My YouTube friend Shiela from @midi_in sent me this digital kalimba prototype for feedback. This is an early prototype. She’s already made changes to the design, but it shows a lot of potential. I really like the idea of a MIDI controller that conforms to scales/modes and the interface is very intuitive.
Check out Shiela’s website here: https://peacockmedia.software/hardware.html
And her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@midi_in
Intro – 0:00
Concept – 0:51
Overview & Scales – 2:03
Octaves – 3:50
Non-kalimba Sounds – 4:05
Using it in your tracks – 6:33
Velocity – 7:45
MIDI Connectivity – 8:24
What’s Missing – 9:24
Conclusion – 10:24
#kalimba #digitalkalimba
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Thank you so much for this demo Kale and your feedback, I'm thrilled that you like it so much. It might be helpful to write a status report here in the comments. There has been much work on this since I sent your prototype. The menu system and menu controls are vastly improved, it has 9 pads (for most of the scales that gives the octave and 9th, meaning that you can easily cover the triads for chord 1,2,3,4 and 5 and nearly two octaves for the pentatonics). I've added velocity sensitivity, which so far seems to be very effective, and for a little touch of light and colour, an RGB LED inside. I have a small run of boards on the way (in cool black) so all being well I hope to have a small batch available in, say, 10 days from writing this.
I’d by this in a heartbeat. The size and functionality even as a prototype looks superb. Ticks all the boxes.
My favorite part about a kalimba is strumming 2 or 3 notes at a time
I'm in. Take my money, please!
Yes, I know that but I didn‘t see the controller connected to anything.
Thanks for your answer.
Texas porch not included. 🙂
"instant technique" 🙁 whyyyyyy?
this is more of a practical tiny synth, not a digital kalimba. the "kalimba" sound sounds like the ones on my keyboard in the 90's…
oh ok, after nearly 7 minutes, you finally say it 😛
Yes, really nice instrument.
Maybe a silly question but where does the sound come from?
im sold, take my money
Pentatonic instruments seem exceedingly limited in the tunes they can play.
😮 I want one 😊 it sounds so cool 😎,,,👍 great upload
Far freaking out
This is one of the many reason I watch your channel.
you could spend a life time exploring this thing.
Extremely cool!! With an audio out, and some built-in sounds, you could mount this in a Cigar Box Guitar.
This is an awesome piece of gear. Looks like it is loads of fun to play with.
I hope they come out with a new teensy board with usb-c some day. It would help smaller projects like this not require micro usb. This would be fun paired with an iPad, I have so many apps on there I just noodle around on.
Seems like it's a fun little instrument. I was a bit skeptical on it being a midi controller, but you sold me on it. Small portable midi controller with assignable "keys/pads" is super useful in a travel setup. Thanks for sharing!
Sheila I must say did an excellent job with that kalimba, something that I hope hits the market soon,thanks Kale for sharing with us 👍
Nice instrument! 😊
This is very cool instrument. Thanks for the review. 👍👍👍