keyboard

Neiro

13 March 2012

Not all crazy and toyish music devices come from Japan (even if the CEO behind this company, Yoshinari Yoshikawa, is Japanese…). Neiro, a new “social music device” by Silicon Valley startup Miselu just presented their first invention @ Texas’ SXSW festival this week, hoping music geeks, enthusiasts (or pretty much any cool kid) will buy their still to-be-released portable “instrument”.

Halfway between a V-tech laptop, a toy keyboard and a retro Atari console look the Neiro seems like “another” bulky and apparently pricey (as no details on price have been given yet) toy, but reading carefully throughout the details & upcoming specs of the mini-moi unveils a rather ambitious project with many industry-respected music partners.

Ok, so basically Neiro is an  Android-powered tablet attached to a keyboard (or an Android power synth…). Then comes the  25-key MIDI-controlling keyboard, a sound chip designed by Yamaha (their AudioEngine Series Sound Chip NSX-1), digital speakers developed with Onkyo and Trigence, a list of exclusive touch-based music apps developed by well-known  iOS developer Retronyms… and the backing of Japanese VCs.

Miselu Neiro 2
Miselu Neiro 2

Now honestly, if with all those names the Neiro ends up being rubbish… then we’ll buy one just to prove it once existed, if not, we’ll probably be in front of the newest geeky music maker toys that Björk (or anyone else of corz) will be purchasing before it’s even released.

Miselu Neiro back view
Miselu Neiro back view

If Sony got to release the rolly (which is a player and not an instrument, but as a “serious platform” it may well be compared), why wouldn’t Miselu manufacture their idea?

Adding a few more details… Neiro features a  features audio I/O, MIDI I/O, two USB ports, an HDMI port, a dock area for accessories and an SD card slot. They nice people @ Engadget got a preview… so you can get an idea not only of the early prototype but of the potential of this beauty in & out the music studio.

Miselu Neiro side view
Miselu Neiro side view
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