The Beamz

How Does the Beamz work?

The Beamz is a musical instrument that contains six lasers. This hardware comes with a PC-based software application to load onto your computer. The software responds to the players’ motions when their hand passes through any of the six laser beams. The product comes with 30 original songs in a variety of musical genres including rock, jazz, reggae and classical. Because each player-inspired performance is unique, the true number of arrangements is unlimited. Players can find over a hundred different songs online to purchase, including popular hits as well as kids’ songs.

Once the Beamz is set-up and software is loaded, players simply choose a song and begin playing breaking any one of the beams with their hand to trigger streams of musical notes or sounds. The beauty of this instrument is that no matter what combination of sounds you choose to play, every song is always in tune and harmonious….you can’t play a wrong note.  Play it alone or with friends and family for a fun group experience.

Why would I want the Beamz?

The Beamz appeals to amateur and professional musicians as well as those individuals, young and old, who have always aspired to play a musical instrument. Based on its ease of use and instant playability regardless of skill level, players can get jamming in minutes. It is a great new way to have fun with the family, and to share new compositions electronically with friends both near and far away. It is also a great addition to a DJ’s toolbox, a wonderful therapy resource for children and adults with special needs and those recovering from strokes.

What makes the Beamz different from other instruments?

The Beamz is unlike any instrument on the market. First, while it may look like a harp, it is more dynamic in its ability to play multiple notes, sounds and musical clips with the touch of each single beam. Unlike a digital piano or keyboard which features a variety of instrument sounds by assigning a single instrument sound for each key, the Beamz software allows Beamz players to play multiple sounds on one beam. And, the Beamz will always be in tune when playing any combination of instrument sounds in any given song. This harmonious quality makes creating music fun, easy and enjoyable. The Beamz also allows players to record and share songs with friends and family. Playing the Beamz is as simple as tapping on a drum, but the outcome and range of sounds and instruments goes well beyond any digital drum on the market. The depth of the Beamz software and music content puts this instrument in a class of its own.

What is the recommended minimum experience for the Beamz players?

The Beamz can be played by anyone regardless of age or experience. You do not need to know how to read music and no training is required. As with all products, young children should be supervised. Accomplished musicians will especially enjoy exploring this new technology.

Can you play the Beamz with other instruments?

Yes. The Beamz can be added to any jam session. It can be used to accompany a group of other instruments or it can be the centerpiece to any music collection, interactive or traditional.

Is playing the Beamz similar to playing Guitar Hero™ or Rock Band™?

No. The Beamz is an instrument that allows you to actually create or make your own music. By activating each of the six beams at the players’ discretion, players can change the course of any Beamz song. Just as a jazz musician will improvise and contribute a unique solo within a jam session, Beamz players control the destiny and uniqueness of each song played. There is no scoring system in the Beamz. Players can “Be the Band,” rather than pretend to be in the band. In the future, Beamz Interactive plans to launch a game component to the Beamz to elevate the level of playing.

What is the difference between “interactive” and “traditional” music?

Interactive music is creative, dynamic and spontaneous. Beamz interactive music is harmoniously designed and structured for players to perform interactive music with limitless possibilities. Unlike traditional music, where a musician plays a song by reading and performing to a defined musical score, interactive music is free flowing – there is no musical score to follow. Players are inspired to interact with the Beamz songs and create unique sounds different from any other type of instrument.

Can I play Beamz songs without attaching the Beamz instrument to a computer?

Yes, you can trigger the Beamz instruments in the Beamz player software by using the computer mouse with the virtual Beamz pictured on your computer screen. You may also use the A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K keys (A = beam 1, S = beam 2, D = beam 3, F = beam 4, G = beam 5, H = beam 6, J = swap sounds, K = rhythm on/off).  But we think you’ll have more fun using your hands and whole body to get you into the rhythm.

I noticed the top-hit songs are called “Jams”. What is a “Jam”?

The Beamz composers have taken top-hit songs from popular artists and have created an interactive version in the style of the original artist. By remaking and editing the original music into an interactive format, Beamz players can “jam” to these familiar songs, by pulling in a variety of music clips and sounds at the players’ discretion. This is the beauty of interactive music. Each player creates their own signature to playing a popular song.

Can I record with the Beamz?

Absolutely. The Beamz is designed for novices and experienced musicians. You can record your original songs right into the computer. You can save the music as a wave file (*.wav) or as a Windows Media file (*.wma) to share with family and friends.

How many people can play the Beamz at one time?

Several people can team up to play the Beamz. You can also connect an additional system to play in tandem.

How can I recreate the same song after I played it the first time?

Recreating the same song requires practice. Players should record a song first, and then determine which beams were triggered to achieve the instrument sounds and timing.

When playing the Beamz, does the placement of your hand affect the sound that you create?

The sound is generated by the touch. So the amount of time you place your hand in front of a beam will determine the amount of sound you will produce from that beam’s designated instrument. The placement of your hand from left or right doesn’t change the sound. It is the placement of your hand through the beam that impacts the production of sound.

How can I use my own MIDI, WAV and/or MP3 files in Beamz songs and/or assign my music files to play with specific beams?

Beamz will be releasing a Studio version of our software which will provide users the capability to import MIDI, WAV and/or MP3 files into the application.  The Beamz Studio software will also provide users the ability to edit any aspect of a Beamz song and provide a means to compose interactive music songs of their own.

Can I change the positioning of the instruments assigned to the Beamz in a specific song?

Yes.  In the Beamz player software users may edit the beam assignment of the instruments, adjust volume settings for each instrument and modify the overall tempo of the rhythm.

May I use the Beamz with an instrument stand?

Yes.  The base of the Beamz unit has four screw threads to use with a drumKAT Mounting Bracket (DKB) which may be used with the Kat DK-1000 stand.  Here is the link for more information regarding these items: http://www.alternatemode.com/drumkat_stands.shtml

Are there any wireless options for the Beamz?

The current Beamz product requires a USB connection from the instrument to a computer.  We are exploring wireless options for future products for potential release in 2010.

What comes in the box when I purchase The Beamz?

Here’s what players will find inside the Beamz box at purchase:
•   The Beamz unit and frame
•   USB cable
•   3 CDs – 1 software installation CD and 2 music content CDs
•   Quick Start Guide
•   Beamz Instructional DVD

What are the product dimensions?

The Beamz is lightweight and should fit easily on most table tops.
Base            Frame                   Weight
Length: 21 cm       Length (leg thickness): 3 cm        Total product: 6 lbs (2.72 kg)
Width: 28 cm        Width: 64 cm (approx. 25.5 inches)  Box, product, packaging &
Height: 7 cm        Height: 45 cm (approx. 18 inches)   accessories: 9 lbs. (4.1 kg)

What do I need to get started?

To get the most out of The Beamz system, we recommend the following:
•   A Pentium 4 processor.
•   A PC running windows XP with Service Pack 2 and .Net 2.0 or Windows Vista.
- A minimum of 512 MB of system memory (one GB or greater preferred).
- Four GB of free hard disk space.
- One free USB port. (The Beamz controller will not function correctly if connected
to a USB hub.)
- A monitor with a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels or better.
- A sound card and a speaker system or headphones.
•   While not required, external speakers or headphones are recommended to get the full Beamz experience. (These items are not included.)