It feels like it’d be better if it were larger and more melodic. Like glockenspiel level. I suspect there’ll be loads of interesting things you can do with this but it seems like a Kalimba and some mics and effects could possibly do the same? But will be worth seeing what someone does with it.
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That’s exactly what I’m thinking, the concept is absolutely cool but it sounds like a kalimba. I hope they’ll expand this idea.
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They’re encouraging replacing the tines and placing other things on top to affect the sound but the small space available makes that a bit difficult to do in any way that will make a bigger difference to sound. But still curious.
Going to places like the mechanical musical instrument museum and seeing all the bowing, plucking, blowing and all sorts mechanisms from ages ago makes me think something similar with modern technology, microphones and processing could introduce something completely new to synths. Or might just buy one of these:
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I’m glad to see it is actually going to come out. I think it is very cool … but I doubt it will sell well.
Oddly, the IG vid I watched immediately reminded me of Tom Waits. That’s actually kind of amazing.
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It is.
And that’s why for 1k it is to expensive for most, and I assume also the reason why it is only now going into production.
But it’s also:
More options in regards to tone shaping (sustained notes), sequenced via sequencer/midi, and since it’s acoustic its sound is influenced by it’s surrounding through resonance.
I do think slight help from effects will do wonder here.
But it definitely is not for every style of music, and a mass audience product.
Sampling is no solution (no variation of the tone in the acoustic domain, just usual filtering and amping), while recording of a sequence played by hand stopf you from doing anything else on a kalimba.
I do hope there’s much on the digital side they kept undisclosed, but I guess we’ll see. I see it in a comparable class as the soma Lyra-8, but it coming from a massive manufacturer which is Korg let me hope it’s not as expensive as that beast.
Oh, and I do hope for stereo panning of the pickups.
(I did play around with my soma field kit enough that I know I with effects interesting stuff can happen, this rides it into a more playable instrument instead of a sample generating process)
There is one that is avocado-colored, which is a big plus in my book. If it’s reasonably priced, I could see it as an impulse buy. But Korg seems less interested in that segment of the market these days.
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The problem is probably more that there is not that much of a mass market audience, and the tolerances need to be lower than with strictly electronic instruments since the whole thing contributed to the sound.
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This is my favorite non-sequitur answer of all time. “But it goes to eleven!”
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Good job @DaveMech
Putting stuff like rocks on the tines or whatever you call them is what I had in mind too. 
Gonna order me an avocado colored one
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you can put avocado stones on it, extra texture
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Sounds beautiful. Curious if this can work as analog resonator for external signal
I just remembered I have an Engle. haven’t used it as much as I thought I would when I got it.
Anyway, might be fun to use the Engle to add an extra hit while the sequencer is playing
First proper example that’s trying to make Musik and not just explaining or making samples.
(Not that it’s easy on Superbooth, and I get that they never wanted to overexpose it that it’s an old hat by the time it comes out)
But they where right to announce it, by it’s third or forth showing people would start to ask if there ever something comes out.
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Rather than focus on what it can’t do,
focus on what it avocando.
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I always enjoy one of our own making good music making vids.
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It seems to be an electronic kalimba indeed. I love Korg, but one wonders how much you can do by just sampling a kalimba sound through say a Roland P-6.
Still it’s cool. All of my interest hinges on how unpredictable and crazy it can get.
The primary use of sticks and stones is not very convincing - couldn’t Korg include something a bit more stylish and reliable to deaden the tines…?
That’s a fundamental misunderstanding.
It’s not just deadening. Different objects resonate differently, so shape, size, how it’s laying, etc changes the timbre. You can’t replace that with a ‘stylish’ mechanics, you’re limiting the options.
In regards to sampling:
The same as you can sample a piano, a guitar, etc.
What you loose with a p-6 is all the variance. How it sounds different when 2 are vibrating at the same time since the vibration resonates in the other zones. Or the physical manipulation by adding objects or touching it to dampen.
It is definitely not for everyone and lives in between acoustic and electronic instruments. If the thought is ‘what does it add more than sampling a kalimba’, then it’s probably not for you (which is fine).
In regards to putting stuff on it:
Probably mostly known by John cages prepared pianos.
It’s also assumed that the piano on aphex twins druqs was a prepared biano
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This is very informative, thanks. I still think Korg could provide something, you could still put stones or a pencil or a tomato on it instead if you so wish (hoping small particles etc don’t get into and ruin the device). I understand you would lose quite a few specifics with a P-6, but the opposite is also probably true.
Again, if you can’t quite control it and the unexpected happens (i.e. some magic is there), I’d be interested, although I am not quite sure about how long the fun factor would last if the actual sounds don’t change that much. But that’s just me.
Physical modeling coupled with a sensitive controller (eg Osmose or even Continuum) is more interesting in this regard than just sampling because it won’t be static and repetitive.
However, interacting with the actual physical thing is a totally different experience. Interacting with it using a mallet, you can certainly do much more than with only a static object laid on top.
I was really hoping this would end up being more electric vibraphone sounding than electric kalimba. I was wanting these vibes 
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