The Arithmophone is a free microtonal software instrument and MIDI controller for touchscreen devices.
It’s a browser-based music application, so you can play it with devices like an iPad or touchscreen PC.
Here’s what developer Chiel Zwinkels shared about the technical detail of the video:
“I used the MPE midi version of the Arithmophone. The sounds come from the Chipsynth PortaFM software synthesizer by Plogue (https://www.plogue.com/), which is running in the background on the tablet I’m playing.”
See Zwinkels’s site to give it a try.
Interesting. That’s in the most respectable ballpark, loosely begun by the Buchla Thunder. Its a good shape for falling under your hands well, so its inviting to play. That’s especially important with MPE, since it requires different muscles than traditional keyboards. Good Plogue engine, too.
I’m wary of the idea of playing an iPad as an instrument. though. Touchscreens mounted in hardware are semi-protected, but pads are pretty exposed. If you play GeoShred with enthusiasm, you’ll need a new one a lot sooner.
Thanks! I was aiming for good ergonomics in the design of this keyboard, so it’s nice to hear this resonate 🙂
I agree with your sentiments on using touchscreen devices as instruments; the iPad is not necessarily the final form factor for this design in my opinion, it would ultimately be better to have a dedicated hardware implementation with tactile feedback and touch response. However, such a thing is quite difficult to realise and the software route is pretty great for developing and sharing the concept.
The Plogue software synthesizers sound fantastic and are excellent value, I cannot recommend them highly enough!
This one lacks “pressure” as well, I suppose? None of the touchscreem hardware I tried actually made we wat to play it. I likely buy the 128 version of the Linnstrument at some point for the small desk setup I sometimes need while jamming away from home.
Yes, this is just software that runs on existing touch screen devices so there is no pressure sensing. On the plus side, it’s free so you can just try it to see if you like it or not. I did put a lot of effort into making it as enjoyable to play as I could, within the limitations of a software instrument of course.
The Linnstrument 128 is only slightly larger than my laptop. I can take it on business trips with me! Highly recommend it!
Yeah, never expected to be so happy with the full size! The visual feedback plus a few youtube videos on “learning notes on a single string” plus a bit about chord shapes and I was ready to go. But it’s too much to bring along everytime 🙂
Plus, Roger is that third grandpa you never knew you wanted!