Concert Hands Teaches Piano with Wrist Straps and Electrical Zaps

Danny Allen — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:20:00 EDT

What looks kinda creepy actually sounds quite cool. The Concert Hands system teaches you piano (or keyboard) using a 10-finger feedback system that gently pulses when you should play, coupled with an automated wrist pilot that guides you across octaves.

The idea being that repetition builds muscle memory, and you'll improve faster.

You'll need to email for pricing, but it does look like the included software works with any MIDI file. Less certain is if there's an evil teacher mode that turns up the voltage when you misbehave. [Concert Hands via The Raw Feed via DVICE]

Vocaloid 3: Japanese Synthesized Singing Sensation Now Knows English

Elaine Chow — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:30:00 EST

Vocaloid, the super-popular singing synthesizer from Japan has now gotten an update—and it (she) is bilingual! Meet Megurine Luka, who's "moody and husky" voice is now yours to command in both Japanese and English.

Vocaloids 1 and 2, featuring much higher-pitched robotic singers became the #1 selling software on Amazon Japan. I think the fact that they had pretty, doe-eyed, teenage anime android girls (complete with "personalities" and "back stories") as mascots probably helped their appeal.

That's Luka-chan trying out her synthesized vocal chords in English—singing Amazing Grace. Previously, Western vocaloid fans had to enter all the text in katakana... like this admittedly adorable version of Miku (Vocaloid 2) singing The Proclaimer's 500 Miles.

[ Gizmodo Japan]

Gizmodo: music software

Concert Hands Teaches Piano with Wrist Straps and Electrical Zaps

Vocaloid 3: Japanese Synthesized Singing Sensation Now Knows English