Like a Choir of Pac-Mans
January 28, 2017 11:02 AM Subscribe
Previously, but sometimes you just need a little more otamatone: Beautiful, Ave Maria, Let It Go, Shake It Off, Uptown Funk, and an amazing Star Wars rendition. More, oh so much more.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- loup
Reminds me of a theremin cello, except instead of using a lever to control the volume, you squeeze the ball. The otamatone seems like a big improvement, much more intuitive and easier than the lever.
posted by Ampersand692 at 11:28 AM on January 28, 2017
posted by Ampersand692 at 11:28 AM on January 28, 2017
These are amazing. I do not want to own one, but if there is ever a concert, I may just have to go.
posted by Hactar at 12:08 PM on January 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Hactar at 12:08 PM on January 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
It's ridiculous but nonetheless impressive. I want one but I know I would never use it.
posted by ashbury at 12:53 PM on January 28, 2017
posted by ashbury at 12:53 PM on January 28, 2017
Can anyone tell me what song is in this video?
posted by Parasite Unseen at 1:13 PM on January 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Parasite Unseen at 1:13 PM on January 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
The video claiming to be a cover of Darude's Sandstorm is a cover of Darude's Sandstorm.
posted by straight at 1:18 PM on January 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by straight at 1:18 PM on January 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
How the hell did you leave THIS one out? You call yourself a MeFi?
posted by Samizdata at 1:51 PM on January 28, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Samizdata at 1:51 PM on January 28, 2017 [4 favorites]
I got one for my son at Christmas, it's cute and clever, and only I get to play with it until he learns to appreciate its true value. /s
posted by furtive at 2:19 PM on January 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by furtive at 2:19 PM on January 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
I. Am. Mesmerized.
Never heard of these before. Mind Blown.
posted by MultiFaceted at 4:34 PM on January 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
Never heard of these before. Mind Blown.
posted by MultiFaceted at 4:34 PM on January 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
The cover of beautiful was absolutely awful. But then I found the cover of don't worry be happy, and THAT dude could actually play his omatone so it was pretty fun.
posted by lastobelus at 5:53 PM on January 28, 2017
posted by lastobelus at 5:53 PM on January 28, 2017
If you, like me, immediately went off to see how much one of these costs, and subsequently wanted to know whether the regular model is good enough or if you need the deluxe one, here's a comparison video. (And another, which I confess I have not watched in full.)
My conclusion was that I want the deluxe model, and that I can't justify the cost at the moment, but someday...
posted by Shmuel510 at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
My conclusion was that I want the deluxe model, and that I can't justify the cost at the moment, but someday...
posted by Shmuel510 at 6:50 PM on January 28, 2017 [2 favorites]
While it's not the first "author". this post is not complete without the recreation of "O Fortuna"
posted by Hasteur at 7:35 PM on January 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Hasteur at 7:35 PM on January 28, 2017 [1 favorite]
omg the ave maria one * wipes tear *
posted by Foci for Analysis at 8:05 PM on January 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Foci for Analysis at 8:05 PM on January 28, 2017 [3 favorites]
What exactly does squeezing/opening the mouth do? Is that what triggers the sound (like strumming a guitar) or is it just a way to vary the volume? Or is it mostly just a silly visual?
posted by straight at 9:41 PM on January 28, 2017
posted by straight at 9:41 PM on January 28, 2017
Looks like a volume thing (and that the tone starts when you touch the neck), based on this video of the inventor explaining the thing.
posted by straight at 9:43 PM on January 28, 2017
posted by straight at 9:43 PM on January 28, 2017
The mouth squeeze shapes the tone - like a wah-wah pedal on a guitar, moving from an open tone to a nasal one.
I know because I tried to buy these as Christmas gifts for my brothers but couldn't find a good, last minute source in the UK =(
posted by ominous_paws at 12:12 AM on January 29, 2017
I know because I tried to buy these as Christmas gifts for my brothers but couldn't find a good, last minute source in the UK =(
posted by ominous_paws at 12:12 AM on January 29, 2017
All the charm of the Theramin with all the lyricality of the bagpipes.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 12:33 AM on January 29, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 12:33 AM on January 29, 2017 [7 favorites]
Beautiful sounds like what would happen if the grown ups in Charlie Brown sang.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:09 AM on January 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by leotrotsky at 6:09 AM on January 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
→ omg the ave maria one * wipes tear *
yes, that one's hilarious: done by someone who can actually do the tune justice, but in an exceptionally silly manner. Bonus points for the heh-snurt! from one of the crew mid-way through.
Thank you for getting my annual want-otamatone-check-price-holy-actual-nope energy out of the way so early in the year.
posted by scruss at 6:21 AM on January 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
yes, that one's hilarious: done by someone who can actually do the tune justice, but in an exceptionally silly manner. Bonus points for the heh-snurt! from one of the crew mid-way through.
Thank you for getting my annual want-otamatone-check-price-holy-actual-nope energy out of the way so early in the year.
posted by scruss at 6:21 AM on January 29, 2017 [1 favorite]
I can't stop laughing at Memories when the second instrument kicks in. I just bought one for 40$ on Amazon.
posted by travertina at 11:54 AM on January 29, 2017
posted by travertina at 11:54 AM on January 29, 2017
Leave it to the violinist/Sega Saturn fans to demonstrate some mastery.
posted by bartleby at 12:03 PM on January 29, 2017
posted by bartleby at 12:03 PM on January 29, 2017
Wow, the DX doesn't seem outrageously priced. The larger size seems like an advantage as far as controlling the pitch. It sounds like the auxiliary output doesn't really translate the mouth-opening wah-type effect, though.
The regular model sounds like it has a noticeable quantizing effect with a sliding pitch change that the DX seems to lack, which is a big downside for me.
Anyone ever do a teardown of one? I'd love to see how these are implemented. Years ago, I made up a gizmo I called a Synthstick, consisting of a diy ribbon controller (basically a long variable resistor), which controlled both the pitch and activation of a very simple Schmitt trigger oscillator, with a jack to plug into an amplifier. Seemingly virtually identical in function to the DX when plugged into an amplifier. The brilliance of the Otamatone is integrating a built in amplifier/speaker and what amounts to acoustic modulation source(the "mouth" cavity), all in a cute and inexpensive package.
posted by 2N2222 at 12:30 PM on January 29, 2017
The regular model sounds like it has a noticeable quantizing effect with a sliding pitch change that the DX seems to lack, which is a big downside for me.
Anyone ever do a teardown of one? I'd love to see how these are implemented. Years ago, I made up a gizmo I called a Synthstick, consisting of a diy ribbon controller (basically a long variable resistor), which controlled both the pitch and activation of a very simple Schmitt trigger oscillator, with a jack to plug into an amplifier. Seemingly virtually identical in function to the DX when plugged into an amplifier. The brilliance of the Otamatone is integrating a built in amplifier/speaker and what amounts to acoustic modulation source(the "mouth" cavity), all in a cute and inexpensive package.
posted by 2N2222 at 12:30 PM on January 29, 2017
The Pokemon Theme Song seems especially appropriate done on Otamatone
posted by jazon at 1:55 PM on January 29, 2017
posted by jazon at 1:55 PM on January 29, 2017
This cover from Super Smash Bros. Melee features otamatone, violin, electronic wind instrument (EWI), and relevant character cosplay.
posted by subversiveasset at 6:37 PM on January 30, 2017
posted by subversiveasset at 6:37 PM on January 30, 2017
another product from the same folks: Mr.Knocky
posted by scruss at 3:53 PM on January 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by scruss at 3:53 PM on January 31, 2017 [2 favorites]
« Older People ask me "How can you cook if you're blind?" | The Story of The Last Poets Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by fedward at 11:20 AM on January 28, 2017 [4 favorites]