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For aspiring musicians it is an easy to learn musical instrument that you can play within seconds.
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For families it is a fun way to explore sound and music together with the kids and grandparents with no need to master complicated music theory or playing techniques.
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For electronic musicianit is a hackable, real-time, multi-parameter expressive controller that can bring life to your compositions, live sets and synth jams.
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For educators Skoog has a range of applications in Special Education and inclusive music provision. Designed with accessibility in mind, Skoog can be used by musicians of all abilities, making it the go-to instrument for music therapists and assistive technologists, too.
There's nothing like Skoog out there. No other digital musical instrument or music software controller is this tactile, flexible or naturally expressive.
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How does it work?
The Skoog is like a games controller for making music; it's a squashy foam cube that acts as a controller for our bespoke software running on your iPad, Mac or PC.
The sensor living at the heart of the Skoog detects how you squeeze and deform the foam - its not just sensitive to how hard the Skoog is being touched, but where and how it's being touched.
This unparalleled sensitivity means that our sensor translates your actions - the things you do to and with the cube - into meaningful musical sounds. It is uniquely expressive.
When you are using it as an instrument, you choose a sound (guitar, say), it has a different note on each side (giving you the option of 5 notes at a time), and when you touch a side you play the note. The expressive bit comes from how you touch it: if you touch it gently, it will be a quiet, soft note, press hard and it will be loud and brash.
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Whilst you can choose to aim for the buttons, when you're playing the Skoog you don't have to: the whole surface area of the cube is responsive.
When you are using it as a ‘controller’ you can assign different notes, effects and parameters to up to 17 different playable areas of the Skoog so that you can customise to your heart's content.
What sounds can it make?
Skoogmusic software's sounds are made by a processes called 'physical modelling' and 'subtractive' synthesis. That's not sampling, no sir.
Physical modelling captures the nuances of each particular instrument; play the Skoog as a flute and you'll get the different notes, sounds, tones and timbres determined by "embouchure" and breath noise, depending on how you physically manipulate your Skoog. Subtractive synthesis gives a classic analog synth sound with full on bass, crisp mids and highs.
"The modelled instruments provided by the application are expressive and sound pretty wonderful" - Nick Rothwell, Sound On Sound 'On Test'
It connects to MIDI, too. Skoog can also work as a MIDI controller, which means that you can connect to GarageBand, Logic and other compatible MIDI devices and applications to open up a whole new world of sounds.
Check out our "Skoog Jams" playlist for examples of the sounds and instruments available: SKOOG JAMS PLAYLIST
Or watch this montage below:
Who is it for?
Skoog can be used by everyone; young and old, from novices right through to music teachers and sound designers. With a range of easy to use software/apps and a FREE developer kit in the pipeline, Skoog can be a fun introduction to music making; or it can be a serious piece of kit for on the fly-soundscaping. It's up to you.
Skoog is for aspiring musicians.
Skoog removes the technical barriers to playing an instrument so that you can focus on your sound. You can be expressing yourself musically in less than a minute. With a different note on each side, Skoog knows its scales so you don't have to - all you have to do is get in key and start jamming.
What can you play?
Skoog lets you play along with your favourite tunes and tracks; play bass lines and melodies; improvise and jam; create your own parts and your own sounds; set up loops and layer them; add and control effects on the fly; remix live; compose and record your own music.
You can take it to the next level by hooking it up to other music apps and software, like Ableton, Logic or Garageband, and using it as a uniquely tactile and flexible multi-touch, multi-dimensional controller.
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Skoog is for parents and teachers.
Skoogmusic was honoured to be a finalist at this years Music Teacher Awards for Excellence in the Best SEN Resource category. Skoog 2.0 brings new opportunities to the classroom.
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Kids are musical. They sing and dance without being taught.
But traditional instruments can be intimidating for younger children. Skoog gives children (of all ages!) a fun, playful way to explore musical creativity and expression without the need for prior instrumental skills or specialised musical knowledge. Tactile, musical, play.
Using the pentatonic presets you can start making music with kids straight away and each of the sides is colour coded (with a ring around the button). You can use colour coded scores and learning materials to help children play tunes and even compose their own music.
Our first product, Skoog 1, was developed in partnership with teachers and it has been successfully put through its paces over the last four years in schools across the world. We've applied everything we learned over that time to designing a Skoog for everyone: an affordable, wireless, iOS compatible digital musical instrument and controller that lets you start expressing yourself musically from the moment you pick it up.
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The Skoog 2.0 Education Bundle - Applications in Special Ed.
Skoog 2.0 (early bird edition) is in production and now we are delighted to announce that our new education bundles are available via Indiegogo as well.
During the course of the last 4 years we have developed a software package and range of resources to help teachers and students get the most form Skoog in the classroom. This bundle, which includes the Skoogmusic PC/Mac software, is now available on this campaign!
The education bundle includes the wireless Skoog 2.0 interface (in black), Skoogmusic PC/Mac software, Skoogmusic App and a range of teaching material and resources which include:
The bundle includes the iPad App and the skoogmusic software for PC and Mac.
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To find out more about the features and benefits of Skoog that are relevant to children with special needs visit the Skoogmusic website. For specific student populations and applications see:
You can support a range of different music making activities using Skoog. The interface can be customised to suit a wide range of physical abilities. Here is a short film illustrating how the Skoog concept was developed to address the barriers faced by children with physical and learning difficulties.
Skoog is for electronic musicians.
For all the electronic musicians, producers, sound designers and sonic adventurers out there, Skoog 2.0 gives a new hands-on way to manipulate sound. With it you can vary multiple parameters at once to perform musical gestures that might require a third hand with standard controllers. Powerful sensors detect how and where the body of the Skoog is deformed in 3D. By mapping sonic parameters to the sensor data, a single gesture can be used to produce complex musical expression.
All Skoog perks come with Skoogmusic software for iPad, Mac and PC included, so you can have fun exploring the musical possibilities with the physical modelling and subtractive synthesis sound engines that we've designed to work with Skoog.
If you'd like to take things further, in May 2015 we'll be launching our Ableton plugin, so you can setup your Skoog to control pretty much anything your imagination can conjure up using Ableton Live. On top of that we'll be releasing an API in summer 2015 that will mean that you can start integrating Skoog into your own software.
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Mogo in action (on OSX):
What software is included?
Every Skoog perk comes with Skoogmusic software for iPad, Mac and PC, and access to our Ableton Plugin. As you develop in skill you can choose to expand your sonic options with Mogo (Mac/PC), or even augment your Skoog performances using eyegaze technology with ii-Music (PC only as per Jan 2015). We have other music-making apps, games and an API in development, and Android versions in the pipeline, so your Skoog experience will continue to grow:
1. Skoogmusic: this is the sound engine and control room for your Skoog.
It's all you need to connect, customise and play. Available for Mac, PC and iPad.
2. Mogo: a dedicated virtual analogue synth app designed to work
exclusively with the Skoog. Awesome retro-futuristic sounds that you shape and bend - literally.
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What've you got for tweakers?
At Skoogmusic we love experimenting with new ways to combine Skoog 2.0's tactile-sensing capabilities with audio software. Tactile interfaces connect you directly to your sound in a way that other interfaces simply cannot, and the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
Use Skoog to control panning in your quadraphonic sound system, for real-time lighting or video editing, for driving your car, or for tactile control of your frickin' toaster if that is what floats your boat. With Skoog 2.0 we have unlocked a new level of hands-on control and we want to see what you can do with it.
Over the coming months, we'll be putting together a multi-platform API for Skoog 2.0, as well as external objects for Max/MSP and a Max4Live Device for Ableton users. Want to see what you can do with it? Check out the initial spec:
Ableton Max4Live & Max/MSP
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Skoog 2.0 API
Who are Skoogmusic?
The Skoogmusic team brings together expertise in music learning and performance,
hardware and software design, coding, music technology & psychology, branding and business. What started as a post-doc research project at the University of Edinburgh has turned into a mission to liberate the musician inside everyone.
The story so far...
We're ready to get tooled up and otherwise prepared for production of Skoog 2.0.
We have talked extensively with potential partners to manufacture our new self-designed electronics and contracted with our preferred supplier. We're about to sign off tooling design for our injection moulded plastic components, and we've conducted numerous trials on materials and production techniques for our expanded foam parts, have finalised the design of the tools and they are ready to go into production.
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Production Timeline:
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How You'll Be Helping
By pre-ordering a Skoog, you'll be playing an essential role in helping us fulfil our
mission of enabling anyone to play and make music. Hardware
products are tricky to get off the ground; they're real, not virtual, so they need to
be manufactured, which means significant sums have to be spent upfront on tooling. On top of that, to keep the costs as low as possible they need to be manufactured at volume.
The good news is that we've just received a loan from company shareholders that will cover the initial tooling costs, meaning that all that remains is to find the funds to pay for our first production run and to complete the final CE/compliance testing process. This is where we need your help.
By contributing to our campaign you will be providing the working capital that we need to pay for our first production run. And the more we raise, the bigger order we can place, meaning that we can keep the end user price as low as possible.
Our work with Skoog 1.0 in education is our proof that we can deliver. We have
already managed the entire production process necessary to produce a Skoog and
manufactured a limited number of instruments for the SEN (Special Educational Needs)
sector. Now we're applying everything we've learned to the fully-realised wireless
iOS-compatible consumer Skoog.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
We could fail to reach our funding targeting;
We have reached our funding target so it is full steam ahead with the production of Skoog 2.0. The only question now is how many to make!
We may have underestimated the costs of getting
production up-and-running; We have done extensive
iterative prototyping and testing, have costed every single component and process that's
involved and have confirmed quotations from all our suppliers, so we are confident that
our estimates are accurate.
What if we don't have the necessary skills and experience to execute on our plan?
Well, the team has been together for four years and has already successfully designed,
engineered, manufactured, launched and sold its first product. It works.
What is certain is that Skoogmusic is a lean team of talented and skilled individuals
who share a passion for music, technology and for making the tools for creative expression
available to as many people as possible. We couldn't have got this far without passion,
determination and expertise.
FAQ: What else can we tell you?
APP COMPATIBILITY
Which iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad models does the Skoog support?
Skoog is compatible with iPad models that support Bluetooth Low Energy - this
includes iPad 3rd Generation, iPad 4th Generation, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad mini,
iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3; and running iOS 7 or 8.
Our iOS apps are not compatible with iPhone.
Can I use the Skoog with Ableton Live?
Of course! Skoog can connect to Ableton via MIDI using Skoogmusic iOS or OSX, but for extra features and
customisation we are also offering an Ableton specific plugin as a Perk, which will
allow you to connect your Skoog to Ableton via Max for Live.
Is the Skoog compatible with Android devices?
Not yet. We will be staging the release of the Android versions of our software, but they won't be available until late 2015/early 2016. Please email info@skoogusic.com if this is something you would like us to prioritise.
Does the Skoog output Standard MIDI?
Skoog isn’t MIDI class-compliant, but with the Skoog app, it can output MIDI
and connect the Skoog to other applications.
What can I do with MIDI?
MIDI is an easy way to connect different electronic musical instruments and allow
them to ‘talk’ to each other. This is also how you can connect the Skoog to other
synth apps on your iPad and record it in Garageband!
What do I need to send MIDI from the Skoog to an external MIDI device?
You can connect your Skoog to an external MIDI device using the Skoogmusic
OSX software, via any sound card that has a MIDI output.
Which iOS audio apps can the Skoog ‘play’?
Skoog can talk to any app that supports MIDI In via Inter-App Audio.
Examples are Garageband, Nanologue, Orphion, ThumbJam...
It is also compatible with Network MIDI, which will allow you to connect your
Skoog to apps on any compatible device via your WiFi network.
How does the Skoog work with a laptop/desktop computer?
Skoog works with laptop/desktop computers, both Windows PCs
and Apple Macs, via the Mogo OSX or Skoogmusic OSX software.
Can I use my own sensor/controller with the app?
No. The Skoogmusic app and the Skoogmusic/Mogo OSX/Windows software only
work with the Skoog.
Does the Skoog only work with Apple devices?
No, our desktop software runs beautifully on Mac and handsomely on Windows. Linux users, get in touch.
FUNCTIONALITY
What do the different software packages compare?
Skoogmusic is available for iPad, Mac and PC. Mogo is currently available in desktop version only, with an iPad version available in September 2015. Version 1.0 of ii-Music launched in January 2015 and lets you set up and add effects to your Skoog performance using eyegaze hardware (purchased separately) or to explore sound and music using just your eyes.
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* ii-Music spec as at Jan 2015. Features in the pipeline for 2015 include backing tracks, looper, custom tunings and analog synth instruments.
What is the hardware specification for Skoog 2.0?
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How do I get the Skoog apps?
The Skoogmusic app will be available via the iTunes App Store. The
Skoogmusic and Mogo software for mac and windows will be available for download from
our website.
Does the Skoogmusic app produce its own sounds?
Yes it does. The main ‘voice’ of the Skoog is generated by physical modelling,
with a range of instrument sounds available including strings, percussions,
woodwind, brass etc.
Where does the sound output come from?
The sound from your Skoog will be routed through the audio output of your tablet/laptop/desktop computer. You can of course enhance the sound of your Skoog by connecting
some high quality loudspeakers/headphones.
Can the Skoog be used to record and sample audio through a microphone?
The Skoogmusic OSX offers extensive sampling and audio recording
functionality for the Skoog.
We are working towards providing the same functionality for the Skoogmusic iOS app,
although you can also utilise other readily available sampling apps and connect
your Skoog to it via MIDI.
Can you change the sounds on the Skoog?
You certainly can! Both the Skoogmusic iOS app and Skoogmusic OSX software boast a
range of ultra expressive and dynamic physical modelling instruments. With its
MIDI functionality and sampling on the Skoogmusic OSX, your choice of Skoog
sounds is limitless!
How many notes can I play with one Skoog?
With our standard software you can play 5 notes at a time, with the ability to pitch bend between each to
produce microtones. You can also assign different notes to different parts of the
Skoog. You can also change key or individual notes on the fly. Our API will allow you to assign notes to corners and edges fur a maximum of 17 notes.
Can it sound like a trumpet?
Yes it can! The main ‘voice’ of the Skoog is generated by physical modelling, with
a range of instrument sounds available including strings, percussions, woodwind,
brass etc.
Can I connect two Skoogs to the same iOS device?
No, only one Skoog at a time on an iOS device I’m afraid! Skoogmusic
OSX/Windows will allow you to connect up to two Skoogs at a time, to the same computer.
What else do I need to play sounds with the Skoog?
Nothing! Just the Skoog, your iPad/computer, and you are good to go!
Does the Skoog need to be tuned? Can it be tuned to acoustic instruments?
By default, the Skoog is tuned to concert pitch with A4=440Hz. You can tune/detune the Skoog with the fine tuner, so that it’s in tune with any acoustic instrument that you might be
accompanying.
HARDWARE
Where does the Skoog get power from?
Skoog 2.0 gets its power via USB when connected to a desktop computer or laptop using a USB cable, or from its internal rechargeable battery (which charges via USB) when operating in wireless mode.
How sensitive is it? If I had to press hard on one side, wouldn’t that just knock the
Skoog over?
Skoog 2.0 is more sensitive than ever, needing just under 100g of pressure to activate - so if you keep knocking it over, you are pushing too hard!
Are those just buttons?
The buttons act as a visual "lure" and give you better directional control whilst playing. The Skoog is in fact touch sensitive all over (with the exception of the base).
Isn’t it just a MIDI controller?
Definitely not! The Skoog is so much more than a MIDI controller - the core sounds
available are dynamically generated by physical modelling synthesis, which translate your expressive
gestures into musical sounds. The new Mogo software uses dynamic subtractive synthesis to make Skoog 2.0 more expressive than ever!
How is Skoog 2.0 different from the old Skoog?
For this new version of the Skoog, we have completely redesigned our sensor to fully exploit the opportunities for dynamic control, our
manufacturing process, tooling...everything! We have listened to our users, and
are answering some of our most popular requests: it’s wireless, iOS compatible,
and more affordable.
The new sensor has a much higher polling rate than the old Skoog, and the Bluetooth LE firmware has been reengineered to give the minimum possible wireless latency (official figure TBC when we have production prototypes in-hand for testing), so Skoog 2.0 is overall much more responsive. Skoog 2.0 can also communicate with your Mac/PC using HID. For those who want to get straight to the source
data, we'll be releasing an api very soon so you can start using Skoog 2.0 in your own applications. We can't wait for developers to start exploring different
uses for Skoog 2.0! If you are interested in getting your hands on the API, please email support@skoogmusic.com.
Oh yeah, and we think the new look is pretty darned awesome as well.
What is the Skoog’s wireless range?
Skoog 2.0 connects wirelessly via Bluetooth, and has a range of approximately
10 metres.
How long is the battery life?
The Skoog can be used for up to 10 hours between charges.
Can the Skoog connect by USB as well as Bluetooth?
It certainly can - your wireless Skoog can also connect to the computer via USB,
the same way as when you connect it to charge up its battery.
LEARNING & EDUCATION
Can I still buy Skoog for education?
Yes you can, and the wired Skoog 1 is still available to buy from our partners
Douglas Stewart and their reseller network.
You can also purchase Skoog 1 from the Apple store online.
Will this teach me how to play a ‘normal’ instrument?
The Skoog helps people new to playing music to learn about music and sound
as they experiment with musical expression - from pitch, timbre and dynamics
through to scales, instruments, recording and editing.
Do I need to be a musician to use the Skoog?
No. The Skoog is really easy to learn and helps people new to playing music to
learn about music and sound as they experiment with musical expression - from
pitch, timbre and dynamics through to scales, instruments, recording and editing.
What if I don't know what key a piece of music is?
Don't worry, there are loads of websites that can help - check out the Top Tunes section of the Skoogmusic website, Echords or a good old fashioned google search.
MISCELLANEOUS
Can I contribute in USD ($) / other currencies?
Of course! Our Perk prices are displayed in £GBP but you can make your contribution in USD ($), CAD (C$), AUD (A$), EUR (€) or GBP (£).
What if I can't afford to order a Skoog right now?
No problem. You can still help us realise our vision that 'anyone can play'.
- You can order one of our awesome t-shirts.
- You can share this campaign with your friends and work connections, using the Indiegogo share tools at the top of this page.
We want Skoog to be available to as many people as possible and you can help us achieve that, whatever resources you have to hand.
What about international shipping?
Shipping within the UK & the EU or to the US is free. Anywhere else it's a flat £10.00.
