Yamaha TENORI-ON Music Creation Device

What is TENORI-ON?
Media artist Toshio Iwai collaborated with Yamaha to design a totally new musical instrument for the 21st century. Tenori-on combines a MIDI controller, tone generator, sampler and stunning visual user interface. Most importantly it’s a unique new way for anyone from cutting edge electronic artists to non-musicians to approach playing and composing music. Music instantly becomes a wall of light graffiti as you paint the sounds across its 256 LED buttons. Currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Tenori-on is both a musical instrument and a performance work of art.

TENORI-ON "Modes"
The TENORI-ON 16 x 16 LED button matrix is simultaneously a performance input controller and display. By operating and interacting with the LED buttons and the light they produce you gain access to the TENORI-ON's numerous performance capabilities.

The TENORI-ON provides six different performance and sound/light modes for broad performance versatility, and these modes can be combined and used simultaneously for rich, complex musical expression.
LAYERS

TENORI-ON layers can be thought of as "performance parts" or "recording tracks." The TENORI-ON has a total of 16 layers. Separate notes and voices can be assigned to each layer, and all layers can be played together in synchronization.

The 16 layers are divided into six performance mode groups as shown in the illustration below. The six modes have different note entry methods and operation. Up to 16 layers created using different modes can be combined for rich, complex musical expression.

Blocks
Once complete set of 16 layers is called a "block."

The TENORI-ON can store up to 16 programmed blocks (16-layer groups) in memory, and you can switch from block to block instantly during performance.

You could, for example, create a musical composition in one block, then copy that composition to another block and edit it to create a variation of the original composition. Or you can load a number of previously-created compositions into separate blocks from an SD Memory Card and switch between them to create variation during playback.

TENORI-ON Modes
The TENORI-ON provides six different performance and sound/light modes for broad performance versatility, and these modes can be combined and used simultaneously for rich, complex musical expression.

SCORE Mode Performance
Press an LED button briefly to play the sound assigned to it. At the same time the lights will flash outward from the played sound. If you hold the LED button a bit longer it will remain lit and will become an active note that will play repeatedly. Press and hold an active note to de-activate it. The loop indicator will be continuously cycling from the left to right edge of the LED button matrix. Active notes will play when the loop indicator coincides with their positions on the matrix.

RANDOM Mode Performance
If you press an LED button long enough to enter an active note in the Random Mode, the active note will play back repeatedly. If you then enter a few more active notes, the lights will "travel" from note to note, in the order entered, and the active notes will sound when the traveling light passes over them. The Random Mode thus produces a totally different type of loop from the Score Mode.

You can even spin loop-shapes you create in the Random Mode by holding the [L4] button and running a finger around the matrix in the direction and at the speed of the desired spin. The pitches of the notes will change accordingly as the shape spins, producing loop sound effects. To stop rotation, press and hold the LED button or press the same LED button twice while holding the [L4] button.

DRAW Mode Performance
In this mode you can press individual LED buttons or draw lines or curves on the matrix, and those actions will be played back and repeated. You can keep adding to your "composition" during playback to build up thick sonic textures.

In the Draw Mode you cannot clear only a part of the performance. The entire layer can be cleared by pressing the [CLEAR] button.

BOUNCE Mode Performance
Press an LED button and the light will "drop" from that button, bounce back from the bottom of the matrix, and repeat. The corresponding note will sound when the light bounces at the bottom row. The higher the entry point, the longer the interval between the sound. In the Bounce Mode the pitches are arranged horizontally, like a piano, with the lowest pitch on the left and the highest on the right.

PUSH Mode Performance
In this mode if you press and hold an LED button the sound of the corresponding note will begin to change gradually while the flashing surrounding that button gets brighter and wider. If the button is held briefly the note and flashing will stop when you release it, but if you hold the button for longer the note and flashing will continue even after the button is released.

SOLO Mode Performance
Press an LED button and the corresponding note will repeat until the button is released. In the Solo Mode the pitches are arranged horizontally, like a piano. You can change the interval between repeats by pressing or sliding your finger to a lower (longer) or higher (shorter) LED button in the column. If you press the lowest LED button in a column the note will sound once without any repeats.

Functions
By holding one of the ten function buttons located on either side of the TENORI-ON and operating the LED buttons you can change voices, change octaves, and apply a variety of effects and variations to your performance.

This unique visual/tactile interface has been specifically designed to allow intuitive, instantaneous operation of a variety of functions.

Technical Info

Sequencer
Note Resolution: = 96clocks

Gate Time: 10 ms ~ 9990 ms

Octaves: -5 ~ +5

Tempo (BPM): 40 ~ 240

Scales: 9 types

Transpose: -7 ~ +8

Performance Modes: 6 types: Score, Random, Draw, Bounce, Push, Solo

Other Functions: Clock, power-save, synchronized performance with two instruments, recording, TENORI-ON song playback

Maximum Active Notes: Push Mode: 64

Random Mode: 64 points

Draw Mode: 64 points

Tone Generator
Tone Generator Type: AWM2

Maximum Polyphony: 32 notes

Preset Voices: 253 (239 normal, 14 drum kit)

Effects: 2 processors
- Reverb: 10 types
- Chorus: 5 types

Sampling: 3 voices (Raw audio with a maximum length of 0.97 sec., up to 16 samples per voice)

* Using the supplied TENORI-ON User Voice Manager software.

Card
Save: Song / Block / Layer / Setting / Sampling
Load: Song / Block / Layer / Setting / Sampling
Rename: Song / Block / Layer / Setting / Sampling
Delete: Song / Block / Layer / Setting / Sampling

Note - Tenori-on uses SPI mode to communicate with the third-party SD card. Please ensure that your SD card has SPI mode. SD cards that only use SD Mode will not work in Tenori-on.

Controller & Display
LED Buttons: 256

Rear LED Display Points: 256

Function Buttons: 10 (L1 ~ L5, R1 ~ R5)

CLEAR, OK, CANCEL Buttons: 1 each

Jog Dial

Display: 122 x 32 dot graphic LCD device (yellow-green backlight), 20 characters x 4 lines, monochrome

Sound
Stereo Speakers: 1-watt output power

Connectors
Line Out / Phones: Stereo mini phone jack x 1
Mini DIN:
- MIDI IN: for synchronized performance using two TENORI-ON instruments
- MIDI OUT: for external device control

Card Slot: SD Memory Card compatible (*1)

DC In: Connector for PA-3C, PA-130 or equivalent Yamaha AC adaptor

Power Supply
6 "AA" alkaline batteries: Approx. 5 hours continuous playback.

AC Adaptor: PA-3C, PA-130 or equivalent Yamaha AC adaptor

Dimensions & Weight
Dimensions: 205 x 205 x 32 mm

Weight: 700 grams (without batteries)

Supplied Accessories
Mini DIN cable, CD-ROM x 1 (*2), AC Adaptor (PA-3C, PA-130 or equivalent Yamaha AC adaptor), Quick Guide, Installation Guide, Precautions, Warranty

*1 Not compatible with SDHC memory cards

SD memory cards confirmed as compatible with TENORI-ON (as of July 2008)
Manufacturer Model No. Size Note
Panasonic RP-SDV02GL1A 2GB
RP-SDV01GL1A 1GB
RP-SDV512L1A 512MB
RP-SDM02GL1A 2GB
RP-SDM01GL1A 1GB
RP-SDR512L1A 512MB
RP-SD256BJ1A 256MB
SanDisk SDSDB-2048-J95 2GB
SDSDB-1024-J95 1GB

This is a list of memory cards that confirmed as working by Yamaha. Inclusion on this list does not constitute a guarantee that specific cards will function correctly with TENORI-ON.

Yamaha will not bear any responsibility for any damage that occurs as a result of using these cards.

Please direct inquiries regarding memory card specifications to the memory card's manufacturer.

SD memory card specifications are subject to change due to manufacturer requirements. Such changes may result in memory cards on this list failing to function with the TENORI-ON, and we ask for your understanding in this matter.
*2 Minimum Specifications for use with the attached CD-ROM.

System Requirements
Windows:
- OS: Windows(R) XP SP2 / Windows Vista
Only compatible with 32-bit versions of Windows XP and Vista. It is not compatible with 64 bit versions of the Windows OS.
- CPU: 750MHz or greater Intel Pentium or Celeron CPU
- Memory: 256MB or greater
- Display: XGA compatible display adapter
- Accessories: Keyboard, Mouse, other pointing device
- Drives: Hard disk, CD-ROM drive
- SD: Internal I/F, or one that can be connected via USB.
- Audio output: Audio interface, sound card

Macintosh:
- OS: Mac OS X 10.3.9, 10.4, 10.5
(Use the latest version of the TENORI-ON User Voice Manager)
- CPU: PowerPC G3 or greater, Intel Core Solo or greater (first-generation Power - Book G3 and processor upgrade cards are not supported).
- Memory: 128MB or greater
- Display: XGA or better display system
- Accessory: Keyboard, Mouse, other pointing device
- Drives: Hard disk, CD-ROM drive
- SD: USB-connectible SD Memory card I/F
- Audio output: Audio interface, onboard audio output

Specifications and descriptions in this owner's manual are for information purposes only. Yamaha Corp. reserves the right to change or modify products or specifications at any time without prior notice. Since specifications, equipment or options may not be the same in every locale, please check with your Yamaha dealer.

Audio Samples