With complex new musical and technological devices being released so frequently, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype surrounding small technical details of instruments that are often trivial luxuries designed to sell a product as opposed to improve the ability of the device to make music.
Glockenspiel, a new device from Native Instruments, brings users back to the basic simplicity of what makes an instrument useful in the first place; actually creating a sound.
Music makers and enthusiasts who are constantly seeking the newest software compatibility or MIDI implementation — which generally cut down on the actual level of skill needed to make a ‘song’ — will likely find Glockenspiel frustrating. In keeping with the reductionist approach to Glockenspiel’s creation, Native Instruments have chosen not to include any USB or MIDI ports, which is arguably the device’s largest downfall.
However, what Glockenspiel lacks in digital compatibility is countered by the sheer beauty of its metallic shimmering.
While Glockenspiel might at first seem limited, it can easily be combined with any microphone to create recordings. Take for example the following demo in which Glockenspiel has been used in combination with Native Instruments’ popular controller, the Maschine.
With a retail price of only €200 or $260 USD, Glockenspiel is the perfect new device for DJs and producers who are looking to spice up their tracks and live sets with a shockingly full-bodied sound.
