I admit it:

Most of what I think about is toys. Most of the time... most days. Music gear to be specific. I don't know that I have anything terribly new and important to add to the Tenori-On debate, but I wanted to pitch in my tuppence regardless.

As to the Monome vs. Tenori-On angle, it seems probable to me that they were developed independently and simultaneously. I mean, really, it's not exactly a "left field" idea to have a grid of buttons (as per my X0X link in another post). If anyone copied anyone, I suppose the more likely scenario is that Yamaha copied Monome.





The Tenori-On is decidedly "toylike" and it also has some very interesting, if restrictive features. The MIDI functionality is apparently quite limited... this may be a sticking point for me as one of my main uses for it, if I end up with one, will likely be as a MIDI controller for my modular. It is not 100% clear from the video, but it seems like it might meet my requirements in terms of MIDI output, since I would be sending into the Analogue Solutions MT-16, I don't really need anything other than note on/off info and note length info, as long as I can easily define what channel is sending what note. And of course sync with external MIDI clock.

There has been some hoopla about the price of the Tenori-On being too high for the feature-set and also about it being appropriate considering the hand-made nature of the object (despite its corporate backing). I don't really care that much who made it or how... Basically, I would consider getting one if they were half the current $1200 pricetag. If there is a software update that increases functionality a little and it cost $500 or below, I would almost definitely get one. The factors that are keeping me from getting a Monome are simply not present, assuming the price comes down.