The Tenori-On's hand-brushed magnesium body is light and durable. The illuminated 16x16 matrix of buttons combines the satisfaction of popping bubble wrap, with the pride of programming a drum machine.(Credit: CNET Networks/Donald Bell)
Yamaha's Yu Nishibori demonstrates the Tenori-On at Robotspeak in San Francisco.(Credit: CNET Networks/Donald Bell)
Yamaha is currently selling the Tenori-On for 599 in the UK, making it likely that the US version will retail for over $1000. Dropping a grand on a futuristic music sequencer is probably a stretch for the casual gadget connoisseur, but electronic music musicians eager to break away from their laptops and stale drum machines might just jump at the opportunity. Regardless of the Tenori-On's mass-market appeal, I have to hand it to Yamaha for investing in a project that could have easily languished as a concept design, deemed too ahead of its time. If this year's Blip Festival was any indication, the kids are ready for a new hand-held sound machine to replace their hacked, aging Gameboys.
