Make your own kind of music with Kyma X

by Eric Caoili { Apr 6th 2007 at 2:15PM }

We're not going to pretend to understand the complexities of Kyma X's "sound design environment," but seeing the application demonstrated with the Nintendo Wii remote was enough to convince us that great things are afoot. The depth and range of Kyma X's capabilities make other music-based software that we've seen combined with the console controller look like children's toys.

Developer Symbolic Sound produced a video showing how the Wii remote can be used with its $3400 software to "hybridize, mutate, and transmogrify" sounds. The Tempo Control feature might look a lot like Miyamoto's orchestral entrance from last year's E3 keynote, but you probably won't be able to play a theremin in Wii Music like you can with this program. Watch Kyma X in action after the post break.

[Via Metafilter]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 6th 2007 2:31PM

Yes Wii Orchestra probably can't reach that high quality, but it's only going to cost $250 for the Wii and at most $50 for the game. Between $3400 for the software, plus a computer to run it well, and $300 to play Wii Orchestra, what do you think people will buy?

Geo @ Apr 6th 2007 3:26PM

Thats incredible. It really shows how much info the wiimote gives.

Geo @ Apr 6th 2007 3:28PM

That software could be used to create all kinds of games beyond wii orchestra.

Gudaman @ Apr 6th 2007 3:31PM

THIS.....THIS MY FRIENDS IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF DJ'ING AND MUSIC SAMPLE'ING!!! IT IS A COMBINATION OF MUSIC, CREATION, AND GAMEING IN A MAINSTREAM MUSIC SOCIETY.....!!! My friend is an aspireing DJ and i am definitely gonna show him this....!

Thomas @ Apr 6th 2007 3:51PM

Interesting. I'd never heard of this software before, but it seems way more versatile than other programs that people have tried to interface with the Wiimote. I was supremely underwhelmed with the "Wii Loop Machine," for instance. There's so much more potential in that idea, but it just ends up being an overblown effects pedal.

Here, on the other hand, is a setup that really gives the user creative freedom. You can actually make something that resembles music -- rather than being stuck with prerecorded loops. Even where it does use loops (as in the 3-way mix example), at least it provides a clever way to manipulate the sound and preserve the rhythm without sounding like an old tape deck devouring a Bobby McFerrin cassette.