The Octopulse is in practical terms, a knitted synthesizer that was made to turn “unapproachable technology into an easily approachable, tactile and emotional object”.

Developed for the Yamaha Musical Instruments Research Lab, this crazy looking alien-bagpipe-thing translates movements into controller data for an analogue synth. The idea is that just about anyone can create music and sounds without having to learn actual synthesis.

Experiencing the joy of instant creative expression and not being put off or defeated by over-complicated technology is why Octopulse is a great therapeutic tool for those with a wide variety of special needs, as well as being the perfect creative playmate for children and an innovative new instrument for creative music and studio soundscape-recording.

To me, this thing either screams “Toy” or “Prank”, especially after watching the the strange video of the Yoko Ono type character “playing” (an I use that term very loosely) the Octopulse. On the other hand, I’d love to give one of these to my kid to play with.

“She challenges us to rekindle the lost art of happiness—using neo-analogue playpower.” Hmmm.
Here’s another video to help you make up your mind about this thing:

If you’re looking to buy an Octopulse, well you’re out of luck because this is just a prototype. That being said, you might be able to satisfy your weird synth craving with one of these.