Yamaha launched its so-called Tenori-on, an electronic musical instrument with a built-in sound module, in 2007 for a recommended retail price of $1,200. The device, which consists of a touch screen and lets you play music by running your fingers over a 256 LED grid, is being sold world-wide, but the price is obviously a problem for many potential customers. It took a while, but today Yamaha in Tokyo announced the Tenori-on Orange [JP], which will cost less than $780 (at least in Japan).
I am not sure if the new model will attract masses of people, with Yamaha saying they had to remove the magnesium casing of the original and use ordinary plastic instead to push down the price of the instrument. Another minus: You can’t use the Tenori-On with batteries anymore so there needs to be a power source anywhere you use it.
The LEDs are orange now (instead of white), but Yamaha says both versions are absolutely identical as far as making music on them is concerned. Both the new and the old Tenori-On can be networked, too.
The Tenori-On Orange will go on sale in Japan on December 1. Yamaha has yet to say anything about their international sales plans.
Yawn. What possible potential market could Yamaha have seen for this after over a grand, when you can get a mini Kaoss Pad for $100 or the real deal for $300? The Korg units have every advantage and no disadvantage over this.
You sir are insane! Just like the rest of the masses who feel the need to compare the t.o to everything from monomes to ableton?the t.o. stands completly on it’s own.Kaoss pad?have you even read about the tenori on?
Oh yeah,I own a kaoss pad to! And a toaster!and yes I’m sad my kaoss pad won’t work a bagel to golden brown goodness!har har!
True that a KP and a TO have little in common, except for the flat form factor and the use of your finger.
Comparing them is meaningless.
STILL. I think this “new” TO pretty much is a BAD idea. Removing the batteries removes70% of the fun, no more music making in the train or in the bed for you = unfunny.
Keeping the same firmware with its stupid limitations and bugs (loss of sync, or mini-lag when changing from pat to pat) and its lame-ish sound bank is also a stupid move.
And finally the price may be “lower” but still more expensive than the firt TO over ebay for example, and still a pretty high price tag for such a crippled instrument.
All in all, sadness. I was expecting a redesigned TO with all its great features but buffed up with fixes and functions to make it actually useable in an everyday music-making process. But it seems we’ll have to deal with the same cool sounding gadget that makes you build the same tunes over and over.
Sad.
Waiting for a custom FW, like the MPC.
The firmware is being updated! I feel that if you did spend 1000 bucks for it you should have understood the concept behind it.toshio iwai has a certain idea about how he feels people should interact with music and sound.no mobility is a bad thing,no back lights even worse!but if you feel in 3 yes since it’s launch you have depleted it’s use I have one word “piano”there has been no significant advancement on it’s design and I hear it still being Used.it’s timeless.it’s in you not your instrument,no change will make people be better artists.stick with a laptop and find the right interface.the tenori on has just started to become valid.but comparing it to things that are out there is futile.