Roger Linn on Alternate Controllers

Roger Linn has created a page on New High-Tech Musical Instruments . Pictured to the left is his own LinnSturment. You can catch Roger Linn at the CCRMA discussing alternative controllers in this video posted earlier today.

snip:
"Updated May 4, 2011

One of my (Roger) greatest interests is the current evolution of new musical instruments that take advantage of new technology. If I put on my idealist hat, I start thinking things like:

* Guitars are wonderful but they go out of tune, can't play chords and melody at the same time, can't play more than 6 notes at the same time, require two hands to make single notes, always produce a sharp-attack envelope, require 3 fingerings for each chord because of that pesky 3rd interval between the G and B strings, and the spaces between frets are big at one end and small at the other.

* Keyboards are wonderful but they require learning a different chord fingering for each of 12 keys, can't produce vibrato or other pitch nuances directly on the keys, can't vary the attack or decay time directly on the keys, and are long and heavy. Electronic keyboards attempt to overcome some of these limitations with transposition switches, pitch bend and modulation wheels, pitch strips, key pressure and more, but none of these enhancements have been useful enough to professionl players to properly overcome the basic limitations of the keyboard.

* Violin and other bowed instruments are great but can't play more than 2 notes at a time, are very difficult to learn to play in tune, have limited pitch range, and violins are (literally) a pain in the neck.

* Reed/wind instruments are great but they can't play more than one note at a time and require learning different scale fingerings for each of 12 keys.

People have been coming up with new ways to improve musical instruments for just about forever, but what interests me personally are the new ideas that break entirely with existing mechanical interfaces in favor of high-tech sensor interfaces, and particularly ones that can produce--or at least attempt to attain--finely nuanced musical subtlety. I've compiled the following descriptions and links to some of the ones I find interesting--some shipping, some formerly shipping, some shipping in future and some unique ideas that may never ship. Click the links below to go to each product's site to learn more and see demonstration videos."