Comments on: Beamz Laser System Strikes Back, But What’s Wrong With Instruments, Anyway?

By: DaveDread

DaveDread — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:11:14 +0000

All I can say is, if you’re stupid enough to blow $600 on this thing, you deserve the certainly inevitable realization that you’re a complete tool.

By: megan

megan — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:59:21 +0000

UPDATE: The beamz is now $499.95 and can be purchased through the company’s site: http://www.thebeamz.com. You can download and purchase additional songs there as well.

By: Nowabeamzer

Nowabeamzer — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:23:30 +0000

Now that the beamz are out I can tell you that all the gripes are unfounded. I’ve taken keyboard and guitar lessons - I’m a frustrated musician, I like music much better than I play. I checked out the beamz and after 10 minutes had to have them. There is much more to the system then can be imagined - it does allow anyone with a feel for music to have fun. Oh, you can improve greatly and play in an infinite number of ways. I can’t think of words to describe it - they haven’t been invented yet.

I found this link - http://lspearmanii.multiply.com/video/item/435
with Quincy Jones, Yo Yo Ma and Herbie Hancock enjoying the beamz - and these guys know what they’re talking about.

By: Downpressor

Downpressor — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:30:24 +0000

Chris

Everyone knows the best ramen is in Ikebukuro.

By: Dr. Apostrophe X

Dr. Apostrophe X — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:44:29 +0000

” In your analogy I think you COULD write a skit about logic that goes “Logic audio - to make music, just click your mouse and music comes out”. ”

No, that’s GarageBand.

Seriously, though, thanks for posting the link to Jerry Riopelle playing the Beamz prototype. How many of us watched that and had the eerie feeling that we’d just gotten a good look at our own personal future. Yikes!

By: Vanceg

Vanceg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:23:47 +0000

Now - is DJing making music?
(ducking)

By: Vanceg

Vanceg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:23:05 +0000

Richard - I understand that you aren’t making the argument that playing guitar is easier than using Ableton live. And/but consider this:
The interface for playing guitar isn’t simply “place your fingers on the fretboard and strum and music comes out”.

In your analogy I think you COULD write a skit about logic that goes “Logic audio - to make music, just click your mouse and music comes out”.

I think the interface to a guitar is considerably more complex than that of Logic. The nuance of how long to hold a note, how to get the left and right hand coordinated, REMEMBERING where to put your fingers, not to mention the very difficult task of getting your fingers to move to the correct place on the fingerboard, then you get into vibrato and all of the other nuance of making a “beautiful” note….

I strongly believe that the real complexity of the interface of an acoustic instrument is overlooked - A guitar is more than “hold finger on fret, pluck same string”.

But I do see what you mean (I think) Logic’s interface does appear to have more individual “items” or “concepts” that the user has to understand to make a sound come out than a guitar does.

By: Michael Moncur

Michael Moncur — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:12:17 +0000

The trick to making simplified musical instruments for “the rest of us” is to leave SOME of the challenge and take away the rest.

Exhibit 1: Guitar Hero. Takes away the composition, and the finger-on-fretboard skills, but keeps the timing and rhythm sense.

Exhibit 2: The Kazoo. Takes away the physical difficulty of playing an instrument like a guitar or flute, but leaves the need to carry a tune.

Unless I’ve taken entirely the wrong impression from their video, Beamz takes away ALL of the challenge. Nobody wants that. If we want to play beautiful music with absolutely no challenge, we can press Play on our iPods.

Exception: Kids. This thing would be great for children, handicapped or not. The trouble is that (a) the price makes it inaccessible to almost all children, and (b) most of them would be bored of it in a day with the limited material they have to work with.

By: Jose

Jose — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:39:06 +0000

That video actually offends cowbells.

By: Richard Lawler

Richard Lawler — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:07:38 +0000

I’m not arguing that playing a guitar is easier than using Ableton Live. But the interface to a guitar is far less complex. I’m reminded of the Monty Python sketch where they teach you how to play the flute. “Blow in here and move your fingers up and down over the holes here.” You couldn’t write the same sketch about Logic Studio.

But MonksDream makes a good counter-point. An oboe or organ are hardly simple.