I really like this philosophy. As long as MIDI files could be export if you land on a piece that you’d like to develop in a DAW then I don’t see a downside.
From the article :
There’s not currently a function for exporting loops as audio or MIDI to another device, but Auxy tells us that this is something that may likely be implemented in future.
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Pianos have been furniture for many decades. Arguably many electronic keyboards sold are furniture. They’re at least trying to have this one be actually played. But I think there is probably a considerable gap between who they think will buy it and how they use it, and who will actually buy it and how it will be used.
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Which is a good thing. Buyers get to innovate and choose too.
As I visualized my hypothetical, it was not innovation, but sure. Once something is bought, the buyer gets to do what they want. Barring violation of laws and regulations, and discounting the possibility that the manufacturer has installed a kill switch that bricks the unit for any aesthetic transgressions.
The Svensson 49 is not intended as a groovebox, but if a user wants to use it in that sort of way, have at it.
I think it’s calling to a practice or way of living where musical instruments are part of daily living outside of career and commercial interests.
I have a digital piano at home that I never used for anything near my professional music career, same for an acoustic guitar in my living room. Calling those designer furniture would be outlandish, though I can’t lie I do wish my piano looked like that, it would fit in my decor much better. So I guess there’s some truth to it, but I actually see it in a quite positive light.
And I don’t see this as in opposition in any way to it being an instrument. In fact I wish more instruments took design cues from living space and decor… in an era where so much music is made at home, music gear can be so unappealing and dry. I’d love to have a small guitar amp that wouldn’t look gross in my living room.
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Taking your product to a show is useful filling the gap between your vision for the product, and what users think. Since their plan is to ship in the Fall they ( the designers at Auxy and Cuckoo ) have time for adjustments to software and sound ( and a carefully done hardware adjustment if there is a panic ).
Yamaha THR amps are a perfect example of this. Great amp that looks excellent in a room. One detail doesn’t have to detract from the other. Agreed, we could use more of it imo.
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Actually thought of them as I was writing the comment. Love those little things.
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Yep sure. And there are enough awesome furniture pieces instruments.
With this I just feel like it’s stuck 2/3 between instrument and design piece for the living room.
Books are furniture. Instruments are furniture. Pictures, movies, figurines, bikes. All can and is furniture if presented as such.
And it’s totally fine. I’m just… It does not feel like it commits enough personally.
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My comment about furniture was in no way discredit it’s value or worth.
It’s as valid and a fine to be that as it is to be “pro audio”. I’m of the opinion beauty can exist for the sole purpose of beauty, and I would defend the design over practicality for stuff that’s not meant to be taken in a productive way.
(I mean the whole Vinyl /cassette world is vibe and design > practicality and quality. Don’t @ me, vinyl and MC are inferior assuming a good master and transparent chain)
Why I see it more towards design piece: I think it cut to much of the non intrusive enabling features. I get cutting out stuff that bloats it, builds a wall (menu diving, falling deep into sound design traps, sequencing…)
From the functionality aspect the limitations seem not just limiting in getting you there to make Musik outside of the producer mindset, I think they actively limit you in their goal. But that’s obviously my subjective opinion.
By the way: there are many great looking digital pianos imho. They look less Scandinavian, so diversity is good.
There are plenty of devices I see discussed on Elektronauts where I say, “This is not for me, but I can see who would appreciate it, and I’m happy for them and happy to listen to their dialogue on it.” They range from little cheap, almost disposable devices to rare or seriously massive ones that cost two orders of magnitude more.
This one, I can’t quite grasp. I don’t see a demographic that it lands dead centre on. Perhaps I am just missing something.
I’ll probably see it next week, and maybe that will make a difference. And maybe I will see Cuckoo too. He seems very personable, but I don’t wish to disturb him. I’ll just wave and say hi.
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I’ve been wanting to get a 49 key controller because I think it’s kind of the sweet spot for me in terms of octaves and it’s the perfect width to pair with the A4mkii/ARmkii combo. Plus I love using capture in Live and Move so that’s appealing. The price, lack of aftertouch, and color are dealbreakers though. If it was black and had AT I would consider it at that price, or if it was as it is now but $500 maybe.
If I were in the market for something simple like this, I think I’d rather go back to the Casiotone CT-S500, which for me strikes a better balance of simplicity/features/price.
I really like the looper design in this instrument. When recording keys into other boxes, I was often put off by the practice-record workflow and many of my record takes are more crap than practice as I’m in the “recording” (focused but stressed) mindset (no. 1 reason I didn’t like the OP-1). Here it’s such an elegant change to just always be recording and letting you clear or save that, I think it takes a lot of the pressure off. I understand that this is mostly perception, but it is like that with many things, UX-wise.
I’ve already considered getting an electronic piano before, but I think this is better - it seems to be the immediacy of a piano, but also with the ability to loop (and looking much better than many e-pianos visually). Looking at it, I feel like it’s inviting to play without intention to create a finished piece of music, but rather to play for the sake of being in the moment of playing it (although I guess you can do both).
I’m doing NGNY this year, but this may very well become my NY '27 present to myself.
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I think you’ve described very well the essence/philosophy behind this beauty. It’s good to read some positive content.
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MIDI capture is such a great feature, I want it in everything. That said, it’s pretty easy to hook up any nice keyboard to Live, Move, Push, or Note, and get capture right there.
This thing is a beauty though, and that speaker means that it really works as a standalone instrument you can just switch on and play. I think the combo of this, and the midi capture/looping is a killer one, and tbh the price is pretty good too for what you get.
A mod wheel and aftertouch would be nice, but I have a keylab 88 for keys, and when I use it for piano, bass, and so on, I never use either. This feels like a keys-type keyboard, so I see why they chose to leave those off.
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I don’t think it makes much sense as a controller due to lack of octave shift, mod and pitch wheel.
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Just a comment about the speaker - I don’t really understand why it’s there.
If the device was portable, it could make sense if you wanted to move it around your place, or take it to a picnic table at a park or something, but if it’s going to need to be powered by wire, then you’re probably going to be near a set of headphones or studio monitors anyway.
Plus, the fact that it’s not stereo also feels like a negative.
It could just be me, though. I think manufacturers are slapping speakers into things too often these days, and they’re just not very effective. Even my beloved M8 (my favorite device) has a fairly useless speaker, and the one on the new MPC Sample is almost completely inaudible.
I recognize that my position on this is probably in the minority. Just my 2 cents.
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