Manipulate it, interact with it, activate it, or angle it.
No doubt, the Bastl Kalimba is essentially a synthesizer, albeit one played in the style of a kalimba. The tines themselves produce minimal sound. An internal microphone adds a touch of acoustic flair, but the core sound comes from a synth engine using physical modeling and FM synthesis. The tines function as touch and velocity-sensitive triggers. While it can mimic the sound of a traditional kalimba, it offers more sonic flexibility along with unique synthesizer features.
In addition to a variety of synth sounds from plucks to pads, it includes effects like delay, reverb, distortion, bit crushing, and tape emulation. The device is equipped with a multi-mode high- and low-pass filter, and a basic arpeggiator.
What stands out are the looper and touch points providing distinctive effects. The looper includes time-stretching, can be reversed, and can be reprocessed through effects for creative destruction. The front touchpads permit note glides and timbre alterations via effects dubbed Soil and Wind by Bastl. These effects enable the use of the device’s accelerometer for advanced sound modulation. Two customizable touchpoints at the top can control any parameter from pitch bends to reverb size.
Bastl has initiated a Kickstarter to produce the first Kalimba units. Typically, crowdfunding carries uncertainties, but Bastl Instruments, a reputable firm known for quirky yet reliable music gear, has expressed that this project is one of their toughest, taking over three years to develop. They might be assessing interest before large-scale production. We’ve contacted Bastl for their input and will provide updates if they respond.