Tenori-on: The Light Of Sound

18 Apr 2008 Category: Features, Japan, Music, Technology

Tenori-on: The Light Of Sound

Who wouldn't LOVE to lay hands on this shiny piece of metal and LED?! Yamaha's Tenori-on sampler/MIDI controller for your personal sound jammimg pleasure! © Yamaha

Kraftwerk, Jim O’Rourke, Battles or Atom Heart all proudly have one to play with - the Tenori-on - an uber fancy musical gadget that visualises its sounds via a marvellous LED display. This sampler and MIDI controller is the brain child of a colabo between media artists Toshio Iwai and developer Yu Nishibori of Yamaha. For its worldwide launch (it’s been out already in the UK since last autumn,) Yu talked with PingMag a bit. While visiting him in the Yamaha office, right behind the Laforet fashion temple in Harajuku, we couldn’t stop gazing (and eventually touching!) this amazing tool. And a smiling Yu was more than happy to show us the ultra refined usage of its light and sound combining interface in detail. (Also, see the concert info below.)

Written by Verena and Vicente Gutierrez

What is the Tenori-on? Watch the introduction first! Courtesy of Yamaha

We all are dying to know, first, where did the idea for the Tenori-on come from?

In 2001, I met Toshio because I wanted to have some of his advice on a musical networking project I was working on for Yamaha. Toshio commented and, during this discussion, he showed me some things he was working on like his “Resonance of 4″ installation which is kind of a Tenori-on. So, during this discussion, this idea came up since Toshio had already created a software called Tenori-on, but it was just a step sequencer. So, I had the day job at Yamaha, but after 6 p.m., Toshio and I were developing it. Eventually, I decided to do it full-time.

The making of: a sketch of an early idea to put the speakers inside of the border around the LED elements. Courtesy of Rupert’s Tenori-on collection on Flickr

How did you work together? Who did what?

Toshio did more of the scientific things like programming, as well as the design. Yamaha’s role was that of developing and production. So, at first, I developed the software with Toshio. For example, changing the root points was my idea and also the random loop. I’m more of a maniac and need more depth with the Tenorio-on! After that, I was in charge of the project and had to oversee the hardware, electronics, software, contents, the sound itself, calculating the cost, promotion, marketing - everything! I even have to look after it all over the world.

Finished! A sampler with a preset of generated sounds - and magically glowing LED as buttons on both sides (for the audience to see!) © Yamaha

That’s quite a task! Altogether it took six years to be released. Why so long?

It took three years to develop it and three years to persuade Yamaha to make it into a real product. At first, they were somewhat hesitant, it seemed too ‘brand new.’ Yamaha has always been more of a traditional and conservative company with an emphasis on classical instruments.

In what looks like the backstage area, Battles lay their eager hands on the magic machine and don’t want to let it go again. Courtesy of Yamaha

Now, please explain, how does the Tenorio-on actually work?

It is mainly a sampler, but it has a preset of its own generated sounds and can be used as a MIDI controller. So when you push a button, you can generate a sound. When you push longer, it enters a meter of rhythm and you can also set that tempo. You can adjust the pitch and frequency on a kind of time line. The bottom line would be the low sounds, the higher lines are the higher frequencies. [More specs over here.]

The making of the border around the LED. Concise handcraft is needed for the assembly. Courtesy of Rupert’s Tenori-on collection on Flickr

Is there any guidance for notes, like if you want to a play a C, for example?

Yes, but you can change the scale, it’s not fixed. This, for example, is “Score mode” [clicks LEDs to light magically] - you push a button and the algorithm generates the light as the note gets looped. So, each time it sounds, the light goes off.

LED elements for the 16×16 button matrix. Courtesy of Rupert’s Tenori-on collection on Flickr

And when you play, how do you get the composition out there afterwards?

Well, you can use an SD memory card to load your own sampled sounds and record your music as well as to transfer your music to another Tenori-on or even synch multiple Tenori-on(s); that’s what Kraftwerk have been doing. So when you record your music to the SD card, you just take it to the PC [and publish it to WAV or another form.] You can connect it via MIDI [using Apple’s Logic software and the bundled Tenori-on application.]

Again, the LED elements, now assembled. Courtesy of Rupert’s Tenori-on collection on Flickr

How easy! Please, let’s get physical! In terms of visualising sounds, how did you arrive at this stunning 16×16 size and the LED button matrix on both sides (!) - rather than LCD or touch sensors like of a Kaoss Pad?

A touch panel would be like an iPhone, a PSP or that kind of thing. We wanted something different and LCD are just backlights behind paper. However, with LED, each element generates light by itself. And with the Tenori-on, it generates its own light and sound, simultaneously, when pressed.

In terms of the size, we considered this size and shape important for a few reasons. It fits the average adults hands. So, when you hold it, it’s wide enough for your fingers to grasp and your thumbs meet at the centre.

And LED embedded, “… wide enough for your fingers to grasp and your thumbs meet at the centre.”

And it seems to be so intuitive to play with! How did you develop an interface that would be instantly understandable? Usually, techy gadget aren’t quite easy…

To be honest, Toshio and I didn’t intend to make something that would make it easier to compose music. It was coincidental. When developing the Tenori-on, I was listening to a lot of polyrhythms, broken beats that weren’t so rigid or rhythmic. And I imagined how this music would be performed live, in real time, since most of it is edited on the computer. In my brain, I found the image of a figure: a small triangle, a big triangle and a square. But that could be very complicated.

Besides that, Toshio and I are neither musicians nor performers. That’s one reason why it ended up being easy to play! If you see the videos of Jim O’Rourke or Atom Heart, they are professional musicians, but they picked it up quite easily after a short explanation. The more you play it, the more depth you get…

The making of: interesting version in one development stage - note the gaffer tape all over. Courtesy of Rupert’s Tenori-on collection on Flickr

Completely manufactured in Japan, the Tenorio-on is the proud product of Japanese craftsmanship. (And they love golf too.) Courtesy of Rupert’s Tenori-on collection on Flickr

And you had them in mind when you developed it?

Yes, mainly professional musicians with a lot of audio visual aspects in their work; artists who are working with electronic or in areas of free jazz. We’ve also targeted music lovers who love composing music. I mean, I’m not a producer, I’m a computer programmer…

… but besides researching, you are still producing music yourself on the Nishi label! And we also saw your Last.fm artist profile…


Jim O’Rourke deeply concentrated over his new toy! © Yamaha

I’m more of a hardcore listener… (Laughs). Actually, that was from back in university where I studied computer science with music. You had to write a program to make a musical application to then compose with the software. My student life continued into my work at Yamaha.

Ahhh, now we get it! Regarding the Tenori-on’s range - when you see the artists on the Yamaha site performing, they are more into electronic, or rock. Has anybody tried to compose classical music or jazz with it?

Classical… Robert Lippok of To Rococo Rot from Berlin is working with Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi. So, Einaudi has a orchestra with violins and everything. Robert is there and plays with the Tenori-on. Regarding Jazz, Kieran Hebden is doing a Free Jazz project with drummer Steve Reid and Kieran is always using the Tenori-on for that.

What feedback did they give you so far?

Jan Werner of Mouse on Mars told me that he really wants it to have a microphone to record sounds because he’d like to use it as sampler during his live performances. That would be the next step! I also got lots of great ideas from Atom Heart. He wanted some kind of attachment to know which button was playing what sound. Hmm, what else… everyone said they wanted a swing sequence in there, too.

Kieran Hebden a.k.a. Four Tet trying his first Tenorio-on! Courtesy of Yamaha

We’re excited! How, do you think, will the next generation of kids compose music?

I hope they get into it. If you have a good ear and some skills, then you can easily make music with the Tenori-on. I hope it opens up the kids for more imaginative music. It is not really a performance tool like a guitar; it has lots of sequences. The point of the Tenori-on performance is that you have to listen very carefully and decide what button to push. You have to learn and decide the relationship of the notes and buttons you select.

You have to decide which buttons to select for which sounds as sequencer…

Something else, why was the Tenori-on already launched last September in the UK - but only there?

Three years ago, we made a market research in New York City, London, Tokyo and Hamburg (though I would have preferred Berlin.) We did Tenori-on performances at Sonar, at Ars Electronica or at Manchester’s Futuresonic festival. The feedback from the British was really good, so we decided to start England as a test market to better respond in other regions. Since it was so brand new, Yamaha wanted to get some ideas from there first.

Handling coffee, his laptop and the Tenori-on - Yu Nishibori in action.

We see. Will Yamaha now venture more into the field of electronic gadgets?

We already started! But the new project is totally different. We just started developing the prototype and now we’re struggling to find out about its interesting points. It would be more of a controller, but could also be a synthesiser… It has a name, but I surely can’t disclose that…

Ah! We want to know that!! Thank you, Yu Nishibori! We are very much looking forward to see the Tenori-on in action at the launch concerts in Tokyo next week, on April 25th, and apart from that on April 24th and 27th!


We couldn’t resist showing you this sweet mini bike parked in the Yamaha office that must belong to one of the workers. So cute!

Tenori-on Launch Party Tokyo
Fri, April, 25th:
Toshio Iwai / Jim O’Rouke / Atom Heart / Paul de Jong / To Rococo Rot. From 5 p.m.
Venue: Spiral Hall 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama.

Preview and After Parties:
Thu, April, 24th:
To Rococo Rot / Mapstation / Robert Lippok. From 7 p.m.
Sun, April, 27th:
Atom Heart / Paul de Jong / Ryoichi Kurokawa / De De Mouse. From 6 p.m.
Venue: Eats and Meets Cay, Spiral B1, 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama.
More info.

27 Comments

  1. I actually attended the Manchester launch event and had a go on one of the demo units. Some pretty cool sounds you could get out of it, and it’s a fun little toy.
    But that’s where the problem lies, it felt more like a toy than a “serious” instrument and I was flabbergasted at how much they were going to retail for.

    Posted by: jim e on April 18th, 2008 at 7:48 pm

  2. Wow! An absolutely amazing tool. or toy? whatever this is - its great!

    Posted by: Bohdan on April 18th, 2008 at 7:49 pm

  3. Another Philadelphia-based group, Monome, developed a VERY similar idea: the Monome 40h. (http://monome.org/40h/)

    I wonder who came first?

    Posted by: Kelly on April 19th, 2008 at 12:25 am

  4. WTF why is it always us white looks so dumb with new technology. not cool at all lol.

    Posted by: disgracewhiteboy on April 19th, 2008 at 1:08 am

  5. how much are the retailing it for?

    Posted by: falk on April 19th, 2008 at 1:21 am

  6. @_@ that was totally awesome and a little bit brain wash xD haha.

    Posted by: edohsama on April 19th, 2008 at 2:14 am

  7. [...] has an interesting interview with the inventor of the Tenori-on, a sort of light box midi [...]

    Posted by: Daily Tidbits : jWiltshire.org on April 19th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

  8. re: falk

    They retail for around £600 GBP over here in the UK. I think that’s about $1100 USD?

    Posted by: jim e on April 19th, 2008 at 7:41 pm

  9. yeah it is a very similar idea to the Monome 40h - which is an awesome machine - but the light feedback on the Tenori-on is beautiful!

    ps - I ♥ Battles + Four Tet

    Posted by: tim on April 20th, 2008 at 3:22 am

  10. So true about dumb white guys with tech.

    Posted by: somethingaboutmary on April 20th, 2008 at 8:16 am

  11. Toshio Iwai is a personal hero of mine, I really enjoy his works.

    Posted by: rey-o on April 20th, 2008 at 9:34 am

  12. no place for racial stereotypes. prejudice is for dummies lol

    Posted by: arman on April 21st, 2008 at 6:07 am

  13. [...] Tenori-on: The Light Of Sound An uber fancy musical gadget that visualises its sounds via a marvellous LED display. This sampler and MIDI controller is the brain child of a colabo between media artists Toshio Iwai and developer Yu Nishibori of Yamaha. (tags: led music visualization) [...]

    Posted by: links for 2008-04-21 « Mandarine on April 21st, 2008 at 1:52 pm

  14. I have one… It’s a nice toy. Like all other things: if you have idea it can be serious instrument. Sounds best when you play it with effects (adrenalinn, kaos pad…) also: abelton+tenori-on sounds great.

    Posted by: Bojan on April 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm

  15. shit…holy shit…this is unbelievable!

    Posted by: Tom on April 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 am

  16. they’re about £399 I believe, to correct the person that said they’re £600, I always stop and play with one when I’m going for a wander in London at turnkey, they’re loads of fun… It’s like a grown ups version of Electroplankton on the DS.

    Posted by: rich on April 26th, 2008 at 5:16 am

  17. [...] Yu said it took three years to develop the Tenori-on, and another three to get Yamaha on board with the production process. When throwing around design ideas, shapes like triangles were considered, but appeared too difficult to make usable, so they stuck with the square shape. Other interesting design aspects include making the Tenori wide enough so that the thumbs of the average adult hand meet in the middle of the tenori when grasped, and that it was never intended to be a user friendly music machine; it kind of just happened. Read the full interview over at [PingMag]. [...]

    Posted by: News » Tenori-On Makers Interviewed, Neither Can Play Music [Music Gadgets] on May 8th, 2008 at 7:06 pm

  18. What Kind of mini-bike is that?

    Posted by: Tom on May 8th, 2008 at 10:46 pm

  19. never heard of monome guys?
    dj’s are using them for a while

    http://monome.org/series/

    Posted by: Tom on May 8th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

  20. Any idea of the code inside of this thing? MAX? How would they have developed it?

    Posted by: monoverb on May 9th, 2008 at 1:05 am

  21. Tom - the mini bike’s a Yamaha EC-02 electric bike. Sadly it’s been discontinued, but there’s an old PingMag article about it’s development here:

    http://pingmag.jp/2005/07/22/elm-design/

    Posted by: Administrator on May 9th, 2008 at 1:48 am

  22. [...] Yu said it took three years to develop the Tenori-on, and another three to get Yamaha on board with the production process. When throwing around design ideas, shapes like triangles were considered, but appeared too difficult to make usable, so they stuck with the square shape. Other interesting design aspects include making the Tenori wide enough so that the thumbs of the average adult hand meet in the middle of the Tenori when grasped, and that it was never intended to be a user-friendly music machine; it kind of just happened. Read the full interview over at [PingMag]. [...]

    Posted by: Tenori-On Makers Interviewed, Neither Can Play Music [Music Gadgets] | DougsTech.com - Tech News, Reviews, and Guides on May 9th, 2008 at 6:10 am

  23. Nice!

    Looks something like the late 80’s Acxel device:
    http://bcr2.uwaterloo.ca/~dfevans/studio/acxel/

    It seems like an Acxel II is underway as well:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technos_axcel

    Either way, I´m saving up…

    Posted by: electroniclas on May 13th, 2008 at 10:22 am

  24. [...] Read interview PingMag’s interview with TENORI-ON’s developer Yu Nishibori here. [...]

    Posted by: yamaha me crazy « CULTGEAR on May 13th, 2008 at 10:39 am

  25. [...] | pingmag | alt1040 | gizmodo         Archivado en: Tecnología | [...]

    Posted by: Tenori-On. La nueva y revolucionaria forma de hacer música. | WIZINGA | ocio + tecnología + información on May 17th, 2008 at 4:58 am

  26. [...] a recent Ping Mag interview its developer Yu shared some very interesting tidbits about Tenori’s design process. I [...]

    Posted by: Sebastian C. Scholz - Tenori-On on May 28th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

  27. They’re definitely £629:
    http://tenori-on.yamaha-europe.com/uk/shop/

    If it had been nearer to £300 I’d have seriously considered it. Hopefully it’ll come down in price a bit when Yamaha go a bit more mass market with it.

    Posted by: Richard on June 4th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

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