THE BEAMZ INTERACTIVE MUSIC SYSTEM
The Beamz is an innovative musical instrument that enables people of all ages and skill levels to have fun creating and playing music. By breaking the path of each beam, this laser trigger-based instrument will unleash the musician in you.
BE THE BAND: The Beamz is an innovative and affordable new way for people of all ages to make music. By simply passing your hands through any of the six laser beams, you can trigger multiple streams of musical notes and sounds that always sound good and are never out of key.
FUN FOR ALL: The Beamz brings the fun and enjoyment of making music to all age groups and skill levels. Regardless of your musical ability, the Beamz provides a fun way to bring people together to explore, create and enjoy music. Beginners and children can play with ease. More experienced musicians will be amazed with the depth of the interactive music compositions and the engaging playability of breaking the beams. Great for social gatherings, the Beamz provides fun for family and friends, and it’s a great addition to any jam session.
EASY TO USE: The Beamz easily connects to your computer’s USB port. You don’t need to read music to play the Beamz. Simply install the software and you’re ready to go!
The Beamz includes an entire digital music system that plays 100+ instruments and sound variations that span over 20 musical genres. The Beamz system starts you off with 30 original Beamz songs, plus you’ll receive 5 additional songs of your choice to download for FREE after you register the product.
Want to use the Beamz with your own MIDI, WAV or MP3 files? Beamz Professional includes Studio composition software so you may create your own interactive music.
Want to see how our interactive software works? Take our Beamz Player Software for a FREE test drive on your computer.
Light up your events with the Beamz!
Beamz is an innovative and fun musical instrument that enables anyone to create and play music. Engage and interact with your audiences – people are naturally drawn to the “light” of the beams.
Beamz is ideal for Bar Mitzvahs, Quinceanera, Sweet 16 Parties, Birthday Parties, School Dances, Weddings and providing entertainment for kids at any event…
Beamz DJ Program
“At first look, I thought it was something I would never use. But, I loaded the software anyway and decided to check it out. I immediately started to enjoy the catchy grooves and the “cool” instrument. Pretty soon the whole cul-de-sac was over playing it including my 71 year old Father-in-Law! I started to think at how I can use this product during my DJ gigs…I have found it is a neat “attraction” at wedding receptions during dinner, and are already making plans to use it during corporate holiday parties…it is a really cool product.
Engage Your Audience
Engage your audience to a new level with Beamz Professional. Drop your own sounds, effects, loops, rhythms and samples on a beam for dynamic playback and performance possibilities. Ideal for performing musicians, club DJs and mobile entertainers, Beamz Professional includes Beamz Studio composition software for you to edit Beamz songs and to create your own interactive music using your own MIDI, WAV and MP3 files.
Immerse Yourself
Playing and composing interactive music provides endless opportunities for creativity and personal expression. Beamz is a unique instrument providing amateur and professional musicians a new means to experience playing and making music.
Buzz About Beamz
Make Beautiful Music with The Beamz Digital Instrument
“…a true must-have for anyone that likes to entertain with great music and get everyone involved with the fun. The Beamz is a digital musical instrument innovation like none other, and experience or expertise need not apply. Using cutting-edge laser beam technology produced and manipulated with a sleek, futuristic console, The Beamz lets anyone – and I do mean anyone – make beautiful music, without having to read traditional sheet music!”
Merilee Kern – Luxury Electronics – September 29 , 2009
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Play, Create and Explore with Beamz – Review
“Wow, who would have thought that laser beams could make streams of music…This musical product is simply amazing! I don’t possess any musical skills whatsoever. But with the Beamz, I feel like a professional music performer, lol. I touch the six light beams in whatever way I want and I instantly create music. Even my four year old loves playing with the laser lights and making music with it!”
- Hip Mammas Place..where cool, trendy moms hang out – September 17, 2009
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OK guys hold on to your hat because this is just going to blow you away!
“We found it to be incredibly fun, fun, fun for the entire family – you will get hours upon hours of enjoyment and you will be playing real music! No this is not a video game – no this is nothing like guitar hero!! This is an interactive digital music system that will have you creating your own original music compositions regardless of music knowledge, experience or age. You can even record your compositions for playback!! This is one of the most enjoyable products I have come across in a very long time, and I would highly recommend the Beamz to anyone! With the Christmas season fast approaching you need to add this to your list of MUST HAVE family gifts!”
- CandidCleverCostEffective.com – September 16, 2009
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Beamz Product Review for Kids & Family
“I love our Beamz as we’ve been having so much fun using it as a family…I think this is a lovely ‘family’ product that has no age bar whatsoever!”
- Energizer Bunny Mommys Report – September 9, 2009
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Beamz – Freekin’ Lasers In The Mix!
“It’s like having a laser based sampler for audio!”
- Ryan Burger – Mobile Beat – August 28, 2009
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MusicEdMagic Product Review
“It is a lot of fun to play and kids are drawn to it like flies to a bright light bulb. I literally had to set a timer and cut my kids off into two minute chunks because they all wanted to do it at once.”
- Chad Criswell – MusicEdMagic – August 2, 2009
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Make music with laser Beamz
“If you can wave your hands, you can create music with the Beamz…”
- Deborah Porterfield – Gannett News Service – August 1, 2009
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National Association of Music Merchandisers (NAMM) 2009 Summer Showcase
“A clever use of this would be for DJs who want to do live mashups…Imagine how cool the beams will look on stage at a club.”
- DJ Ron Slomowicz – About.com: Dance Music / Electronica – July 20, 2009
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Beamz … the laser controller anyone can play.
“BEAMZ IS A COMPLETELY new musical instrument concept that anyone can play, whether you’re an experienced musician or a complete novice.”
- Music Trades – July 1, 2009
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Recreational Music Making (RMM) Product Assessment
“Beamz is simply a delightful enjoyable instrument for anyone who wishes to tap into their musical spirit…Without the challenges of a sharp learning curve…Bottom line — I haven’t found anyone who hasn’t thoroughly enjoyed Beamz.”
- Barry Bittman, MD – President & CEO, Yahama Wellness Institute – April 23, 2009
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.)
