Hardware/Software Combo Takes Expression Beyond The Glass
January 20, 2016, Mountain View, CA – Jambé, a new versatile and expressive electronic percussion instrument was previewed last year at Winter NAMM, and in a series of sneak peaks for leading members of the Los Angeles music industry community. Jambé returns to NAMM in 2016 unveiling a vastly more powerful sound engine and an online store ready to take pre-orders. Percussionists, producers and music tech aficionados alike were incredibly enthusiastic a
bout Jambé and the qualities that make it unique - portability, extensibility, and the deep expressive possibilities of advanced high-resolution pressure sensor technology. After in-depth consultation with top players, the decision was made to rebuild the software from the ground up to better enable Jambé to exploit the full potential of its hardware.
The result is an incredibly powerful sound engine architecture dubbed Sample Powered Matrix synthesis
or SPX. The software was created with the idea that a single hand or stick strike on a Jambé pad maps to
an incredibly powerful individual voice, each with advanced expression and sound design features
including:
- Expanded Gestural Interpretation - normal percussive strike detection and MPE (Multi-touch Polyphonic Expression) style performance techniques, with sounds triggered or modified while a pad is held.
- Extensive Synthesis Tools - 2 LFOs, 3 envelopes, 2 tracking generators, and 2 ring modulators per voice. Over 30 modulation sources and over 40 modulation destinations.
- Natural Sonic Variations - 3 sample lists per voice with up to 8 samples per list.
- Sample List Modes - sequentially trigger the samples in a list, allowing stroke variations or sequential patterns. Crossfade between samples using a modulation matrix and trigger samples simultaneously for chords.
- Gestural Crossfade Between Sample Lists - creates effects like a closed slap or dead stroke without tying up multiple pads for an open and closed slap.
- Massive Polyphony – with the ability to use number of voices playing as a modifier for more natural sound layering.
- Unique Features - use the number of voices sounding as a modulation parameter. Enables sculpting the sound as more voices play. Perfect for adding special character to rolls, etc.
Like today’s musicians, Jambé lives in a connected world. Need a new sound for a last-minute gig? Professionally designed instruments can be purchased through your the iOS device. Working with DAWs or other sound modules? MIDI Output allows connection to a world of other musical gear. Play with your hands or sticks? Jambé supports both. Jambé will ship in the 2nd quarter of 2016 and is now available for pre-ordering online. The first 200 customers on the store at
getjambe.com can place their Jambé preorder to secure a place in line, and also receive a $200 discount!
About SensorPoint, Inc: This advanced yet elegant design is made possible by the rich industry and musical
experience of the Jambé team. John Worthington created and implemented the Macintosh MIDI Manager. He was project leader for Apple QuickTime and one of the creators of the AIFF file format. Mark Bain was a pioneer in the use of MPEG technologies for media authoring and delivery for Hollywood studios, and was directly involved with the introduction of DVD authoring and HD media players. He has designed multiple new OEM products involving advanced semiconductor sensors, Apple’s iPad, electronic compasses, and computerized lighting controls.
