£ 701.40 Web price, inc VAT
Euro Price: €802.03 (1 GBP = 1.1435 EUR)
SRP: £ 968.00
Availability: 1 in stock
Dolphin ID: 33621
Product SKU: TNR-W
TENORI-ON CARRY BAG! view it here

Media artist Toshio Iwai and Yamaha have collaborated to design a new digital musical instrument for the 21st century, TENORI-ON. A 16x16 matrix of LED switches allows everyone to play music intuitively, creating a "visible music" interface.
The Tenori-On is a revolutionary new concept, and is not only a very useful and versatile tool for professional musicians and producers, but also a fantastic instrument for those who never thought they could play anything, due to it's "visible music" interface.
You can also apply for our new Credit Scheme and spread the cost of the Tenori-On.
TENORI-ON “Modes”
The TENORI-ON 16 x 16 LED button matrix is simultaneously a performance input controller and display. By operating and interacting with the LED buttons and the light they produce you gain access to the TENORI-ON's numerous performance capabilities.
The TENORI-ON provides six different performance and sound/light modes for broad performance versatility, and these modes can be combined and used simultaneously for rich, complex musical expression.

LAYERS
TENORI-ON layers can be thought of as “performance parts” or “recording tracks.” The TENORI-ON has a total of 16 layers. Separate notes and voices can be assigned to each layer, and all layers can be played together in synchronization.
The 16 layers are divided into six performance mode groups as shown in the illustration below. The six modes have different note entry methods and operation. Up to 16 layers created using different modes can be combined for rich, complex musical expression.

BLOCKS
One complete set of 16 layers is called a “block.”
The TENORI-ON can store up to 16 programmed blocks (16-layer groups) in memory, and you can switch from block to block instantly during performance.
You could, for example, create a musical composition in one block, then copy that composition to another block and edit it to create a variation of the original composition. Or you can load a number of previously-created compositions into separate blocks from an SD Memory Card and switch between them to create variation during playback.
Additional Images (click to enlarge):
WATCH TENORI-ON VIDEOS:
The TENORI-ON provides six different performance and sound/light modes for broad performance versatility, and these modes can be combined and used simultaneously for rich, complex musical expression.
SCORE MODE PERFORMANCE | Watch Video
Press an LED button briefly to play the sound assigned to it. At the same time the lights will flash outward from the played sound. If you hold the LED button a bit longer it will remain lit and will become an active note that will play repeatedly. Press and hold an active note to de-activate it. The loop indicator will be continuously cycling from the left to right edge of the LED button matrix. Active notes will play when the loop indicator coincides with their positions on the matrix.
RANDOM MODE PERFORMANCE | Watch Video
If you press an LED button long enough to enter an active note in the Random Mode, the active note will play back repeatedly. If you then enter a few more active notes, the lights will "travel" from note to note, in the order entered, and the active notes will sound when the traveling light passes over them. The Random Mode thus produces a totally different type of loop from the Score Mode.
You can even spin loop-shapes you create in the Random Mode by holding the [L4] button and running a finger around the matrix in the direction and at the speed of the desired spin. The pitches of the notes will change accordingly as the shape spins, producing loop sound effects. To stop rotation, press and hold the LED button or press the same LED button twice while holding the [L4] button.
DRAW MODE PERFORMANCE | Watch Video
In this mode you can press individual LED buttons or draw lines or curves on the matrix, and those actions will be played back and repeated. You can keep adding to your "composition" during playback to build up thick sonic textures.
In the Draw Mode you cannot clear only a part of the performance. The entire layer can be cleared by pressing the [CLEAR] button.
BOUNCE MODE PERFORMANCE | Watch Video
Press an LED button and the light will "drop" from that button, bounce back from the bottom of the matrix, and repeat. The corresponding note will sound when the light bounces at the bottom row. The higher the entry point, the longer the interval between the sound. In the Bounce Mode the pitches are arranged horizontally, like a piano, with the lowest pitch on the left and the highest on the right.
PUSH MODE PERFORMANCE | Watch Video
In this mode if you press and hold an LED button the sound of the corresponding note will begin to change gradually while the flashing surrounding that button gets brighter and wider. If the button is held briefly the note and flashing will stop when you release it, but if you hold the button for longer the note and flashing will continue even after the button is released.
SOLO MODE PERFORMANCE | Watch Video
Press an LED button and the corresponding note will repeat until the button is released. In the Solo Mode the pitches are arranged horizontally, like a piano. You can change the interval between repeats by pressing or sliding your finger to a lower (longer) or higher (shorter) LED button in the column. If you press the lowest LED button in a column the note will sound once without any repeats.
SPECIFICATIONS
Sequencer
Tone Generator
Card
Controller & Display
Sound
Connectors
Dimensions & Weight
Downloads:
Bored1
February 26, 2009
Rating: 8/10
It\'s impossible to rate this instruemnt, since there is really nothing out there to compare it with. Iwai san wanted to create an electronic instrument that has it\'s own identity, beaty and special qualities like a well built guitar for instance, and he has succeded. The choice of materials and all the details are very well thought out (magnesium instead of aluminium for instance, reflects light differently), and it does have a \'feel\' of a very beautiful thing. In it\'s limited numbers it is probably more hand built than any electric guitars sub 1.000.
If you\'re looking for a MIDI sound module and/or a simple sequencer for scetching out ideas within a mainstream pop/techno/trance idom only and don\'t care about the \'feel\' of it, you can probably get better value elsewhere. The Tenori-on does offer instant blip blop, and there\'s a growing numbers of YouTube videos to show just how boring that can be.
The limitations is a part of the feature set, and it\'s when you start to work up against them that interesting things will start to happen. You do need imagination to get the best of this instrument. Myself I have a classical music education where I chose to focus on 12-tone and other mathematical music. Rather surprisingly it has helped me a lot to get outside the otherwise naïve / banal paths you can be hooked into so easily. Even if the 16 x 16 matrix instead of a keyboard helps freeing you from traditional thinking, it surley has its own clichés.
I think the tradeoffs are well thought out, generally. The soundset is limited with almost only short sounds. Mine runs on batteries for the 8th hour now, which I find great, and that wouldn\'t be possible with huge sounds. Things like that - very well thought out. This is not for everyone, and kudos to Yamaha to make it available to the general public at all.
Mark
January 26, 2009
Rating: 8/10
The Tenori-on has been raved about on the internet, and it\'s been panned too. It can do a lot more than most step-sequencers, but it does have some limitations.
The voice set could be improved and the number of sample banks could be increased. And there are other things too numerous to mention.
That said, it can achieve a great deal all by itself, and as a musicians \'play tool\' it is unique.
Expect more tenori-on-like instruments in the future, when it will be come a future classic.
Cool, expensive, but worth it!
Winter NAMM Show 2010 sees the public release of the highly anticipated Version 2.0 firmware of the Yamaha Tenori-On.
Original Tenori-on Acquired by Prestigious New York City Museum; New Versions More Widely Available Through Musical Instrument Retailers.
With the touring season in full flow, our artists are flying the Yamaha flag on numerous stages around the country and World and are in the music you are currently downloading or buying, with four artists in the top 10 Album chart. Here is a small example of what’s been going on and coming up this month…..
Cosmic synth-pop chanteuse Little Boots and electro-dancehall queen Santigold have just been added to the bill for Field Day – the one-day festival in east London's Victoria Park on Saturday 1st August that's occurring the day after the Tiesto fiesta.
a series of solo pieces inspired by John Cage’s experiments for prepared piano and Conlon Nancarrow’s player piano studies.
Tenori-on proved a big success as over 2000 guests attended the London Science Museum's 2nd 'Lates Session' last Wednesday (28th Jan).
Joining the ranks alongside previous winners Adele, Mika and Corrine Bailey Rae. Little Boots, featured on issue 2 of Music Planet, has already been namechecked by HMV and music weekly NME as one of the brightest hopes for 2009. Find out more, and watch the "Little Boots guide to the Tenori-On"!
Music chain HMV has released its top 10 list of new bands tipped to break through this year. Acts include Little Boots, recently featured on Dolphin's Music Planet magazine!
Last Friday, the Yamaha Tenori-On made a brief appearance on Channel 4's hit comedy series The IT Crowd...
Few instruments (if any) generate the amount of online excitement as the unique Yamaha Tenori-On. With hundreds of user generated youtube movies, thousands of blogs and a really active user community, this special instrument is really turning heads and inspiring the creative world.
We're not Santa, but we can give him a run for his money! For a limited-time only, we are offering the Tenori-On for a lower price than any other UK retailer...and even better: you'll get a free Tenori-On t-shirt as well! But hurry up: Offer starts tomorrow (Thursday 4th Dec) and ends Sunday 7th December. View more...
Little Boots is the musical alter ego of Blackpool lass Victoria Hesketh, former singer with Dead Disco. At last week's Later With Jools Holland show on BBC 2, Little Boots brought together vintage and new technologies, with a stunning performance that used both a Stylophone AND a Tenori-on!
Can it really be 10 years since Snowboarding in Argentina – Swayzak’s debut long player – was named album of the year by Mixer magazine? And now they are turning to Tenori-On to create new amazing sounds...
As the festival season ends the touring season begins and Yamaha has lots of artists out on the road and coming to a venue near you. This along with a couple of choice album releases makes October a very tasty month!
The Yamaha Download brings you the latest news and views from Yamaha UK. It has exclusive interviews, gear demos and live music as we talk to the artists who use Yamaha instruments in session and on some of the biggest stages in the world.
Yamaha has just made available the instructions that show how to built your own Tenori-On. But not as you know it...
The Numark IDJ2 and the Yamaha Tenori-On have been shortlisted for "Best music Gadget in 2008" in the very influential T3 gadget magazine.
It’s a girl-band like no other: there are three of them, they’re called The Tenorions and the only instruments they play are – you guessed it – three Yamaha Tenori-ons!
Björk’s current world tour utilizes some of the most cutting edge on-stage technology out there, so it’s no surprise to find at least one Tenori-on in the thick of it…
The Tenori-On, the most revolutionary musical instrument of the 21st century, is set to hit the mainstream, with a TV appearance on Channel 4's Paul O'Grady Show, thanks to London-based duo The Tenorions.
Due to the current exchange rate situation its become necessary for Yamaha to increase the UK price of Tenori-on, from 1st April 2008.
On Tuesday 26th February, Dolphin Music Huddersfield proudly presented a quirky and unique musical evening featuring the legend that is... BERT SMORENBURG.
Future Loop Foundation join the list of high profile Tenori-on users…
Tenori-on – Yamaha’s multi-award winning revolutionary new instrument that uniquely marries music and art inspiring new directions, new music and new genres has been honoured in the Design Museum’s first ever Brit Insurance Designs of the Year exhibition and Brit Insurance Design Awards.
Another ground-breaking artist adopts Yamaha’s most forward-thinking product…
Audio artist, musician and novelist Norman Fairbanks, from Los Angeles, USA, has released the first ever album completely made using a Tenori-On.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE RELEASE - UK ONLY! This is the most important instrument launch of the year - the new digital musical instrument for the 21st century, TENORI-ON, which allows everyone to play music intuitively, creating a "visible music" interface. And it's now available from Dolphin Music!
WORLD EXCLUSIVE RELEASE - UK ONLY! This is the most important instrument launch of the year - the new digital musical instrument for the 21st century, TENORI-ON, which allows everyone to play music intuitively, creating a "visible music" interface. Find out more about how to Order one of the first Tenori-Ons to be made available anywhere in the world!
Be connected, and Collaborate
A overview of the Tenori-On's design details.
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