Lumatone Intros New Isomorphic Keyboard For Microtonal Music & More

At the 2020 NAMM Show, Lumatone launched their namesake MIDI controller, the Lumatone.
The Lumatone features 275 illuminated, velocity-sensitive hexagonal keys. Each key has an individually programmable MIDI note and LED color, so you can use a variety of scale arrangements and MIDI mappings.
They plan to produce 200 of the controllers later this year, via an IndieGoGo campaign.
From Synthtopia's 2020 NAMM Show coverage:
www.synthtopia.com/content/ta...

[@TylerAlexis]

Still one of the coolest things at NAMM 💛

[@boerni01]

A MPE-touch surface like the linnstrument, would be no brainer with this layout.

[@cgibbard]

This morning I was thinking to myself about how it would be really neat to have a keyboard with a hexagonal grid, that put just-intonated perfect fifths (3/2 ratio) on one axis, and major thirds (5/4 ratio) on another. Major and minor triads are then three adjacent hexagons in a triangle, and there seem to be many nice things about that layout. With just intonation, you would lose out on perfect octaves, but it would be really interesting to experiment with all the new microtonally-different chord voicings you'd get that would ordinarily be notated the same way, but wouldn't be quite equivalent. The equal temperament version of it seems like it would be a really convenient layout as well. Then I did some googling and found out about the C-Thru Music Axis 64 midi controller, but was saddened to find out it was no longer in production and quite rare. Then I found this, and it's like, the best possible version of the thing that was in my head. I'm on the mailing list, and I'll be ordering one as soon as I can. :)

[@MontoyaMatrix]

I bought an Axis 64 a few years ago. I very much like the way that the hex keys were more like rounded buttons. You can easily slide your finger over it without having to lift up your finger. I begged both companies to follow my color scheme for the notes, but they just told me to talk to them at the next NAMM meeting. Now both models went belly up!

[@TristanM971]

Maybe you would be interested in dualo keyboard.

[@leonardobautista1619]

Concert music composers should begin writing for this instrument.

[@pcuimac]

I definitely getting one, if it's velocity sensitive.

[@lumatone]

It is indeed velocity sensitive! In fact, the keys are quite unique in that the Lumatone knows where the key is for the entire distance it travels, enabling a very cool feature: every key can also be set to act as a continuous controller! So you can use any of the 275 keys for any kind of modulation you want as well :)

[@Some_Cat_]

A smaller isomorphic controller would be an excellent addition (about the size of a keystep).

[@20Arnt]

Must be great for those who play button accordion...

[@Persun_McPersonson]

It's great for *everyone.* It was expressly designed to be easy to play. A button accordionist might adapt slightly quicker than the average keyboardist due to being used to an isomorphic layout, but the good news is that isomorphic layouts are already easier to learn than traditional keys in the first place. And how fast the accordionist adapts will also depend on the layout, because you can use any isomorphic layout you want: the chromatic button accordion B-griff/C-griff systems, Janko, Wicki-Hayden, Harmonic Table, Pythagorean Lambdoma - _anything_ you want; you can experiment until you've found the layout you like the best, or simply stick with the default Janko arrangement if you want to keep things as simple and easy-to-adapt-to as possible.

[@kumoyuki]

where can I order this thing?!

[@songsabai3794]

Space-Age,man!.....

[@stirlingblackwood]

1:31 lol

[@amj.composer]

I didn't even notice XD

[@JellyMonster1]

Looks great but probably only affordable to some.

[@MontoyaMatrix]

Far cheaper that a grand piano, and you can do more with it, harmonically. I’d guess about $3,000 here in 2021.

[@JellyMonster1]

@@MontoyaMatrix I use the excellent free Scale Workshop by Sevish via my computer keyboard - have you tried it?

[@MontoyaMatrix]

@@JellyMonster1 goodness, I have not heard of this. I will look it up. I have the Axis-64 hex keyboard. Have you seen those?

[@JellyMonster1]

@@MontoyaMatrix I watched a video on the Axis-64 hex keyboard. It looks impressive but I can't understand why they are such a ridiculous price. I'd never be able to afford one.

[@amj.composer]

@@MontoyaMatrix $3,995 without tax and shipping, I get a $145 tax+ship in Minnesota. Plus a little additional cost for for VSTs (Pianoteq Standard for eg. will cost you $300). So honestly it's safe to call it a $4.5K product. Still cheaper than a grand tho lol

[@FORESTKIDSCOLLECTIVE]

For 4000 dollars tho?? yall gotta be shitting me

[@johnsuggs3952]

That's what I'm saying. Whoever runs these companies have no concept of successful marketing.

[@songstra]

This is a copy of the Terpstra.

[@romeolz]

It's the same people behind it, not a copy