Musicians utilize electronic instruments to produce sounds which are amplified and played back through loudspeakers, amplified further using power amplifiers, or designed specifically to produce new musical sounds. These instruments include both those which mimic existing musical sounds as well as newer creations designed to produce original ones.
The Kaossilator, for instance, is a small touch-pad instrument where finger positioning controls two note characteristics. It is commonly used in dance music and can record repeating loops with any tempo.
Theremin
The theremin is an electronic musical instrument which is played without physically touching it – making it one of the more unusual instruments ever devised. Invented by Leon Theremin in 1919 while working to engineer proximity sensor devices for Soviet military use, but instead created this revolutionary piece.
Theremins can be extremely challenging instruments to master, requiring an in-depth knowledge of both physics and electromagnetism to operate effectively. Theremins contain two oscillators: one fixed frequency while the other varies according to performer position; a straight antenna protrudes from one end wall of the box for pitch selection while a loop-shaped antenna protrudes from the other end for dynamic/volume control – typically right hand controls pitch selection while left hand controls dynamic/volume controls (although some players switch this).
Due to its otherworldly sound, theremin became popular for creating creepy sound effects in movies during the 1940s and 50s, particularly thrillers such as The Day the Earth Stood Still (scored by Bernard Hermann) or horror movies like Billy Wilder’s Dracula (1966).
But beyond sci-fi movie soundtracks, the theremin has also become an indispensable instrument in creating music of various styles–from classical to avant-garde–by composers such as Bohuslav Martinu, Edgard Varese and Joseph Schillinger. Additionally, its use served as inspiration for other electronic instruments including Moog synthesizers; indeed Bob Moog started playing theremins while in high school! His early experiments ultimately lead him to create this revolutionary instrument! Yet even today many musicians prize this unique instrument despite its limitations; indeed it remains highly sought-after by musicians worldwide!
Omnichord
Engineers at Japan’s Suzuki corporation created the Omnichord electronic musical instrument in 1980 to resemble an autoharp. Featuring 27 chord buttons that trigger Major, Minor or 7th chords when touched to its’strum plate’ by finger tapping, anyone with little musical knowledge can play songs easily using this device. Furthermore, its preset rhythm section allows users to control tempo and volume as well as several voicing options including Chord Mode and Pattern Mode.
The OM-108’s most striking characteristic is its Sonic Strings, which produce distinctive arpeggios when strumming by fingertip. These arpeggios result from chords activated via pressing chord buttons. Its portability means it can be used anywhere with either power supply or batteries; its built-in speaker also allows players to play without an amplifier. Furthermore, its wide sonic range can be altered through various voicing options to produce bright, rich or airy tones.
While many musicians initially saw the Omnichord as just another toy, those with more imagination soon discovered its usefulness in their creative work. For example, it can be combined with guitar pedals for an enveloping yet dynamic and shimmering effect; Walrus Audio’s Delay Pedal or Chase Bliss’ Mood Pedal can transform its sound further still. Furthermore, plugging it into digital synthesizers offers further expandable sounds; perfect for improvising melodies or creating chord progressions; making the Omnichord an excellent choice when creating new sounds!
Halldorophone
The Halldorophone is an innovative cello-like electroacoustic string instrument with feedback capabilities. Invented by visual artist Halldor Ulfarsson as part of his art practice, its creator now plans on commercializing his instrument and has already seen use by musicians across a variety of settings.
The sound of an instrument is produced using a feedback system based on resonator strings. Each sound string of an instrument is connected to a speaker, creating a loop of feedback where musicians can control how much of each sound wave reverberates back towards it and adjust intensity levels accordingly. Furthermore, their strings may also be connected external audio equipment like effects pedals for further manipulation to create unique sounds that enhance and personalize their instruments’ sounds.
Halldorophones can be easily integrated with other instruments, like guitars and keyboards, so their strings can be activated by the trigger devices of these other instruments, creating a musical collaboration known as live electronica. Some musicians opt to incorporate both traditional and electronic instruments while others focus more on using digital or electric ones exclusively.
Halldorophones have become a go-to instrument in experimental music, such as Icelandic composer Hildur Gudnadottir’s Oscar-nominated score for Joker. You may also recognize them in Sunn O)))’s work or the folk rap group CryptoChrome’s. Furthermore, these instruments have gained increasing popularity as film scores as they can create both organic and synthetic sounds while still offering the emotional resonance associated with classical pieces.
Continuum Fingerboard
The Continuum Fingerboard is an innovative musical instrument that serves both as performance controller and synthesizer. Its non-traditional keyboard utilizes a touch sensitive, fabric-covered neoprene rubber surface similar to that found on wetsuits; sensors underneath its surface respond to finger pressure by responding portamento, pitch bend and vibrato effects without changing position; thus providing access to playing all notes within an octave (from seven eighths up to four-and-a-half octaves) without alteration of position
EaganMatrix, inspired by classic analog matrix patching synthesizers like the ARP 2500 and EMS Synthi 100, utilizes complex mathematical formulae to replace static pins of each patch point with dynamic equations for an intricate relationship between playing surface and sound engine.
Professional musicians worldwide rely on the Continuum Fingerboard. Its many features include oscillators, filters, delays, modulation waveshaping spectral manipulation granulation shape generator and kinetic modeling; its complex architecture was specifically created to facilitate high levels of expressiveness and flexibility throughout performance.
Haken Audio’s Continuum Fingerboard is the first multi-touch, multidimensional musical instrument featuring an integrated modular sound engine. Featuring a flexible yet tactile surface made of neoprene rubber that feels like an extension of performer hands, its multidimensional nature enables players to play it with one finger up to all ten. Controls for volume, tone and pitch adjustments give it great versatility – this has led to its use by professional musicians such as bass guitarist John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and keyboardist Terry Lawless of U2; Jordan Rudess from progressive metal band Dream Theatre also uses it regularly!
Xth Sense
Xth Sense is an accessible DIY biowearable that lets you harness sounds from your body to use as controls for sound, music, interactive video, virtual reality games and game mechanics. The sensors track movement, temperature changes and muscle sounds (known as mechanomyogram) over nine dimensions which you can hear as sounds or view on a real time spectrumrogram display.
Marco Donnarumma invented The Xth Sense biosensing technology and won first place in Georgia Tech’s Margaret Guthman New Musical Instrument Competition 2012. This workshop provides hands-on experience as well as both theoretical and practical training using The Xth Sense’s biosensing technology for gestural control of music and bodily musical performance, using this innovative biosensing device.
An electronic musical instrument (EMI) is any mechanically generated sound-producing device that employs amplification and digital signal processing in order to generate vibrations. Unlike traditional acoustic instruments, electronic ones emit electrical, electronic, or digital audio signals which are then fed through an amplifier before driving loudspeakers to create sounds both visible to performer and listener alike.
A MIDI controller is an electronic instrument that enables its user to manipulate music via standard computer MIDI protocols. A typical MIDI controller usually comprises of a small screen with buttons and knobs as well as keyboard, with which a sequence of music can be recorded before being played back on an audio synthesizer or other sound-producing device.
The groovebox is a portable, self-contained electronic music instrument consisting of an audio mixer, sequencer, and multiple outputs. Additionally, there are numerous additional features like an LCD display and foot pedals to allow users to perform with it without being tied to their computers. It is widely used for improvising in different genres and styles of music.