Yamaha Tenori-On Reviewed (Verdict: Neither Toy Nor Tool)
Tom Whitwell got his hands on the Yamaha Tenori-On, the grid sequencer thing designed by Toshio "Electroplankton" Iwai. Tom breaks down a bullet point list of the good and the bad, but I think his summary, well, sums it up:
can understand there are reasons for the price - a limited run, a more sophisticated machine than most boutique gear. But if they're selling this as an ultra-luxe treat for geeks, then it has to look and feel sexy and expensive. It doesn't. Yes, the comparison with the Monome is slightly unfair, but I suspect it would be a simple job to recreate all the Tenori functions on a Monome.Many of my objections might be fixable with a software upgrade, but I suspect the Tenori is in a tricky place: I don't know if it's really lovable enough to be on every rich kid's Christmas list, and I'm pretty sure it's not geeky enough to be on mine. Which is a real shame. Most importantly, it's a really good lesson for geeks like me. It's easy to complain that big synth companies never do anything innovative or exciting. Then one comes along and does exactly that, and we're left saying 'not good enough'. Which is a real shame. But feeling sympathetic to Yamaha and Toshio Iwai wouldn't make me spend £599 on this.
Yamaha Tenori On review: Many good things, many bad [Music Thing]
Previously: • Grid Sequencers Coming Soon: Tenori-On and Monome [BBG]
• Video: Yamaha's Grid Sequencer "Tenori On" Launches in London [BBG]
• Hands-On with the Tenori-On [BBG]
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I found the linked review a bit uninformative, as I've got no idea what's different in the release version from the one I tried a year ago (or two?). It's definitely unsuitable for serious musicians due to the many drawbacks mentioned in the review. It isn't a bit interesting for hackers either, as it's so horribly closed. They should really mass-produce them and sell them at toy stores for a fraction of the price. As a toy, it would be absolutely wonderful. As it is, it's pretty much a conversation-starting prestige object for wanna-be musicians who can't afford a self-playing grand piano :-(
Well, I have some of Iwai's other music products: a SimTunes demo and Electroplankton (for the Nintendo DS). The SimTunes is interesting as a kiddy toy, but you can't really get rid of the background beats (@ least _I_ haven't figured out how ;-). It's really just a fun way to introduce kids to music with simulated bugs. Electroplankton is also a game, but I find it to be much more inspiring; I've used some of my EP creations in finished works. The Tenori-on appears to be a further refinement of Iwai's concepts. A sequencer + multiple sound sources + the ability to (rather convolutedly) add your own samples. I'd pick one up in a heartbeat, but the projected price (over a grand US) is the sore point. I guess you should try looking at it as a light producing sculpture that also makes sound...