Musician Brian Crabtree created the first "monome" device in 2005[6] after his discovery of Max/MSP[7]. Crabtree conceived a device that would use an open grid of buttons in order to allow for greater diversity of functionality over differing musical software applications. Many fellow musicians requested such devices from Crabtree after become familiar with the initial device. Crabtree, together with his business partner, Kelli Cain, created an initial run of multiple devices a year later (2006)[8] as a convenient way to meet the requests of these musicians. The company arose organically, over time, after demand for the device increased.
Brian (tehn) was an art student, he got into max and saw the grid object (IIRC that's the name). a friend of his showed him electronics and he built a button box that mimicked that max object.* 40h (no longer in production)
o May 2006; 400 devices
* 40h/se (no longer in production)
o June 2007; 16 devices
* 40h kit
o June 2007; 100 devices
o November 2007; 100 devices
* two fifty six
o September 2007; 100 devices
o August 2008; 100 devices
* one twenty eight
o December 2007; 100 devices
o May 2008; (number not available)
o January 2009; (number not available)
* sixty four
o January 2008; 100 devices
o January 2008; 100 additional devices
o October 2008; 200 devices
o January 2009; (number not available)
he took it around with him to different places including MakeFaires. more and more people asked him for one, so he made 100 of them. at this point in time this was HUGE for him and a LOT of work.
the next run were the SE edition, which he donated the money to charity, he thought he was done with the whole thing.
I heard of them around this time, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do. personally I contacted his site about making my own, he wasn't sure if he would do a kit or not. finally he released a kit, meaning no enclosures to make, no soldering, just ordering parts (imagine how much cash that is to lay out.)
now more and more and more people are clamoring for more monomes, at this time he started working on developing more models, all the while he was juggling ordering more parts and finding ways to mass produce the boards.
that's more or less where it sits now. just a guy who made a device that people wanted for their own. it was never intended to be a business, it's a folly of his, which he has worked diligently to follow very idealistic business practices from donations to Green causes to local sustainability. oh, and he sells them at a MUCH lower cost than he could, his price point is the cost of production and a modest mark up.
then they got into the hands of d0uche_bags like t1mp's friend who just don't get it.
/this is me ranting, you're cool zebra, I like your posts.
I was serious about the gizmodo.com stuff. There's been several step sequencer articles there (including a few for the monome) and people go nuts with interest.
they very well could port it as a 7x8 device depending on the app.
bus powered 