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Misa Digital Guitar Runs On Linux
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.
Skip the words, watch a video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2eiP12hQQY&fmt=35
...Muse's next album delayed as the riffs are still compiling.
Hack your mind out of its sandbox.
That linux rocks! \m/
The point is there are no strings, therefore no string bending. If you watch the video though you can see the the right hand uses a touch sensitive screen to control pitch etc. so you can simulate a bending effect. It's not a guitar, just an electronic instrument inspired and shaped by a guitar
Yeah, because a site, that contains not a single argument, but only out-of-context quotes, and idiotic ideals, is just oh so cool.
(..)
Frankly, you both can fuck right off.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a *official Gentoo Developer*. You can check it here:
http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/devrel/roll-call/userinfo.xml
However that doesn't prevent me of finding that website *extremely* funny.
Jesus Christ, can't people laugh anymore?
I played guitar hero in the 80's when it was called Simon
I heard they wanted to do it in C#, but that idea fell flat, so they went with C.
*groan*
Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
As long as you weren't wanting to give a guitar performance:
With this, the right hand gains options, and you actually lose options with the left hand. On a guitar the left hand provides fretting, bending, vibrato, harmonics, muting and probably more techniques that I don't know about. Triggering all the notes at the same time is also limiting as it rules out sweeping and slow strumming. To actually give a performance that's expressive in the same way a guitar is you're going to have to fill the touch pad with different regions controlling different kinds of expressive playing. Not ideal.
That's not to say this doesn't look like a great toy, a cross between instruments being used by a couple of well-known bands at the moment.