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The Lumen: an electro-acoustic handpan for all
The Lumen: an electro-acoustic handpan for all
By Soniccouture | 02.04.2016
A couple of years ago we were approached by Guy Jackson, a software programmer from South Africa, who told us he wanted to make an electronic, hardware Hang Drum type instrument that would perfectly replicate the experience of playing those great instruments. He, like so many others, was frustrated at the lack of availability and high costs of the genuine drums, and wanted a more affordable, democratic solution.
Yeah, ok, sounds great, we thought. We won’t hold our breath, though.
Read MoreHowever, a year or so later, Guy was back – with a functioning early prototype, made of wood, but playing just like a handpan. It showed real promise and we were impressed by Guy’s drive and determination to make it happen, so we agreed we would act as sound design consultants and supply samples if a full production model ever came to be.
Another year later and Guy is about to launch a crowd-funding campaign to get The Lumen into a full production prototype form, and then make it available for retail. The price isn’t fixed yet but Guy ‘s aim is that it will be well under $1000 USD. With original Hangs changing hands for up to $10,000 on ebay, and other models selling for $2000+, this is exactly the price it needs to be.
Here is a sneak peak of the projected feature set:
Features
- Sound Design & Consultancy by Soniccouture
- Full velocity sensitivity (20 levels per tone field)
- Full range, amplified speakers
- USB charging
- 4 hour+ playing time
- MIDI output
- Audio output (headphone jack)
- Multiple instruments – changeable while playing
- Key adjustments while playing
- Scale adjustments
- Affordable!
Get onboard early and support the Lumen crowd-funding campaign at Indiegogo
NKS Updates: Phase 1
NKS Updates: Phase 1
By Soniccouture | 24.03.2016
We are very pleased to announce that 13 Soniccouture products have now been approved as fully NKS compliant.
Working closely with Native Instruments, each product has been updated, integrated and tested with Komplete Kontrol and the Kontrol series of hardware keyboards.
Read MoreOur remaining Kontakt Player products are already in the pipeline and should be available by the end of April 2016
The NKS product list in full:
- Box Of Tricks
- Balinese Gamelan 2
- Ondioline
- Geosonics
- EP73 Deconstructed
- The Attic
- The Hammersmith
- The Hammersmith Pro Edition
- Clav
- Vibraphone
- Grand Marimba
- Ondes
- Glass Works
Updates are completely free for existing users, and can be downloaded from the user account area now. Simply click on the Downloads link for each individual product, and you will see the update under the main product downloads:
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Roli + Ondioline
Roli + Ondioline
By James Thompson | 26.01.2016
Roli sent us a Seaboard RISE to try out; here’s James noodling somewhat poorly with Ondioline.
Read MoreThe Seaboard Rise is a very effective partner for the Ondioline instrument – I can’t think of any other controller which enables such a realistic emulation of the original units lateral vibrato keyboard. The Seaboard is much more flexible than that, though – the Ondioline keyboard could move side to side, but that was all – with the Seaboard completely fluid slides (in all directions) are possible, and the pressure sensitivity is also possible, although it takes some practice to play softly enough to be able to use it well.
The Seaboard is pretty easy to get used to, but you can imagine there is scope to become a real virtuoso with it.
Box Of Tricks Video Review
Box Of Tricks Video Review
By James Thompson | 14.12.2015
The irrepressible St.Joe from Sounds And Gear.com has done a nice video walkthrough of Box Of Tricks – he spends a little time with each of the instruments, so it’s a great way to get a real-life feel of the product.
Read MoreBOX OF TRICKS INFO
Sounds And Gear Site
Box Of Tricks controlled by MiMu Gloves
Box Of Tricks controlled by MiMu Gloves
By James Thompson | 13.11.2015
Valentina Morandini sent us these videos of her working with Box Of Tricks and a pair of the MiMu Gloves, co-developed by Imogen Heap.
Read MoreValentina: “in the cello video I am playing single notes moving every single flex glove sensor separately (index+middle+ring), using the bow cello articulations.”
“In the vocal pad video I am playing 3 different chords making 3 different postures (1 finger point+claws cat+ok) with my left hand and at the end I added a delay effect to the last vocal chord, moving the ring flex sensor with my right hand.”
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