Beatbugs, Shapers, and Hyperscore, oh my!

May 21, 2003 4:36 AM

Toy Symphony: A project from the MIT Media Lab, developing new instruments like the networked Beatbugs and squeezable Shapers. There's their composition software Hyperscore, free for downloading, as well as sample scores to play. This morning's Wall Street Journal (page D10, upper left corner) reports that Fisher-Price will be releasing a commercial version soon (though of Hyperscore or the instruments, it's not entirely clear... I'd like a Beatbug!).
posted by meep (5 comments total)

Hyperscore looks very cool - I'd love to take some time to play with it myself. I like the titles of some of the samples & can't wait to hear 'Creepy Raindrops' and 'Attack of the Headless Chickens' in particular. Thanks, meep.
posted by misteraitch at 6:13 AM on May 21, 2003

I am disappointed - I feel like stops in two-cities is hardly a "tour."
posted by agregoli at 6:40 AM on May 21, 2003

Beatbugs are hand-held percussive instruments which allow the creation, manipulation and sharing of rhythmic motives through a simple interface. When multiple Beatbugs are connected in a network, players can share and develop rhythmic patterns to form larger scale compositions. The players themselves choose between manipulating existing motives and entering their own material, in essence creating a dynamic and collaborative music that is truly more than the sum of its parts.

I have some of these. Easy to network -- all you need is other people with rhythm -- and an interface so simple a caveman could use it. I call them drums though...

Seriously though, the Beatbugs do seem cool. :)
posted by Foosnark at 8:45 AM on May 21, 2003

This seems very cool. I have long been interested in simplifying the process of musical creation (the Western notational system is a ridiculous, inconsistent hodgepodge when you stop to think about it) and hyperscore looks like a very interesting way of doing that. I wish there was more detailed description than this available without a download (I'm at work, of course), but I guess I can wait and check it out later... thanks, meep!
posted by soyjoy at 9:36 AM on May 21, 2003

Great post. I tried the software and it's pretty cool.
posted by Outlawyr at 9:58 AM on May 21, 2003