Opens up new horizons
in the world of
digital percussion
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Enjoy the freedom in handpan music
with our stage ready standalone instrument
Opens up new horizons
FEATURES
improved digital percussion
Experience a highly realistic handpan playing sensation with our improved digital percussion, NeoTone. The hit-, pressure-, and area-sensitive tone fields offer a unique and fresh sound quality for an uncompromised concert performance.
FEATURES
Discover digital tone-fields
With a patent pending position-detecting technology, the instrument is able to produce realistic sounds based on different
hit-positions, such as multiple tones of a simple hit, or overtones. The ding and dome area, shoulder tones, and even the clap sounds on the body can all be part of your music making.
FEATURES
Play with pressure
The instrument's ability to sense pressure allows for a variety of playing styles, such as staccato notes, muted notes, and particularly the rhythmic sounds of the dome. Lowering the pressure sensitivity also opens up opportunities for children to easily play the instrument.
Product details
Ergonomics
The 47cm diameter, comfortable body angle, and realistic tone field designs provide a smooth and seamless playing experience. Despite being a fresh and new instrument, NeoTone's natural wooden body and unique handmade finish give it a traditional and authentic feel.
Professional sound design
The instrument stores the full unique sound set of 6 scales, which are suitable for all stage and studio works.
Plug and play
The instrument has an amplified headphone connector, line out, midi in/out, and two pedal connector for extensions.
Live and learn
We are committed to ongoing development, and our musicians will have access to regular and free updates via WiFi connection. This will make it easy to stay current on the latest features, scales and to fully explore NeoTone's capabilities.
Benefits of digital
The instrument comes with 6 full unique handpan scales (see below), which will be expanded in the future.
The line out quality is ready for the stage, studio, or any electronic music productions.
Silent mode to practice or compose, using the amplified headphone output.
Adjustable hit and pressure sensing, also allowing children to make their own handpan music.
Specification
Connectors
line out, headphones, midi in/out, foot pedals
Sound
48kHz 32bit studio quality samples, 1300 samples per scale
Basic scales
B-Amara, C-Aegean, C# Pygmy, D-Kurd, F#2 Pygmy, G-Romanian Hijaz,
and the ability to create any custom scales. Later in 2023 we will release more scales.
Power
built-in 7800mAh Li-Ion battery, with 8 hours battery life and USB charging
Size and weight
diameter: 47cm, height: 16cm, weight: 3.5kg
Material
natural wooden body (various woods will be available), with pleasant touch semi-hard rubber tone-fields
Communication interfaces
WiFi for software- and scale updates
Owner's manual
View the latest user manual (pdf)
Frequently Asked Questions
Who made NEOTONE?
The NEOTONE came to life from a dream of two friends who wanted to make a digital handpan. It started as a love project and currently they research and develop in a small community every day, supported by a creative community of international handpan-makers.
As a handpan player, would NEOTONE be suitable for me?
If you are a dedicated handpan player who values the healing sound and energy of the handpan, and use it for sound journeys, meditations, or playing acoustic music in various settings, then the NEOTONE may not be the right fit for you.
Who is NEOTONE ideal for?
If you are a musician that uses a digital workstation, has electronic music concepts and wants to incorporate the handpan sound into your music or performances, or if you work in a stage or studio environment, then the NEOTONE is designed for you.
Is the NEOTONE available for purchase now?
Our focus is on ongoing research and innovation in our field, thus, we currently only offer a limited number of beta version instruments for pre-order and it may take some time to fulfill them.
What is the price of NEOTONE beta?
Reservations can be made for two different wood-materials, a natural ash model and an exclusive model of black walnut wood made with 100% organic processing. The technical parameters of the two design versions are the same.
The natural ash is €2350 + VAT + shipping.
The organic processed black walnut costs €2850 + VAT + shipping.
Is any additional equipment or hardware required to make sound with the NEOTONE?
The NeoTone is a standalone digital instrument with its own sound engine and does not require a computer. However, it does not have built-in speakers, sound can be played through one of its audio outputs.
Can effects be applied to the NeoTone's sound?
The current software version does not include built-in sound effects, but like an electric guitar, external effects and distortions can be connected to it.
What scales can the NeoTone play?
Currently, 6 scales are available on the instrument, including B-Amara, C-Aegean, C# Pygmy, D-Kurd, F#2 Pygmy and G-Romanian Hijaz. We will continue to expand the instrument with new scales, which beta customers will receive for free via automatic software updates when the instrument is connected to the internet via WiFi. The majority of the scales are digitized from MAG Instruments handpans, but the starter pack also includes one Yishama scale.
Is it possible to create a custom scale?
Yes, but it may not have the same cohesive sound as an acoustic instrument. There is a chance that disharmony may occur between certain sound samples if they are chosen from scales with vastly different moods.
Does NEOTONE have speakers?
No. You can play it via the line out and headphone connectors. In order for the NEOTONE to sound beautifully, professional audio gear and speakers are recommended, which go beyond the resources and dimensions of the instrument.
Is it possible to integrate body sounds into my performance with NEOTONE?
Yes, you can integrate body sounds into your play as the instrument responds differently to different parts of the body, similar to an acoustic instrument.
Is it possible to use the NEOTONE as a MIDI keyboard or input device?
Yes, the NEOTONE can be utilized both as a MIDI keyboard (through its MIDI out) and as a MIDI device (through its MIDI input). You can also assign separate MIDI notes to the tone-fields and to the body.
What types of foot pedals can be connected to the NEOTONE?
The NEOTONE features two volume/expression pedal connection options which can be assigned to different settings of the instrument through the interface.
Is the NEOTONE a portable and battery-powered instrument?
Yes, the NEOTONE has an estimated battery life of 8 hours of continuous use. It comes with a USB Type-C charger, which can be used to charge the device whether it is being played or not.