At the 2015 NAMM Show, SensorPoint unveiled the Jambé electronic percussion instrument.
The Jambé is designed to look and feel like a traditional drum. The hardware controller is designed to easily integrate into traditional drum kits.
But the Jambé uses DSP technology and high definition sound samples to let it be used as a variety of instrument types.
Playing Jambé is as easy as using your hands, as with any hand percussion instrument, or with regular drumsticks, like a standard drum. Over 1,000 different pressure levels are sensed in each pad, translating into realistic and dynamic percussive sounds.
iPad and Wi-Fi Integration
Jambé features full iPad control and Internet integration. Kits and sounds are directly downloaded, manipulated, and controlled via the drum’s iPad controller software. Software updates are sent directly to the instrument via a mobile or wi-fi connection.
Players can browse and download sounds and instruments directly from the Jambé music store on the spot, run directly through a MIDI output as a controller, or take advantage of the sound pack that comes bundled with the Jambé.
Here’s a video that demonstrates the sensitivity of the Jambé, using a variety of percussive sounds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3xhy03Q9zk
Here’s a performance demo from the NAMM Show, by Daniel Berkman, using two Jambes and a Boss looper:
SensorPoint plans to initially make the Jambé available via a Kickstarter campaign, expected to launch in March 2015. See the getjambe site for details.
yes i am percussionist are they on the market for sale yet…
“SensorPoint plans to initially make the Jambé available via a Kickstarter campaign, expected to launch in March 2015. See the getjambe site for details.”
if this had midi and the right price i could be into it.
The Roland Handsonic has been the reigning electronic hand drum for a long time, but that doesn’t mean there’s no place for this or a Mandala drum. Since they’re boutique-ish, there’s a small concern about longevity and having the accompanying software hold up, but the Mandala is still rolling after several years. The Jambe sounds tight and has a good shape that fits the hand well, similar to a Buchla Thunderbird, so it comes across well ergonomically. I’m a little surprised these days when any percussionist doesn’t have at least one such instrument in their kit for the bizarre or for specialty drums. Most people can’t carry a tympani, but yep, there’s one in your pad. What a great gift for the child of someone you hate, too.
Can i trigger my own samples?
from their blog:
Within the external computer application (iOS or Mac), we use highly advanced DSP and mathematical algorithms to trigger multi-layer sounds and events. These processes, including realtime detection and decision analysis, draw from our years of software experience with digital effects and autonomous financial trading. We’re talking heavy math processing at the quickest possible speed.
The app can output high resolution sample sounds that closely match the actions on the drum. Or, the app can output midi playback information to other apps, which can then take appropriate action. Jambé does not just look for someone striking a pad then outputting a midi note. That’s too coarse and not worthy of a proper instrument. Jambé knows all the nuances and gestures happening to it, and uses that information to modify sounds for proper playback. Jambé knows if you’re leaning on a pad, hand striking a pad, pressing a pad, or hitting it with a stick. The Jambé app let’s you tailor your sounds to any type of playing style.
I own a Roland Handsonic HPD-20 and it will be interesting how they compare side by side. I know mine does not have a thousand levels of pressure, but it does have nice spongy pressure sensitive pads.