The DM48 Digital Chromatic Harmonica Controller at last gives harmonica players a real playable, user-friendly way to access the incredible power of MIDI sounds and functionality. It has to be heard to be believed:
You might ask: "What's this got to do with the blues harp?". Well for one, it bends notes - down AND up! For two, you can input any tuning. Richter tuning is in there as well as Solo, and you can put in whatever you fancy. For three, it plays in any key. For four, it transposes down and up several octaves. For five, you can get any sound with your normal harmonica blow/draw technique. and there is much more - watch the video...
Amazing! BTW your sound and style of playing is heard even via midi sounds :) ---------- Konstantin Kolesnichenko(Ukraine) http://kolesnichenko-harmonica.com/
I like it. Questions: What's it connected to? Can you put it in your shirt pocket and take it/play it anywhere? Can someone not computer literate (me) use it with no problems (I understand fountain pens, not computers. I'm old.)?
Just when we thought you'd run out of crazy ideas...
Actually this looks seriously cool, and a very well thought out instrument. Kudos to the developer.
A thought however. Watching the video I soon tired of that particular synthesized sound (just old fashioned I guess). Could you get something very close to a traditional chromatic sound, then use the various transpose features etc? ---------- Tony Eyers Australia www.HarmonicaAcademy.com everyone plays...
Tony: Erik only supplied me with a small range of patches, and for demonstrating the functions I stuck with one. But yes, you can play sampled harmonica sounds and anything else - from a fart to a grand piano.
As an example of the expressiveness of wind controllers, check out this excellent version of Killer Joe played on the Roland Aerophone. MIDI harmonica is capable of similar expression:
Not a BlackBerry, or Android either. Apple are the only ones who have sufficiently low latency in their portable devices to allow lag-free playing on most music apps.
The DM48 is the start of a whole parallel harmonica scene, I think. As MIDI harps proliferate, get better and prices come down, I can see many acoustic harmonica players buying a MIDI harp for extra sounds and functionality. They do offer incredible potential for a whole lot of stuff that's impossible on normal harmonicas, that can often be added with an update or a new menu.
Plus no reeds to break, valves to rattle, tuning to go flat, all keys in one unit, many alt tunings in one unit... Even on a practical level of cost and convenience, MIDI is a very attractive proposition.
Some will get so addicted to all the goodies that they will specialise on MIDI harp and the acoustic will become the second instrument.
In the current DM48 format, players with good chromatic harmonica skills will obviously find it much easier to adapt. Richter tuning is inside there too, but without the same bending ability.
If a convincing emulation of blues-harp type bending can be added, I can see them REALLY taking off. But that's a big if...
Last Edited by Brendan Power on Feb 03, 2017 7:44 AM
I read that the first batch of DM48's have been shipped. Did somebody here already receive the Lekholm and could share some experiences? That would be great !!
I'm currently working with a MIDI/electronics geek to make a small add-on mini pitchbender to overcome the DM48's main weakness: it can't yet controllably bend notes. I have one prototype and it's promising, but takes some time to coordinate finger bending with what we do in our mouths. Will posta video on that when I have something good to show.
