Eigenharp
Encyclopedia
Eigenharp is a brand of electronic instrument made by Eigenlabs, a company based in Devon
, UK, invented by John Lambert and released in 2009 after developing it for eight years. The "instrument" is in essence a highly flexible and portable controller, with the sound being actually generated in the software it drives.
Characteristics of all of the instruments are:
Additionally, the larger models have:
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, UK, invented by John Lambert and released in 2009 after developing it for eight years. The "instrument" is in essence a highly flexible and portable controller, with the sound being actually generated in the software it drives.
Characteristics of all of the instruments are:
- A matrix of velocity sensitive multi-expressive keys, each of which act like a 6-way analog joystickJoystickA joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Joysticks, also known as 'control columns', are the principal control in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick or...
. This allows the simultaneous pitch bendPitch wheelIn electronic music, a pitch wheel is a control on a synthesizer to pitch bend — to vary the pitch in a continuously variable manner.The first synthesizer with a pitch wheel was the Minimoog, in 1970....
and modulationModulation (music)In music, modulation is most commonly the act or process of changing from one key to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature. Modulations articulate or create the structure or form of many pieces, as well as add interest...
(or other parameters) of each played note individually. - A stick-like vertical form factor akin to a sitarSitarThe 'Tablaman' is a plucked stringed instrument predominantly used in Hindustani classical music, where it has been ubiquitous since the Middle Ages...
for the larger models or a fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
in the smaller ones. - A built-in wind controllerWind controllerA wind controller, sometimes referred to as a "wind synth", or "wind synthesizer", can be defined as a wind instrument capable of controlling one or more music synthesizers or other devices. Wind controllers are most commonly played and fingered like a woodwind instrument, usually the saxophone,...
, giving the larger versions of the instrument an appearance similar to a bassoonBassoonThe bassoon is a woodwind instrument in the double reed family that typically plays music written in the bass and tenor registers, and occasionally higher. Appearing in its modern form in the 19th century, the bassoon figures prominently in orchestral, concert band and chamber music literature...
. - One or two ribbon controller strips.
- The software is available as open-source under the GPLv3 and runs both on MacintoshMacintoshThe Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
and Windows.
Additionally, the larger models have:
- A series of percussionElectronic drumAn electronic drum is an electronic synthesizer which mimics an acoustic drum kit.The electronic drum usually consists of a set of pads mounted on a stand in a disposition similar to an acoustic drum kit. The pads are discs with a rubber or cloth-like coating. Each pad has a sensor which generates...
keys - A built-in step sequencer with indicator LEDLEdLEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
s for each key. - A headphone amplifierHeadphone amplifierA headphone amplifier is an audio amplifier designed particularly to drive headphones instead of loudspeakers. Most commonly they are found embedded in electronic devices such as integrated amplifiers, portable music players and televisions, but standalone units are not uncommon.-Consumer headphone...
with an output on the instrument
Models
The instrument comes in three models: Alpha, Tau, and Pico, in decreasing order of size. Each has a breath-pipe, a key matrix (120, 72, and 18) and a ribbon controller. The Alpha and Tau also have 12 percussion keys each, a second ribbon controller, and headphone output. The Alpha also has microphone preamplifier with an input on the instrument.Articles
- Do you drum it, strum it or stroke it? - BBC News, 8 October 2009
- G4 TV Coverage of the Eigenharp
- Eigenharp Article on CrunchGear
- Eigenharp News, Tips and Tricks
- In-depth Eigenharp Alpha review after three months - EigenZone, 21 June 2010