littleBits is electrical circuit creating toy. Each function is assembled in a block module with special magnet connector, for easy electrical connection. The crispy connection feeling is fun! The founder is Ayah Bdeir and one of the funder is Joi Ito. Last year 2013, KORG became littleBits official importer in Japan. They also started to design their original synthesiser modules with littleBits. The littleBits Synth Kit was released at December, 2013. littleBits Synth Kit was referenced legendary classic synthesiser, KORG MS-20 for the circuit design. Each sound making elements was separated in small littleBits blocks. You can choose any of sound element block to assemble your designed musical instrument as […]

Last sunday, I was on the stage at music event to played DS-10,SU-10 scratchable small sampler and Electroplankton. The event was “OTODUST 2”, for mobile musical gadget and the music. The performer played DS-10, TENORI-ON, or such as small electric musical instruments. Many people showed many precious instruments, Yamaha Miburi, Uda, Gakken Theremin Premium, HP Speak & Spell, Stylophone…etc. Not only consumer productive instruments, but own making one. The movie is the event’s digest. Let’s see. ( Uploaded by ‘NEMO-san. Thank you! ) I haven’t play music in public since I was in high school( ! ), but the other genius performers helped me, and I could enjoy it with […]

KORG DS-10 is Music Creating Software for Nintendo DS. This is small and cheap environment for music creation, but – Legend synthesizer – Drum Machine – Roop Music Sequencer was included in this software. You can edit your music with keep the playing. I tryed beatmaking in 3 minutes. In the past, There’s Music creating or remix function on video game console, – Techno Motor music sequencer – LuminesII sequencer mode – Denki Groove Jigoku V edit mode – Visual Mix Ayumi Hamasaki Dome Tour 2001 for PS2 video mix (!) function but at last, you get true music creating Instrument in your pocket with fun. enjoy! #I only need […]

In Japan, the new term begins in April. Many Japanese magazines appended a special supplement thing to get their new readers. ” Sho-gaku-ichinen-sei ” ( First grade Elementary school students ) magazine is published 277,000 copies every month. And they add a toy finger piano instrument in their magazine at the April issue. In other words, 270k children took the such as Cyber Musical Instrument, means every 4 Japanese first grade elementary school students got it!. The name is ” Anyware Finger Piano Do-Le-Mi-kun”. I got 2-units and played by hands. I practiced hard :-) WIRED geek dad: They Don’t Include These In a Box of Cheerios http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2008/03/they-dont-inclu.html the finger […]

Last week, I went to see The Sampler Battle Event at Nakano, Tokyo. A musical battle event is popular at Dj or Hip hop rap event. But I never heard about such as realtime track making battle using sampler machine. That’s may the first Realtime Sampler Battle in Japan ! ( in the world? ). The rule is here. 1: Player can use any musical equipment. but you should put it in 120×45cm size table. 2: Player can use a prepared sound in your stock only one shot sound(ex. bass drum) 3: 3 players in each session. 4: In one set the session, 1st, free druming in 5 min at […]

Last saturday night, I went to concert performed by Kitsune Akimoto’s band “Hz” Kitsune-san was one of the first person to adjust his CG animation to the music just in tempo used Delux Paint and Light Wave on Amiga computer. And he became famous to create CG animation for “UgoUgoRuga” TV program. It was for kids but famous artists performed in the show, Pizzicato Five, JAMIROQUAI …etc. The band’s performace was the first in 7 years(!) and I enjoyed it. I could watch another band’s performance at The night. I surprised one of the band’s vorcalist used NES Controller as his MICROPHONE !! I couldn’t see well but his controller […]

Velfarre Roppongi, one of the biggest Club space in Tokyo, was closed at last year end. Roppoingi is a Large Night Town area in Tokyo. After WWII, there was a big U.S. ARMY Base ( and their is small one yet.) and been built a lot of the country’s embassy in this area. Today, foreigners and Japanese come to Roppongi in night time to enjoy the night life yet, but not only night time. In day time, they are coming to Roppongi redevelopment area. In Roppongi, large business area was opened. and next, new one and new national museum will open in this year. Roppongi is changing. I don’t know […]

the article was appeared at Kanagawa local newspaper that Akai professional M.I. was bankrupted. http://www.kanalog.jp/news/local/entry_16076.html Akai was famoused about wind instruments looks synthesizer, sampler (you can synthesize your recorded voice and sound), and specialy drum machine “MPC”. When you use to make your music track, not only you can map sample sound so diverse way on 16 small tap pad and make your phrase with directry tapping by your finger, but the machine have distinctive rhythm when you play your music sequence. A lot of music track maker ( techno, hiphop, house…etc ) love the machine and custom it. http://www.forat.com/service/all%20pictures.htm

Wired誌に付属したCDがCreativeCommons(CCPL)で 配布されていて、そのCDと同内容の曲が Webにまるごとアップされてるぞ。 cornelius（小山田圭吾）の曲もあったのでdownload。 http://creativecommons.org/wired/ CCPLとはようするに著作物のコピーや改変を ただ認めないのではなく、認めたり認めなかったり 選択できるようにしたライセンスだ。 だからCCPLならすべて無制限にcopy freeって わけではないらしい。 今回のCDのlicenseはコチラ。 非商用のcopyが可能で、samplingなら商用も可能みたい。 —————————————————————————————– Sampling Plus: Songs under this license allow noncommercial sharing and commercial sampling, but advertising uses are restricted. Noncommercial Sampling Plus: Songs under this license allow noncommerical sharing and noncommercial sampling. —————————————————————————————– creative commonsに関してはコチラ。 USと日本の著作権の扱いなんかに違いがあるので USの考えがそのまま日本にもってこれるわけじゃないみたい。 でも今後が楽しみだゼ。 http://www.creativecommons.jp/