromatic layouts in the ‘Tunings’ menu of 16 layouts - including Melodic (Harmonic) Table and C & B System Accordion.
notepool2 3 months ago
interesting instrument, can't say I would be able to play one very well, what with all those little buttons. Great job sir, but I'll stick with a piano/keyboard :)
TraceofHatred 4 months ago
@TraceofHatred Thanks for your kind comment. Nothing wrong with the piano keyboard, this is just a different instrument. The buttons follow a pattern; once you know the pattern, the quantity of buttons is not an issue. Each button is the width of a piano key, a bigger footprint than, for example, the area available for a finger pressing a guitar string on a fret. Unlike a piano, you don’t have to learn a different pattern for each key change; the sharps and flats are part of the pattern.
notepool2 4 months ago
@notepool2 Thanks for the response, very cool :) I may look into one,
But I can't imagine them being cheap or being easy to pick up unfortunately,
but thanks for sharing, brings me yet another instrument I'm curious of.. :o
TraceofHatred 4 months ago
@TraceofHatred I wish there was a cheap version too, but there's no large scale manufacturer of the sonome - yet! We build the defintitive version by hand - which is why they can't be cheap, but some apps have copied my instrument, like HexaChrome by Somascape. Thanks for subscribing :-)
notepool2 4 months ago
@notepool2 anytime, thank you for all the information!
TraceofHatred 4 months ago
@TraceofHatred With this instrument, it's easier to make some cliche music patterns like triads. You can play a triad by only pressing buttons on a triangle. Search for Axis 64 of C thru music, in their site, they show some chord shapes. You gonna be amazed at how easy are some of the hardest chors for piano.
gustavoturm 4 months ago
simply...awesome! 5*
vivipedraglio 2 years ago
this was what the Vulcan race most likely came up with in the Star Trek universe!
espionhyperoctave 2 years ago
I spotted my Chameleon on Matrixsynth!
Gee, it's everywhere!!!
iranief 2 years ago
Good God! You need to put CCTV in your studio and see if your Chameleon escapes at night to look for insects! It's definitely been kidnapped by the Matrixsynthosaurus, cloned and returned unseen! Check the serial number...
notepool2 2 years ago
notepool2,
you should buy an Opal Chameleon!!!
iranief 2 years ago
Yes, Id better put in an order thanks for the recommendation :-)
notepool2 2 years ago
How much does the transpose increase in each direction for this layout?
WhiteDragon103 2 years ago
*Transpose: Transposes selected zone(s). Choices are: -12 to +12
*Note: It is possible, using Octave, Transpose & Tunings, to set the opal to play out of MIDI range. In this case, keys set above or below the limits of MIDI send no data.
notepool2 2 years ago
I see :) But what I actually meant was - sorry for using the wrong term - If I picked a C, and then moved my finger to the top left from C, what note would my finger be on? What about top right?
WhiteDragon103 2 years ago
I see what you mean, THIS layout! I don't have a diagram for this one. I'll ask Jim about it tomorrow; he came up with this one and added it to the tunings menu! I don't have an Opal to work it out from right now. Thanks for asking about it :-)
Do you have an interesting project on?
notepool2 2 years ago
Yes, several. One request, one by volunteer, and some 3-D graphics projects, all of them very code-intensive. However despite that the more I look at these neat opal boards the more I want to recreate them in flash. :) I was planning on creating one where LED lights are underneath each key and the colors of the keys change depending on which layout you want to use.
WhiteDragon103 2 years ago
That is what we aim for with our instruments but is still some way off. A flash version would be an amazingly useful tool. Good luck if you free up the time to get into it, with your ongoing projects!
notepool2 2 years ago