Monome-like musical toy recommendations?

April 2, 2009 6:37 AM

Looking for monome-like musical toy recommendations.

My autistic cousin loves playing with websites that feature interactive music and visuals. I think he would really enjoy something like the monome, when it's used as a music sequencer.

The monome, of course, is very expensive and needs to be attached to other devices in order to play music. Are there other options with the same interface (lighted grid, left to right time passage metaphor, buttons represent distinct sounds, etc) that don't require a computer and don't cost $500?

posted by odinsdream to media & arts (11 answers total)

Definitely the first things to come to mind are the Korg Mini Kaoss Pad ($150), and even more so the Kaossilator.
posted by tmcw at 6:46 AM on April 2, 2009

I notice the MIDI tag: Anything that spits out MIDI will require another computer or synthesizer to make sounds. If you wanted a less expensive version of the monome, consider making your cousin an Arduinome kit.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:38 AM on April 2, 2009

There's a "game" for the Nintendo DS called Electroplankton that might be useful to you. It's not really a game, it's more accurately a music toy. I don't remember a left-right time passage metaphor, but it has several different modes of play where you can touch different items to create different musical notes and such. The DS has a headphone jack so you can connect external speakers or a recording device.

I should add that I don't know anything about music, and have never played with a monome.
posted by kidbritish at 7:55 AM on April 2, 2009

BP: The midi tag was for searchers' benefit, but I do want something that stands on its own.
posted by odinsdream at 8:17 AM on April 2, 2009

Like @kidbritish I would second buying a ds ($120ish) but rather than electroplankton go for Korg DS 10. Awesome game/musical device and has MANY functions. Look it up. You won't be dissapointed. Oh and the whole thing(system and game) is less than $200. Can't beat it. Everyone needs a ds anyway. Nintendo Dsi comes out soon too.
posted by xdeliriumx at 11:46 AM on April 2, 2009 [2 favorites]

For less than $500 your options are limited. The suggestion above about the Nintendo DS is a good one, and there's a ton of homebrew software you can load. Sadly, the only Monome-like DS homebrew I know of requires a computer to generate sound. But Electroplankton is 10 tons of awesome for ambient noise-making.

On the super-expensive-but-just-what-you-need end of the spectrum, there's the Tenori-on. Its price tag is pretty hefty, but it has built-in sounds, a sequencer, a sampler, and more blinking lights than you can shake a stick at.

Or, right at the cusp of your price-point, there's the Korg Kaoss Pad. It's not exactly what you're looking for, but it's close; lighted grid, some built-in sounds. Mostly it's a loop-sampler/groovebox, and as far as I know the only way it can sequence is via third-party software.
posted by lekvar at 12:18 PM on April 2, 2009

I would definitely recommend the Korg DS-10 for the Nintendo DS. Pretty awesome toy, and you can make actual music with it without too much work. You get grid-style sequencers for the two synths and the drums so it's a perfect fit for that aspect of your criteria. It's also a great way to learn the basics of synthesis; the synths are modeled on the primitive Korg MS-10 analog synthesizer, so there aren't a lot of bells and whistles that might overwhelm someone trying to figure out what everything does.
posted by subclub at 12:29 PM on April 2, 2009

Thanks everyone. I was really hoping for something very, very close to the monome. I like the simplicity of the interface... the fact that it is very intuitive and doesn't involve words or instructions. I'll probably go with the Arduinome project and see if I can make something that will stand on its own. Unfortunately the Tenori-on seems the only thing that meets this goal, but it's even more expensive.
posted by odinsdream at 6:19 AM on April 3, 2009

Breaking News!

Think Geek has the Bliptronic 5000 for 50 bucks.

It looks like exactly what you want!

YouTube video.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 12:45 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]

Karlos is 100% correct. The Bliptronic is what you're looking for.
posted by lekvar at 10:53 AM on December 3, 2009

Thank you Karlos! Just in time for xmas too! This is great. Absolutely great.
posted by odinsdream at 6:30 AM on December 4, 2009