Eigenharp Roadshow - Air Studios

[eddyallen615]

That is an "excellent" video. =p

[ScouseSoldier]

Dubstep on a Harp!!! :D

[Mrselassie2]

Amazing!!

[chiefindisguise]

ohhh man that looks more fun that having drugged sex at disney land!!!

[dejanobr]

They are not expensive.

[Legendation]

You guys should wear helmets with leds all over. The next daft punk group. XD!

[Mikedg]

Now everybody can be Daft Punk lol...

[r00key]

K, now play the Star Wars cantina song on those things (also, put on a blue alien costume)

[foketesz]

@r00key that was a GREAT tune

[TheKaliot]

0553

[DaMentalKid]

this isnt real music real music is from real instruments.

[trenative]

@DaMentalKid damn ludites... lol. what do you think people thought of the electric guitar?

[foketesz]

@trenative they basically said "you cannot plug into talent". nonsense

[Evilstewie831]

@DaMentalKid why is this not a "real instrument"?, because the definition of a musical instrument is "any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds" you just so close minded due to what you were always taught about an instrument that you think only piano's guitar and ect can be an instrument, i'm guessing no one said to you that theres no rule against some one making there own instrument.

[foketesz]

@Evilstewie831 In Debussy's time, the problem was with the piano. It was a "mechanical", not "real" instrument, because "the finger is not touching the strings". This is a useless argument. peace

[Evilstewie831]

@foketesz wow this was 2 months ago if you really thought this was useless you wouldn't have commented on it lol

[RagingGalka]

Do any of the ones complaining about price actually know how much some normal instruments even cost?

[Wiseguyzmoney]

@RagingGalka I know right? They're wayyy too expensive.

[sachaully]

Love the idea..and want to buy..

but some of my words:

It is like selling computers rather than music instruments....just let what it can do rather than saying technical specifications ...let people how easy to use it for a beautiful music..

the musician outfit are also more like computer salesman rather than a music player..

[Sausahga]

@guitgeo, That was the first thing I wondered about that never got addressed in the Eigenharp video demo. Not a hint and I thought it would definitely get asked at some point, but no!

[xwagner76]

I don't get it. Looks like a goofy gadget.

[Sausahga]

I wonder about touch/pressure sensitivity?

[guitgeo]

@Sausahga Hey, that's a good question. I hope you get a reply. I know if you wiggle the button you can get a vibrato (meaning pitch variance).....

[guitgeo]

Does it have a spit valve? Where does the condensed breath water accumulate?? Horn players will know what I'm talking about.

[soloist76]

Che merda di strumento

[guitgeo]

BTW - it will only work on a MAC. It's not Windows compatible and you still need to hook it up to your stereo or guitar amp to get any kind of decent sound. The devil is in the details isn't he?

[guitgeo]

$5600 Are you guys out of your minds?? Then I have to use a computer to use it because it's useless without one. Not exactly portable. Admittedly it's very cool - as a very expensive toy. The drums sounds are as cheesy as any I've ever heard. What the hell do you need a guitar player for?? No guitar patch??? Give me a break!!

[sandwichtaster]

@guitgeo For fucks sake that's just software, you're paying for the hardware

[guitgeo]

@sandwichtaster Jeez, relax, man ! A little wound up aren't you? Do you see $5600 worth of hardware ?? I mean, really....

[sandwichtaster]

@guitgeo Micron sensitivity keys (close to the sensitivity of light) are expensive. They've done a good job at making it look minimalist, but the hardware is nonetheless very expensive. There is a certain amount of price snobbery, but keep in mind this has been in development since 1992. This is a calculated price to return development costs. The Eigenharp Tau is more cost efficient due to some things being removed. The sounds are not inside the eigenharp,, they're self supplied.

[guitgeo]

@sandwichtaster Yes, most of the time one doesn't consider development cost. The patches are very familiar and standard sounding to me. I guess I'll have to make a 'hands on' decision. Hard to judge the quality of sound on the limited youtube presentations. Nice chatting with you.

[sandwichtaster]

@guitgeo It's possible to supply ones own instruments (all VST and some others if i remember correctly.) However I just found out that you absolutely need a mac for this instrument, which immediately changed my impression from technological achievement to crock of shit. In this price range it should work with my toaster if I want it to. I must apologize.

It was nice talking to ya! :)

[EmpireLS56KW]

All they need to do is play the cantina music from Star Wars for a more practical sound! LOL

[EmpireLS56KW]

That instrument reminds me of the, cantina band in Star Wars A New Hope (1977) check it out its very similar! LOL

[johnnewman56]

@jeshuaew Yes!

[Wilsonmusic1]

RX1603 is right i played one at the trade fair aswell and i will get one soon (although it will have to be the pico)

[guitgeo]

@Wilsonmusic1 Well it's been two months since your post...did you get the one you wanted. If you did - do you like it and was it worth the money? I'm curious 'cause I want one too but these things are priced a tech out of my reach right now.

[Wilsonmusic1]

@guitgeo I didn't get one in the end for the same reason why you didn't get yours yet...too expensive.

Though after playing it for a while it's definately worth the cost if you wanna stick with it and use it

[guitgeo]

@Wilsonmusic1 WOW...quick response ! Thanx for the reply....maybe someday---

[RX1603]

I just played on this one at the music trade fair in Frankfurt and I must say that I am deeply impressed by this huge amount of features that come together perfectly on the alpha harp. Damn, wish I had one of those. They have so much potential.

[timmehtimofee]

I love the Blonde One, i want to make babies with him!! he is so sexy with his bed hair...

[wasoota]

Awesome, I wish someone would use it even remotely to its potetial and blow us all away. I see a lot of unique features, but not much unique music made with with it.

But why only 12 months warranty? Short of a complete failure, I figure it would take a new player at least that long just to find out that something is really not working right. At that price, I'd frankly expect a three to five year warranty, if only to avert a divorce.

[adamg709]

I am all for new MIDI controllers and instruments. This is interesting,but I get the feeling that all that they've done is re-invent the remote keyboard,the drumatix,the Yamaha breath controller,the Synthaxe etc etc. As for it being the most expressive instrument ever........hmmmmmmm.

[writecorral]

So... why can't you just hook some pedals to a drum pad? Still, pretty sexy little device, isn't it?

[Condortheburninator]

Brilliant!

[1337FreshNoodles]

Kind of cheating with the scales imo

[linearvermin]

You cant cheat with scales you idiot...a scale is a scale you can just make it more simple to play which is neither a good or bad thing it just differs per instrument. I.E. a Piano is easier to play a C major scale then on a guitar.. its not cheating its just easier.

[DonutFromS2]

Jesus Instrument.

[armageddonking5]

i want on i would sell my kidney for one of thees things

[alxzman]

it seems a little too electronic and synthetic to be as expressive and crative as they say it is

[rossmorris]

im just not convinced! i think it seems lke more of a toy than anything of any musical value. i need to watch more videos and watch people using them more i think.

[mpgarate]

met you guys at the NAMM show. You said something to me like "You're back AGAIN!?"

It was really fun to check these things out

[KoRnboy64]

This thing is just amazing!

[elpagna]

Just ? Completely mind blowing !

[Halvgoeden]

Props to AOTS for getting the word out.

[bastec666]

just remember, you can get the smallest one for about 500 instead of the ones they are using in the video for 5600......

[KuyaFreshh]

@bastec666

To be exact, the Pico is available for $560, the newer model thats half the size of the one shown here retails for $2600, and the thisone is $5600

[geaofwar]

they put so much thought into it. Its amazing.

[bro2025]

Ha yea with out AOTS never would have heard about this thing. pretty amazing

[dogma264]

OMG me too

[novawave333]

@bro2025 ME TOO! XD

[pb0o6]

mad press from g4

[silverlynn]

Soo I think you all should donate one to me. Its Amazing. Whens the next time your doing a demo in the states? Really... Contact me!

[bloodybojack]

its awesome but fucking expensive as shit, but makes since. If u think about its EVERY insturment in one.

[jowil93]

That is one sexy bassoon...

[Val0n]

G4Tv said 5,600$ for it.. lol

[BlAmPrOdUc7iOnS]

LOL, would have never heard if it without AOTS

[IanSpencerOriginals]

lol me neither

[tyrannicoystercult]

i love how none of the sounds they demonstrated evoked any emotion or ideas in me whatsoever

[SinceTheBeatdown]

if you think this is cool check out the instrument called "reactable" it's really cool too.

[pobz100]

This is a toy!

[MopHead2008]

It is from the UK, Eigenlabs is based in Devon.

[dejavu3552]

so how much is it?

[MuffinyGoodnez]

@dejavu3552 Its right around 5000 US, or 500 US for the smaller version

[GonxhaMASH]

Looks like it would be fun to mess around with, but for the most part it looks like a new fad. Though I'm sure some people are going to work out some really sophisticated ideas, like frankenstein or something. I could go for a new music genre based around frankenstein.

[Goatmon]

You're probably right, in the sense that most of the interest in this instrument will probably fade.

But this is a pretty neat step in music technology, and I'm certain it will maintain a small following for a good while to come.

[skullpet99]

i just bought 1. Its a pico(smaller one) but it is still awsome. the sound is excellent and there is so much to do with it. its so much fun

[syzygywell]

Something tells me the likes of brian eno and peter gabriel are going to be all over this and totally unconcerned with the low brow discussion over whether this is going to further hurt "real musicianship" whatever that is. Everything is a potential tool to get across a musical idea to a real musician. Everything possibility is considered by the innovative person.

[tyrannicoystercult]

well you'll see actually they carefully emphasize that it's 'great for jamming and improvising' and how you can 'quickly and easily switch' to different sounds and keys. think of what this actually gives you - its not for composition, its for fiddling around. a 'real musician' as you say is able to do everything this instrument can do, with pre-existing instruments like oh, a keyboard with some knobs. there is really nothing groundbreaking, just a halo of misunderstanding and fellation in press

[syzygywell]

It is a performance tool. Nothing more nothing less. I'm sure people were pondering the use of the monome when it first came out. Just a boutique grid controller that does nothing on its own other than be open ended for the performer. But tell that to Edison who's turned performing on it into an art form. Composition and performance are not mutually exclusive but they can be. In any case it will be interesting to see how they end up being used in the next few years.

[MichaelJHuman]

Basically, this thing is just a sophisticated controller. It does not do much a workstation synth can already do such as call up loops, trigger arps, etc. Some synths in the past even had breath controllers.

It's keys light up, seem to be pretty expressive, and you can get out from behind the keyboard.

It does not make sound at all. It's a controller, and you need a mac computer connected to make the sounds.

I find it interesting, but maybe not as innovative as it may first seem to be.

[josh1111111111111100]

real musicians can put this lite brite to shame

[Niftified]

This looks a fantastic instrument. Does anyone know where the audio signal is output from? Does it mean amplifying the lineout from the computer?

[lwarnos]

i thought it was funny that they had notecards. If you're headlining a new and exciting product, and you're the spokesperson, you should be able to rattle off the specs no problem. I understand that there is a lot that they do want to talk about, so they don't want to forget, but it still made me smile.

[AK74inCali]

This is a totally necessary instrument in today's digital age... I mean, think about it! Most music is digitalized, run through LOADS of filters, and even played while the stars dance around stage, PRETENDING to sing live. The few "live" musicians in the band are out of the loop, and ALSO pretending. At least this instrument gives REAL musicians a fighting chance!!!

[shobley]

It's going to take something very special to launch this as a credible instrument with that price tag.

In 1982 (Synthaxe I'm looking at you) you might have stood a chance, but using the technology available today this is all too easy to make at home.

In fact I probably have enough microcontrollers and sensors in the basement right now...

Let me have a look.

[DemonDZ]

i hate that he calls the soundbase for playstation... reminds me of PS3

[TheTelenovaProject]

This is brilliant. It's a full DAW... I'm absolutely amazed. Too bad these are almost $6000.

[paulthebassguy]

This instrument is absolute musical brilliance and has an unimaginably high degree of awesome.

[kahunapte]

I give Eigen all the credit in the world, but...I feel it just does too much...and is too expensive.

I mean, if you could make a $1000 version which did half of this but...better...it'd do a lot better I think.

Honestly, the musicality of it just isn't that...impressive. Which saddens me.

[BLauchlinMacDonald]

They have a cheaper version, actually.

[23Jarek23]

this is like....an expensive handheld version of fruity loops or logic.....

[Maelorn]

The only issue I see with this is feature overload. Yes, you have the equipment for a one-man band in about the same space as a lightweight electric guitar, but can you keep track of it all? Are you using enough of that to make it worthwhile? Are you using too much, and sounding like crap?

Certainly this will be a challenging instrument. And I fear it might end up forgotten as a novelty.

[ozestretch]

Sure it is cool... but can you play kumbaya around a camp fire?

[TommyJJ12]

faggot

[tigertoothguppy]

i want one so bad but it is super expensive :(

[konam11]

Que Buen instrumento la verdad que se pasaron! me gustaria conseguir uno cosa q es imposible para aprenderlo a tocar osea aprender algo realmente dificil :P

[culturaleyes]

it'd be interesting to see what a real master could do with this thing someday.  it has a lot of potential

[salvadoredelle]

well I kinda like it it all depends on what you are connecting it to. I like having different player interfaces as they give you a totally different thing then you would get from a synth keyboard. It's not meant to replace but rather accompany your other instruments!

[napilopez]

Wow at some of the cyncics. Some people don't appreciate creativity. Ever stop to think that it's not exactly easy to create completely new sounds nowadays? In my opinion, this is the most creative thing to happen to music in a long, long time. And the instrument is like what, a year old now? People weren't Eddie Van Halen and Hendrix didn't come up with their stuff just a year after the guitar is created. Heck, it takes a year for people to even decently learn an instrument!

[drhandstand]

its cool, you looks like you can do a lot with it. it seems, as usual, to lack a lot of "quality" tone though.

I guess the difference is like me doing a writing session in logic using soft synths and samples etc etc.... and then going and picking up my $20,000 guitar ( classical) and playing that..... or even my $1000.00 one!

but anyway, lets see...interesting.

[dafishmode]

wow you have such expensive guitars and you have logic, your cool can i be you?

[drhandstand]

i know,... it sounds like a wank. im sorry. i struggle to pay my rent most months but im a professional muso and i need good gear so thats where my money goes. that things not cheap either so trying to prove a point.

i cant help you with my guitars ( work and practice and dont sleep) but Logic... well, you can get that if you know how

[strongman459]

I agree

[paulyhart]

Adriancrazysir has a good idea, very similar to futureman was trying to accomplish with his synthaxe drumitar. however, i have to disagree with it JUST being a midi controller. you are also adding/combining the power of a desktop computer studio as well as a great pedalboard. rickhorvath writes that it would make a great doorstop, albeit so could ricks old bass. my main point is: YES. a very powerful instrument to have and hold. remember the great concept he brings up about muscle memory! YES!

[rickhorvath]

could make a good door stop

[ehackster]

beside the hardware specs (sensors, strip and wind controllers) nothing else is really impressive...we seen a lot of these exotic Midi controllers that never got any wide adoption...this will be yet another one of these

[BSODslayer]

You might be right there. I just hope people get their eyes opened to the Eigenharp Pico - 18 keys and breath controller, the size of a small flute, only 350 pounds...

"Side products" like that is what might just keep them in business, as opposed to the one-shot failures it has to lift the heritage from. But still, it's a lovely piece of kit.

I hope they continue expanding their range with models in every price group, and keep their creativity alive.

[francito77]

let the robots play for us, then we just enjoy the amzing concert...for hobby musicians is probably a nice toy.

[tommythegunn]

The musician on the left looks a bit like Michael Cera!

[DJCornelis]

looks like i could make some awesome dnb rock metal industrial crossovers on this. With 2 u make a whole band, this is awesome, the possibilities are endless

[restequi]

Awesome I want one!!

[JAJW17]

i really want one!

[6b616e]

6000 bucks

little man

put that shit

in my hand...

[halterman666]

lol if that money doesnt show, u oweoweoweowe

[UncleDeluxe]

I can't pin down why, but there is something really dorky about that instrument. Like, accordion dorky.

[TRaddcliff]

drum kays are so far away.

watch revenge of the nerds....they had the cool instruments

[Nexus6v1]

If you think $6500 is a lot for an instrument, you haven't been shopping for a real instrument for a while. A moderate electronic piano will set you back $4000, a good trombone will be anything from $800 - $6000, a good violin is $5000, a bassoon (about the same size as this) can you run you anything from $1000 - $8000. While you aren't buying a precision analogue instrument here, you are buying a lot of clever electronics and if they intend it for stage use, it must be fairly sturdy.

[Adriancrazysir]

This instrument is more like a midi controller than a standalone instrument... it doesn't have any sounds of it's own and from the sounds of it the samples aren't particularly great. The only thing that warrants the price at all is the fact that it's a cool new concept.

[fob199]

I totally agree.

[yellowtrees]

i. want. one!

[spongekill]

there's a name for things like this: NERDSTRUMENT

[intrepgun]

that's your perception. if you ask me, it appears they got just about everything right on it. can't speak to the actual playing feel, but the sensitivity and design makes it pretty much a universal instrument. being programmable, you can set the keys like a stringed instrument, a woodwind, random midi triggering, anything.

the cost is ridiculous, but i don't think it's all profit for them. i'm buying the pico version.

[SonicDeeHedgehog]

Looks incredible complicated.

[seanriches]

Surely a musician who wants an analogue feel will use an analogue instrument that they have grown up with in a group of equally proficient musicians. The EN looks so tricky to master. Seriously, how many will make the jump?

Stylophone seem to be doing OK though!

Good luck. Some real performances may help rather than the techy approach.

[seanriches]

Great piece of kit, but cant help thinking why??

Tech with limited market potential? At £3K!

So much going on one instrument. I wonder how many of these the world needs.

[aleemr]

Can you use all the scale memory of guitar playing or will you have to overcome that and play what would feel like chromatic notes?

[kosths88]

Now we only need a Jimi Hendrix of the Eigenharp and bang!!!! it goes mainstream...

[pinkubento]

Absolutely amazing. What a revolution!

[fleecefox]

Yeah, great stuff, but who will actually buy one?

[MrAlexPlus]

I will actually buy one. Already have a 4grand keytar, why not spend another 1.8k on something like 3x as good.

[ClementsRock]

1.8k? I heard it's 5 grand. =/

[MrAlexPlus]

That's 1.8k is in pounds not in USD. The conversion for the base price of this comes up to around 3.8k. I posted a commented one of the other videos telling all the prices for everything but if you want you can just go onto the website to look at everything. They are selling them now but they don't ship til around Dec. 18th or something like that.

[baaltshuvah]

Hmm. According to the website the Alpha is priced "from £3,950 inc vat"

If you subtract VAT (17.5%), at the current exchange rate this comes to about $5,260USD. But I would prefer it if you were correct - do you know something I don't?

[corneliavideo]

only boys?

[chaz76vette]

that's the same room Butterflies and Hurricanes was recorded in!!

[Zimplony]

Sounds very sciencey but can't see it as a proper musical instrument, of course at first they said the same thing about the guitar and it was nearly shut down. Good luck

[d3dreaper]

Same thing was said about the moog and the theremin

[CorneelB]

Wow, why do they trie recreating what allready exists? This is great for futuristic techno.

[jezuz12345]

I'm sure I can produce pure MAYHEM with one of those X-D

[irishmusico]

it sounds very good.I would prefer to here it doing all those messed up lead lines.If you want a clarinet or a guitar on a record I would prefer to use the real thing.

[MickeLPicke]

my god, the two guys playing looks bored out of their pants!

[tamharoon]

Wow... Awesome !!

[eddplant]

Do want.

[superlatenightdotcom]

impressive

[juanmario555]

me parece que es la solucion , para muchos musicos limitados , pero por otro lado demuestra una vez mas que la musica no tiene limites y se pueden hacer mas sonidos reales.

[hobeeorchid]

some guy is just putting thumbs down on ppl o.o why? this guy's comment makes sense *puts thumbs up to even it out*

i'm a limited musician myself, and its not that playing for ages to get my fingers to adjust to how to strum the guitar how to place the right fingers around the neck cant be done, but that really this eigenharp would skip all that and make life easier.

(i agree on that other point too about the limitlessness of music, but the first part is closer to home).

[MrChicagoMusic]

Hrrm seems to be trying to bridge the gap between musicians and people that just like to play guitar hero. Still, I'm sure some real quality musicians can make good music with it but they can already do that with the cheap quality midi-controllers out there now.

[hearNyou]

@ MrChicagoMusic, Are you meaning that "the gap between musicians (the gods) and 'air/guitar heroes' (mere mortals)" should NOT be bridged?

Ohhhh soon come please..........

[DirkSchooner]

I remember Rolf Harris had something similar, sounds about the same too. oh there was one with a mouth piece too, primary coloured plastic, what was that thing called?

[sillymonkeytv]

I want to see Jordan Rudess with one of these. Im sure that within a few minutes he would of mastered it!

[RagingLion]

This seems to the best explanation out there of how the eigenharp really works.  Interesting stuff, though I'm not someone who would ever be using one.

It's down to the musicians now who buy this to show what it's capable of. The developers seem to have given almost all the features they could think of to the disposal of musicians using it.

[RichyHo]

IWOOT