Read and Write WAV Files in Java In this code tutorial, I show you how to get java to play nice with WAV files. It's a little bit trickier than you might expect!
Wii Play the Drums This is a fun little piece of software that turns your wiimote into a drum kit. It uses natural drum-kit motions to trigger sounds, and it is easy to set up on any windows pc. You can get the source code here.
Suite for AudioSurf AudioSurf generates gameplay based on music. That gives us musicians a unique opportunity to act as level designers. See how I took advantage of this.
I'm sorry, but this is just not true. I'm sure there is a niche retro community out there who likes unique hardware, and is embracing the keytar much like they embrace the melodica. Still, both the melodica AND the keytar suffer from the same basic problems that make them permanently uncool (although not necessarily un-fun).
The design principal behind the keytar is to combine the versatility of a keyboard with the look of a guitar, in the hopes of getting the best of both instruments. Sadly, what you end up with the exactly the opposite. You get neither the coolness of the guitar, nor the versatility of the keyboard.
First, with keytars, you are limited to playing with one hand. This limits the keyboardist to either solos, or rhythm parts. Right there, you lose a ton of the expressivity of a traditional keyboard, which can go from playing a single melodic line to emulating a full orchestra in the blink of an eye.
Secondly, even with the one hand that a keytarist can use, they can't play as well with it as they could on a traditional keyboard. I can attest to this personally, but this is also a function of the fact that every keyboard player learns to play on a traditional keyboard. As such, they have far more practice with a traditional setup than they do with the awkward, half-standing position that they have to assume in order to play a keytar.
In short, a keytar performance can almost never be as expressive, or technically brilliant as a performance on a traditional keyboard. So, the only possible reason to use a keytar is for the look. To rebut the argument that keytars look cool, I will simply present two pictures.
As you can see, there is no good reason to play, or purchase a keytar, outside of nostalgia or curiosity. Promoting keytars is dangerous and irresponsible. It not only hurts keyboard players, but also their families and friends. Further, I suggest that we create a 'keytar watch list' to keep track of the dangerous, unbalanced individuals who like them. Name #1: Peter Kirn.
;)
UPDATE:
CDM Posted a subtle update to the original article, with pics of a keytar flamethrower. Yes, you read that correctly.
shane king at 2008-02-14 20:14:49Add me to the list ;-) Can I be the second person on the list? I love my Casio AZ-1 (which is what is that picture). You make an excellent argument as to why *you* shouldn't use a strap-on keyboard, but that is it. I'm not trying to be a guitar player and I don't mind playing with one hand, I do that most of the time anyway. I'm not trying to be (and am certainly not) the best keyboard player in the world. I play the synthesizer, not the piano, not the organ and definitely not a guitar. And I find the instrument very expressive in the same way that I find a mono-synth to be the most expressive instrument out there. And you only play that with one hand as well.
But you probably play keyboards sitting down, and unless you are a drummer nobody can play with real emotion whilst seated...
And drummers aren't even musicians ;-)
shaneking.com
evan at 2008-02-15 07:19:38
#2: Shane King
Heh.
You have a point, Shane. I am really only half-serious in my article, and it does apply to pianists like myself, more than some other people.
This statement, however, is totally untrue: "nobody can play with real emotion whilst seated." I certainly hope you were being facetious!
;)
Keith Handy at 2008-02-15 09:18:36 I still say a "Haken Continuum-tar" would be cool, though. (I posted that as a comment on CDM but didn't get any reactions, so I'll recycle it here.)
I love the idea of unusual instruments, but designers should start by asking, "what do I physically want to be doing to control the sound?" -- I doubt "playing a keyboard I can't see clearly, with only five of my ten fingers, at an awkward angle" would be the answer to that.
evan at 2008-02-15 09:21:59Haken-Tar
Keith: "designers should start by asking, 'what do I physically want to be doing to control the sound?'"
I totally agree with that.
shane king at 2008-02-15 21:06:37Half Facetious I was being both serious and facetious at the same time. Serious in my point that I don't care about clustered chords and figured bass and all that 'real musician' stuff. Half serious about the sitting down thing. Totally serious about drummers not being musicians. I think that we all can agree on that...
:-)
royal rumpus at 2008-03-06 06:43:16Evolution.... the Zen Riffer u guys are right but only 2 a point.... the keytar has evolved and there's no doubting that if in the right hands it can be truely awsome. Check out Jordon Rudess on you tube playing the Zen Riffer and kiss his ass!!!!!http://www.zenriffer.com/
MikeyP at 2008-06-12 08:30:31An alternate viewpoint I am a "hack" keyboard (not piano) player and lead singer of an 80s cover band. The keytar was the perfect way for me to get out front and be a lead singer without being stuck behind a keyboard. I love my keytars! The audience also digs them:
http://www.thesemivinyls.com/photo_gallery/keytar
bree at 2008-06-15 11:26:44hop off wow ur gay der aint nuttin wrong wit dem,,i bet u neva tried it ur gay i played dem since i was 4 n im da best ay it n der bigger den dat pic u got der shit head
guitarshrink at 2008-07-07 11:52:04keytar defender My wife & I play together as a duo, her playing primarily bass, mandolin, & accordion, while I'm usually on guitar. She is a better keyboard player than anythimng else (except voice), but to drag along a regular synth to a gig means added equipment, added time between songs as she moves to the keyboard, plus we are further apart on stage when she plays the keyboard, which doesn't work as well with the audience while performing as a duo. Getting her a keytar meant that she could be standing right next to me as she does with the other instruments, yet playing what she is best at, with a much broader pallette of sounds at her disposal than with the accordion (which BTW, we use sparingly for genres that it works with without being corny). My bottom line here is that there ARE some goods reasons for wanting to use a keytar. I just described one. Trouble is that, since Roland stopped manufacturing the AX-7, prices for the old ones have tripled.
T.L. Mazumdar at 2008-08-19 16:35:30Refutation An instrument is always what you make of it. I'll admit, I find it embarassing myself watching videos of keyboard-players making complete fool of themselves with a keytar hung around their necks playing pretty tasteless guitar-licks with an even tasteless guitar-patch. Well to start off with, go play guitar if thats what you want, is what I have to say to YOU guys.
What I refute on this article is the thought/comment that the only thing 'unique' about the keytar is the way they look.
I'm of ethnic origin. And back where I come from, melodies are played with certain melodic/rhythmic nuances and a certain phrasing-aesthetic that cannot be played on a piano (which is what I studied, for the record). My relationship with the keytar started in my search to find an instrument (with keys on it!) which I could use to play a melody the way I hear it in my head--I certainly didn't get there on the piano beyond a certain point. Don't get me wrong on that one, I'm a pianist and love playing the instrument and try to be authentic while doing so.
The pitch-bender on a Synth does give one a little more liberty but also to a limited degree.
However, the Keytar happens to be (in my opinion) one of the few (if not only) keyboard instruments that allows the keyboardist to play like the human voice. AND I don't play with one hand either, because the ribbon controller which I use with my left hand FINALLY gave me the possibility to instill these rhythmic/pitch-manipulative nuances into a melody. My ribbon-controller is tuned to a third up down so Ive actually sat up nights practising my intonation as well.
I'm really disappointed to know about Roland stopping production of these babies. I'd buy a new one at the drop of a hat.
To sign off, I'd like to request you take a look at this video clip and tell me if you still think that the keytar is lame. If you can suggest any other way I can play the way I am here with another (keyboard) instrument--go ahead man, let me know. I'll be grateful.
T.L. Mazumdar at 2008-08-19 16:37:26refutation part2 Ok so looks like it didn't work out with embedding the video so here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2DjHAzBLMM
Syn at 2008-09-14 16:33:13 Bitch keytars are good for vocalists who want to play violin or piano without sitting down. Fuck you mother bitch, you are soo gay, fag. Suck my 13 incher.
at 2009-03-12 20:51:19 You are dumb. Type "mute math" into you tube to find out how dumb you are.
boom chakka chakka chakka at 2009-05-12 23:25:59iono I think it has its certain uses. Just like a cowbell, you don't use it for every godeng song. It's just retarded that way. However, I still need more cowbell.
I think this is best for bands that uses a lot of synth-smithing. Like bands that tend to lean more on the dance, techno sort of sound. But I don't see the reason why you would play this in concerto or performing moonlight sonata in third movement or anything. That's just wrong and shits on Beethoven's face. Though, that would be impressive to see someone rip that on a Keytar..... Still, have some class damn it.
It really is much more an supplement rather than a part of a whole ensemble of a band. I think. It's fun, it's unusual looking, and it has the potential to rock, much like how brandon boyd rocks the djembe and the effin' djideroo... or however it's spelt. I don't know if I'm for it, but I say, why the hell not, i love hearing weird ass noises in some of my music.
=-roy
at 2009-05-21 07:06:25
no their not keytars are cool
at 2009-06-04 09:47:50 KEYTARES CAN BE DESCRIBED IN ONE WORD, ''AWESOME".
at 2009-06-04 09:49:39 Pianisist can sit down and play the piano with expression, I know I am one but I seriously would like to jump around while playing songs like everlong.That is why the keytar is awesome.
at 2009-06-15 15:33:51
KEYTARS = <3
JP at 2009-07-14 12:03:00Keytars I find it much easier and much more fun to play songs like this on the keytar!
liz at 2009-07-18 07:16:26synth. Er, keytars happen to be synths, not keyboards. Nice try, but your still a dipshiit.
(:
angry at 2009-07-29 06:32:27MEANIE ur mean keytars are awesome and you can use two hands and its a lot more fun than just standing behind a regular keyboard. AND you probably don't have a keytar so it was a waist of time just to say that because you don't know what it feels like to hold one
at 2009-10-09 22:28:24 Hi... I didnt bother reading all of it... because you clearly do not have a love for music like i do... and obviously you are not a metal fan... First and foremost... the keytar is absolutely back. secondly... before you just assume because you cannot play as well with it as a traditional keyboard noone can... i want you to know that i have played for 16 years now... as of yesterday! :D classically trained... now taking classical lessons in college... and if you cannot adapt to simply slanting the keyboard.. your probably not that great... I find it easier to solo, and play for that matter, especially with the ax-synth... you can truly express yourself with the mod, expression bar, portamento, and the supernatural tones! astounding! also, im pretty sure, i put my keytar in front of me, and play with both hands sometimes! it also has a sustain button...............
performance wise.... would i rather be stuck behind my korg... or be able to run out to the crowd shoving my keys in their face while i break out a solo? or jump off the box my band uses on stage? or the stage for that matter... or run over to the bassist and head bang with him(wireless) and then back to the other side to dual solo with the lead guitarist...
to sum up... you obviously have no idea what your talking about! :D
at 2009-11-01 22:12:54 KEYTARS ARE SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!
Just to say at 2009-11-09 19:29:57Just to say You make some powerful points here, and what you have said is true for the most part. Keytars have several flaws, the primary being the name. Keytar implies that it's trying to combine the keyboard and guitar, but that's not true. The keytar only serves to give a keyboardist the ability to move freely on a stage. I admit it can detract from some of the technical elements of a sit down keyboard, but there's no saying you can't use both in a concert. Furthermore, the fact that there are no comments agreeing with your words at all sort of makes me wonder if what you're saying is true. It seems it is not.
at 2010-03-07 13:47:12 Ur fucking retarded dude be more open minded they are both awesome in their own way
at 2010-03-07 19:03:01
I understand that keytars are not for everyone; however, I think they have a strange "cool" factor when played in the right way. And there really is only one right way to play a keytar: in the middle of a really awesome, intense song; stand up from your real, professional stack of keyboards and synths; grab your keytar with one hand from a hidden location; flip it on in an awesome, swinging motion (think Hawthorne Heights guitarist) and BLAST OUT A RIPPING SOLO WITH YOUR GUITARIST! This should be done for one song only, and the keytar should only be used for the solo. This will be the perfect combination of cheese, humor, and all-around badass awesomeness. And that's why you play a keytar.
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