Isomorphism FTW

[BJG145]

Whatever happened to the Shiverware Rainboard...? That thing looked amazing.



I've previously coveted isomorphic keyboards like the Starr Labs Microzone in an "oh, that looks cool" kind of way, but I've never really grasped what it meant, until...

...I work part time to maintain a care home for unwanted Kickstarter gadgets, and we recently took in a small Dualo du-touch.



The penny finally dropped when I realised that chords, scales, intervals, could be transferred fully intact anywhere on the layout. Genius. I love it.

Only problem now is that I'm gonna have to beg, borrow or steal to get a bigger one.

[resistorman]

The Rainboard does look cool. I’m very happy with my Linnstrument 128... especially because I’m able to use the same pattern for every scale.

http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/linnstrument.html

[CS70]

Whatever happened

..and I who was already looking forward to a pleasant discussion about geometry and algebraic structures...

[BJG145]

The Rainboard does look cool. I’m very happy with my Linnstrument 128... especially because I’m able to use the same pattern for every scale.

http://www.rogerlinndesign.com/linnstrument.html

Oh damn, yeah, I'm after one of those. (Given the price of the Linnstrument and Haken Continuum, I was interested to see that the Sensel Morph recently acquired MPE. There's also the Madrona Soundplane if you can get hold of one, and that about wraps it up for that kind of controller.)

[ManFromGlass]

Not having years of ingrained keyboard training to get in the way, I am loving my Roli Rise 25. And now doesn't this Linnstrument look interesting. Cripes - time to start saving up again!

[BJG145]

While I'm plugging random eBay listings...the mouse also hovered over an Axis 49. (SOS review).



Unfortunately C-thru Music no longer make these and they're not easy to find, leaving the Opal as the only game in town for this "Harmonic Table" concept. (Beautifully made but with a price tag to match.)

[Martin Walker]

...leaving the Opal as the only game in town for this "Harmonic Table" concept. (Beautifully made but with a price tag to match.)

Now that is truly beautiful, and almost steampunk to boot!

But £2500!!!

Martin

[BJG145]

...discovered a new isomorphic instrument listed on eBay today.



Apparently this little beauty is called a Hohner Harmonetta, and employs the same Harmonic Table layout as the Axis 49 above.

[Sam Spoons]

Same layout as a chromatic button accordion?

[BJG145]

I like to keep this thread updated with the latest topical Isomorphic instruments I never came across before, so here's a Hyve I just noticed on eBay.



It's a mini capacitive-touch synth originally launched on Kickstarter with a petite but cool hexagonal layout above the keyboard. If you have very small fingers.

https://youtu.be/pLG0hqTtlgA?t=284

(In other isomorphic news...Dualo folded without ever producing the larger Du-touch L funded on Kickstarter...to the wrath of the punters who lost their money. But some of the original team have recently re-emerged as Intuitive Instruments to keep the dream alive, so at least people can get their smaller Du-touch S serviced if needs be. I need to get mine fixed as it happens, but the last instrument I sent to France for repair disappeared without trace and I haven't quite forgiven the French yet, so...we'll see.)

[BJG145]

...continuing the button-layout theme, I love the Elka Concorde range I just discovered via this listing for a baby Concorde 90 on eBay.

Here's a Concorde 96...



...but I think I'll save myself for the bonkers steampunk war room fantasy of the Concorde 902.

[Martin Walker]

Wow, just wow - that's some weird (yet fascinating) looking device!

Martin

[Zukan]

Some of these are truly stunning! Even if they didn't make a sound I'd still love to own one.

[Sam Spoons]

It's basically a flattened out accordion



What about this then, (turned up in a search for button accordion images)

[Drew Stephenson]

...but I think I'll save myself for the bonkers steampunk war room fantasy of the Concorde 902.

Which button launches the missiles? I really think that should be clearly marked. You know, for health and safety...

[BJG145]

Which button launches the missiles?

Not sure, but apparently that red one on the right gives you a hell of a buzz...

[Martin Walker]

[MarkRosenberg]

Noticed BJG145's comment about the Sensel Morph so I thought I'd share this:

Isomorphic design on the Sensel Morph using the Innovator's Overlay



You can files in the Sensel forum here

Cheers,
Mark from Sensel

[BJG145]

I just came across another isomorphic oddity for the list. This one's called the Beeboard.





The buttons act on rods in the box, with the movement detected by a camera and converted into MIDI. The layout is inspired by the shape of a bee cell, with microtonal scales in mind. It's the brainchild of Dzintars Briedis, who makes these apian instruments by hand in Latvia.

http://beeboard.org/

YouTube

Reverb

[Martin Walker]

Wow!

Now I can't quite decide whether that's a thing of beauty (the top panel certainly is) or not (the rest looks more like a waste paper basket )

Fascinating design though

Martin

[BJG145]

Just a quick isomorphic news update. The Dodeka Stellar looks ready to be launched on Kickstarter before too long.

]

But what got me really excited was discovering a teaser video for the Tonal Plexus 2nd Generation.

This radical is-that-lego? microtonal monster has been unobtainable forever. It looks like it might finally be making a return...

[The Elf]

Wow! And people think I'm weird for falling in love with a Roli Seaboard!

[ManFromGlass]

I’m a sucker for the small seaboard and I’m waiting on their new keyboard to be delivered. I’m also waiting for a kickstarter midi flute/recorder controller thingy.
I like weird but usable. After all it’s just a bunch of switches under your fingers and I have very little keyboard training to get in the way.
Please accept that last statement as the lamest justification you’ve ever heard to buy weird cool stuff, but I’m sticking to it!

[BJG145]

I’m a sucker for the small seaboard and I’m waiting on their new keyboard to be delivered. I’m also waiting for a kickstarter midi flute/recorder controller thingy.

Really? What's that?

[ManFromGlass]

On Kickstarter

- the recorder, re.invented

- from Roli the Lumi keyboard