[ad_1]
Introduced to the Japanese market in 2009, the Otamatone (オタマトーン in Japanese) was a real hit! A success certainly due to its cute kawaii style as well as its limited and original editions, which have continued to expand over the years.
Musical instrument, toy, or both, reproducing your favorite melody is never a chore thanks to this cute musical partner. It’s also a delight for children and young adults, who can compose their first pieces in a fun way.
What Is The Otamatone?
The Otamatone was the first electronic musical instrument from Maywa Denki, originally specialized in vocal synthesis, and has turned out to be a masterstroke. As of August 2023, it had sold over 2 million units worldwide.
Simply put, while the Otamatone is a musical instrument, but the real innovation lies in the fact that it is designed to be toy-like, so is therefore ideal for families; its operation is very simple, it’s very affordable, and it just all-round good fun!
The design can be described as a stylised, extremely cute saxophone in the shape of a music note, where you simply squeeze the sides of the mouth and slide your fingers along the stem to play the notes you want.
With a little practice and the help of the right score, you will quickly be able to create and play your own melodies!
The Otomatone is portable and battery-powered; with only three AAA batteries allowing, it should last for one to two months of active use!
How To Play The Otamatone?
It is important to first distinguish the three basic parts of the instrument:
- The Stem: Usually held between the thumb and index finger, by sliding your fingers up and down, you can play all the standard music notes and everything in between (so more like a violin than a piano)!
- The Mouth: Typically held with your other hand, by squeezing the sides to open the mouth wider or smaller, you can change the tone and volume of the notes it sings.
- The Control Panel: Found on the back of the head/face, while some extra options differ from one model to another, it generally allows you to turn the instrument on or off, and has an octave switch to select between high, middle or low note ranges. Pro models are also equipped with a headphone/amplifier jack.
It is generally recommended to operate the mouth with your left hand and the stem with your right hand (although if you are left-handed, you might prefer to try it the other way around).
Then, a bit like a guitar or violin, it is possible to adjust the sound and perform musical techniques like vibrato, whistles, etc.
Maywa Denki, the creator of the Otamatone makes videos to give you ideas for playing your Otamatone. They even have a Playlist exclusively featuring Otamatone!
Or, for those who prefer to read the process step by step, here is a WikiHow page on how to play your Otamatone!
Customize Your Otamatone
For the more advanced player, it is possible to completely control the sound that will come out of your otamatone’s mouth.
The Otamatone Studio app allows you to connect the Otamatone Neo and Otamatone Techno models to your smartphone using a 4-pole (stereo) 3.5 mm adapter.
You will then have the choice between several types of output sounds:
- Otamatone
- Electric guitar
- Flute
- Alto saxophone
- Violin
- Synthesizer
- Trumpet
- Drum kit
- Cat
But that’s not all! It’s also possible to customise more than just the sound produced:
- Change the rhythm (pentatonic, tonal scale, blues, etc.)
- Add effects: reverb, offset and distortion
- Music style: rock, samba, salsa, techno and much more
For those hoping for even more from this smiling instrument, this app opens up extra possiblities, and even has a virtual keyboard you can use to play musical notes accurately!
Note: Currently, compatibility with all Android devices is not guaranteed. If you encounter any issues, you can refer to the official Support Page for the software.
Otamatone Models
A victim of its own success, this amusing instrument has been made available in multiple different editions. Each version has its own characteristics, so when making the decision of which to buy you should consider the use you plan to make of it as well as the style you prefer.
Some of the Otamatones available are as follows:
- The Standard version: The classic, simplest default model, available in several colors. This version covers only a single musicalo octave, from C to C, and is 270mm high.
- The Pro version: Also called Otamatone Deluxe, it is possible to use this instrument with headphones or speakers. It is also larger than the Standard model, at 440mm, for better handling.
- The Analogue version: This version consists of only the head of the instrument, in the form of a chihuahua, panda or tiger. As opposed to the usual electronic sounds, this model is more like a whistle, operated by blowing into it. However, it is no longer in production, so could be tricky to find!
- Mini versions: The advantage of these models is that they include pre-recorded music that you can practice. Their portability makes them a particularly popular choice for children on the go.
- The Digital version: This version is unusual, in the it has keys like a piano for more acurate musical note-playing.
- The Neo and Techno (smartphone-compatible) versions: Ideal for personalizing your sound by connecting them to your mobile phone. However, due to their extra functionality, they are a little more expensive than many other models.
- Collaboration Models: Otamatones that look or sound like various beloved characters that add to the instrument’s cuteness factor.
Also Read: How To Buy Japanese Musical Equipment From DigiMart
Collaboration Otamatone Models
Both within Japan and worldwide, it is hard to miss the popularity of manga and anime world, and Otamatone is no exception! In addition to simple color variations, you can also find many versions based on characters from pop culture and the worlds of Japanese anime, manga and beyond.
Otamatone Hello Kitty (Deluxe and Mini)
Wearing a cute ribbon, the famous not-actually-a-cat Hello Kitty has joined the ranks of the Otamatone.
Otamatone Japan
Under this category, we find three emblematic characters of Japan. These are ninja, kabuki theater style makeup and maneki-neko.
Otamatone Kumamon
Kumamon, the famous bear mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture is also entitled to his black instrument, and terribly kawaii!
Otamatone Kirby
Released to mark the birthday of the famous Nintendo character, it will be even cuter when you activate its mouth to the rhythm of the music!
Otamatone KISS!
Who said rock bands have to inspire fear? It’s quite the opposite with this adorable, eye-catching KISS! collaboration!
Otamatone Wahha Go Go
The instrument with its chrome finish and hilarious smile is terribly fun to use and will be a hit with your audience.
Otamatone Crystal
This transparent model that lets you see the beautiful inner workings of the Otamatone.
Otamatone Hatsune Miku
In the world of vocaloid music in Japan, there is no one more iconic or symbolic than Hatsune Miku. This is made even more obvious by the fact that the Japanese pop star also has her own otamatone collaboration!
Also Read: What You Should Know About Traditional Japanese Musical Instruments
How Much Does An Otamatone Cost?
The real advantage of the Otamatone is that it is an instrument available to all budgets, since even the most expensive models remain affordable.
- Expect typically anywhere from ¥2,800 to ¥4,000 for standard models. The character collaboration models will of course be more expensive.
- For Pro models, it will start at ¥7,800.
- The smartphone compatible models (Neo and Techno) will cost between ¥4,500 and ¥10,000.
- The price of Otamatone Mini will be around ¥3,000.
- Finally, the Digital model is around ¥5,500.
- For the Analog model, not really being a normal Otamatone in the literal sense, it can be found from ¥1,200.
How To Buy A Japanese Otamatone?
Otamatone are available on most Japanese e-commerce platforms:
- Rakuten: Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten is an essential site for finding the latest Otamatone models, as well as most anything else you can think of!
- Yahoo! Shopping: Yahoo! Shopping is used regularly by the Japanese population. Check the conditions of the order carefully before confirming it.
- Amazon Japan: Amazon Japan is known for its fast shipping and very complete product descriptions. Shipping discounts are also often available on orders over a certain amount.
- Yahoo! Auction: The ideal site for auctions, rare pearls and second-hand goods. Although there are generally very few rare Otamatone models on the market, it may be interesting to buy used models at a cheap price to find out if the instrument is made for you. In this case, Yahoo! Auction is a great ally.
[ad_2]
Source link