This makes me desire an Eigenharp even more — maybe a Pico….

2009-11-20

This makes me desire an Eigenharp even more — maybe a Pico. I’ve nostalgized about getting a breath controller but the lines I want haven’t been updated in ages. I wish they were more common and not so esoteric after all these years.

What’s fun about this performance is it’s not just the James Bond Theme, I recognized from the ascending, squelchy acid riff that it’s actually a take on Moby’s rendition.

Via 10 Magnificently Modern Musical Instruments

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Faye 2009-11-20 at 1:11 PM UTC: I've got one. A pico that is and I can tell you it's the most fun I have had with an instrument since recorder at school. The clarinet simulation is my favourite but as with any real instrument you need to practice a lot to perfect your fingering and breath control.
Jose 2009-11-23 at 11:24 PM UTC: Faye,
I'm also very intrigued by this instrument and would opt for a Pico. Do you play keyboards or/and wind instruments? My first instrument was trombone and now I'm teaching myself piano. I have forever wanted something with breath control and this seems such an amazing marriage and synthesis of so much! Thanks for you post.
Torley 2009-11-25 at 4:02 PM UTC: @Faye Very cool to hear about it. I'm good with breath control, sloppy with wind fingering. So I'd have to practice!
Faye 2009-11-25 at 9:43 PM UTC: I have never been a serious musician but I've played piano, recorder and guitar. The keys are extremely sensitive on the pico and in clarinet mode respond to the slightest touch. In piano, you need to really strike the key to make a loud note and it can be difficult to make consistent sounding notes without practice. The thing which really makes it interesting is the fact you can change the key and even scale that the keys represent, going from chromatic c to d+ or major e to f++, just to pick two. Because the default bend is a semitone at full extent you can still pull off sharp/flat in major scale. Except in piano which disables the bend. There's blues and even gypsy scales to pick from among many others and in future you'll be able to make your own scale.
Faye 2009-11-26 at 12:21 AM UTC: More wind! The latest software update allows you to add wind driven soundfont and audio unit instruments… colour me happy!
Jose 2009-11-26 at 7:32 PM UTC: Thanks so much for your replies. Enjoy!
Ben 2009-11-29 at 12:59 PM UTC: Does the Pico work with Wallander Instruments?

This would be the ideal controller for WIVI because WIVI is amazing for doing realistic wind/brass/saxophone instrument parts, and coupled with the Pico, you could play any of the WIVI instruments with ease.