Stem Player
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| This article, Stem Player, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
| This article, Stem Player, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
Comment: Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/Royalwatercress may be of interest to future reviewers. Pahunkat (talk) 22:16, 21 February 2022 (UTC)
- Comment: Some of the sources I cannot examine, but the ones I can are interviews and product announcements, which does not establish notability. We also are not interested in what the official website says about its own products, that is a primary source. 331dot (talk) 12:24, 6 January 2022 (UTC)
| File:Image of stemplayer on kanyewest.jpeg | |
| Also known as | Donda Stem Player |
|---|---|
| Developer | Kano Computing, Kanye West |
| Type | Music Creation Tool |
| Release date | 2021 |
| Introductory price | US $200 |
| Storage | 8 GB |
| Connectivity | |
| Website | stemplayer |
The Stem Player is an audio remix device and music streaming platform developed by British technology company Kano Computing, in collaboration with American musician and fashion designer Kanye West. The device was launched in August 2021 in conjunction with the release of West's 10th studio album Donda.[1]
The Stem Player allows users to manipulate and remix audio tracks using 4 touch sensitive haptic sliders, and 6 hardware buttons. Audio tracks are divided into 4 separate stems (sometimes isolated vocals, bass, and drums) with each track manipulable using a front slider.[2]
Users can add tracks to the device by uploading an audio file to the device through an official online web application.[3] An artificial intelligence created by Kano is used to break the song down into 4 stems.[4]
In February 2022, West announced he would release music exclusively to the device, beginning with his Donda 2 album that month.[5]
History
In January 2019, following a chance encounter within the company's booth at CES Technology Show in Las Vegas, West invested an undisclosed sum into Kano and struck a friendship with CEO, Alex Klein. At the time, Kano were primarily developing educational hardware and software products for introductory programming and computer building.[6]
In a 2019 interview with journalist Zane Lowe for Apple Music, West confirmed he was working on developing a portable stem player.[7]
The lengthy collaboration process spanned over a two-year development timeline. Inspiration for the device's design and colour scheme came during West and Klein's visit to the Roden Crater with James Turrell. Prototype designs were said to be shaped like a hand, stress ball, and orb before the circular silicone design was adopted.[8]
Development workshops focusing on the technological aspect of the device took place whilst the West and Klein were traveling with the Sunday Service Choir and included sessions with music producer Rick Rubin and artists and engineers who contributed to Jesus Is King and Donda. Other artists who have contributed ideas to the device include Kevin Abstract[9] and Brockhampton.[8]
In March 2021, several images and videos alleged to be showing the device in use began to surface on online forums.[10]
On 25 August 2021, the Stem Player launched for pre-sale with the initial name of "Donda Stem Player".[11] The device began shipping to purchasers in October that year, pre-loaded with three tracks not available on streaming platforms, including "Life of the Party" and other remixes that appeared on the Donda album.[12]
As of February 2022, there are sixteen total tracks available on Stem Player, twelve of which are from Donda 2.[13]
Features
The stem player enables users to split any song into stems that can then be freely customized and manipulated using the device's touch sensitive sliders and buttons.[14]
The Stem Player is a beige, circular device with a soft silicone skin, measuring 7cm in diameter. 4 touch sensitive LED sliders cover the front of the device. Physical specifications include 8GB of storage, a 3.5mm headphone jack, support for Bluetooth, USB-C, and all major audio file types, as well as data transfer speeds of 12 MB/s.[15]
Features include vocal isolation and volume control, real time loop and speed controls, tactile audio effects, audio track management, recording of mixes and recording playback. The device comes pre-loaded with professional grade stems of the deluxe edition of West's Donda album.[16]
Upon release the device only appeared in one tan color. Since January 2022, a number of official images have been released showing black and translucent skins with no official release date.[17]
Reception
Upon initial release, the stem player was met with a positive reception with many critics praising the device for its unique and innovative design as well as its ease of use and AI based "stemification" technology. In a review for online publication The Verge, Jay Peters found that, "for someone who likes to make their own music, the Stem Player could be a mind-blowingly awesome tool."[18] Jordan Minor of PCMag said "the Donda Stem Player is an imaginative and surprisingly flexible music creation tool".[19] Terence O' Brien of engadget called the device "fascinating and unique".[20] Fast Company said "Stem Player paves the way for music’s alternate future."[21]
Criticism of the device was mainly relayed on the lack of wireless file downloading, limited storage space and the omission of a navigation screen, as well as low transfer speeds.[22]
West received criticism following the announcement of his exclusive music releases on the platform, with many fans expressing concern and uncertainty that they would not be able to listen to the latest release as a result.[23]
References
- ^ Stutz, Colin; Stutz, Colin (2022-03-05). "With 'Donda 2' Stem Player Release, Kanye West Skips Streamers — And the Charts". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ "From Stem Players to NFTs, Artists Are Getting Creative With New Music Releases". HYPEBEAST. 2022-03-04. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ https://stemplayer.com
- ^ Tillman, Maggie. "What is Kanye West's Stem Player and how does it work?" – via www.jalaprt.co.
- ^ "Kanye West's new album Donda 2 will be only be available exclusively on his own platform the Stem Player" – via www.news.sky.com.
- ^ Margolis, Jonathan. "Start-ups can benefit from moneyed tech enthusiasts as patrons" – via www.ft.com.
- ^ Minsker, Evan. "Listen to Kanye West's New Interview With Zane Lowe". Pitchfork.
- ^ a b Setaro, Shawn. "How a Tech CEO Ended Up Writing Lyrics on Kanye West's 'Jesus Is King'". Complex.
- ^ "Kevin Abstract remixing Kanye on Stem Player" – via Reddit.
- ^ R.F, Marcos. "Leaked Yeezy Tech x Kano Stem Player Video Surfaces". agoodoutfit.com.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew. "Kanye West Launches Donda Stem Player". Pitchfork.
- ^ Jones, Damian. "Kanye West's "DONDA" stem player has finally been unveiled and comes with three extra songs". Pitchfork.
- ^ "Kanye West adds 12 more 'Donda 2' songs to Stem Player". NME. 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ "Kanye West's new Donda Stem Player will apparently let you 'customize any song'". The Verge.
- ^ "Kanye West's "DONDA" stem player has finally been unveiled and comes with three extra songs". NME.
- ^ "Kanye West DONDA stem player: What is it, price, where to buy & more". capitalxtra.co.uk.
- ^ Hamilton, Jack (2022-03-02). "I Listened to Kanye's New Album on His $200 Music Player, and My God". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ Peters, Jay. "Ye's Stem Player Has Soft Skin and All of the Lights". The Verge.
- ^ Minor, Jordan. "Donda Stem Player review". PCMag.
- ^ O'Brien, Terence. "I wish anyone other than Kanye had made the Stem Player". Engadget.
- ^ Wilson, Mark (2022-03-03). "Ye's Stem Player paves the way for music's alternate future". Fast Company. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ Minor, Jordan. "Donda Stem Player review". PCMag.
- ^ Soteriou, Stephanie. "If You Want To Listen To Kanye West's New Album "Donda 2," You Have To Buy A $200 Stem Player And Fans Are Just As Angry As You'd Imagine". Buzzfeed News.