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Misa Digital Guitar Runs On Linux

Posted by kdawson on from the far-too-many-degrees-of-freedom dept.

conner_bw writes "Imagine strumming a guitar without any strings, on a touchscreen. Think the idea is too far-fetched? The Misa digital guitar claims to be exactly this. Overcoming the natural limitations of a traditional guitar, this new instrument eliminates the need to pluck strings while using the right hand to control sound. Specs: Linux kernel 2.6.31 (Gentoo); 24 frets; touchscreen; MIDI out; RJ-45 Ethernet. My favourite parts of the site are the FAQ (How do you SSH into the guitar?), and this quote from the developer: 'Because the software is open source I'm hoping people completely change the instrument and share new "firmware" with others. Different graphics, different control ideas etc. It would all be free of charge. So I'm hoping that happens as the instrument becomes more familiar.'" The developer, Michael, has not yet promised a delivery date or set a price for the instruments he is manufacturing.

2 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. I'm going to one-half-up that joke... by jonaskoelker · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Hey, C sharp, fell flat... C. Ah, I get it. Ha. Ha-ha-ha...

    I guess your choice of words wasn't completely accidental.

  2. Overcoming ...what again? by adosch · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Overcoming the natural limitations of a traditional guitar, this new instrument eliminates the need to pluck strings while using the right hand to control sound.

    This whole movement to become a (fake) virtuoso on a (fake) musical instrument is nauseating the hell out of me (e.g. Guitar Hero and now *this*). Yes, let's teach everyone that hard work and dedication to personal greatness and accomplishment is a joke. What possible "natural limitations" of a traditional guitar are we talking about? So you mean that you can't use both your hands at the same time because it's 'complicated' and 'feels uncomfortable at first'? Well, if that's the case, you shouldn't be walking and breathing either. When you do anything for the first time, those are the two things that usually rear their head first.

    Only frustration I ever see out of beginning guitar players that quit in a short amount of time is: 1) They are trying to learn on an absolute garbage guitar that isn't set up and the action is as high as the Empire state building (NO one is going to learn on that and not get frustrated, pro or novice) and 2) They are looking to play like Van Halen, Zakk Wyide, Richie Blackmore, Steve Vai, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, ect. and realize that it takes a bit more than two weeks worth of dedication to do that, they are back to listening to their iPod full of EMO with their Nintendo DS in their hands. Sounds like this Misa is missing the true, life-long value of playing an 'real' instrument and being good at it.