Music technology company Musical Beings \u2013 founded by former employees of Google, Waves Audio, Wix, and Simply \u2013 has launched Tembo, a new child- and beginner-friendly step sequencer, sampler and drum machine with an intuitive, game-style interface.<\/p>\n
Looking like something akin to a draughts board, Tembo is made entirely of wood \u2013 a decision taken by Musical Beings to make the unit more inviting than other drum machines and samplers in the category that are often metal or monochrome.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe chose to make Tembo out of wood to get people feeling natural next to it,\u201d says co-founder Ayal Rosenberg. \u201cThis is something I want to keep on the dining table, because it\u2019s inviting and pleasant to look at. Wood integrates naturally into any room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beneath its exterior, Tembo houses a five-channel, 16-step sequencer, with sequences created by placing circular magnets \u2013 or \u201cBeats\u201d \u2013 on the user\u2019s chosen positions.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll notice, though, that the grid is only eight blocks across. That\u2019s because you can position your Beats in specific ways to make use of 16th note subdivisions, too. By placing a Beat on the first position it will trigger the first 16th note, while stacking two Beats on the first position triggers the first two 16th notes of the sequence. You can flip a Beat over to add a step to the second 16th note alone.<\/p>\n
Tembo\u2019s deceptively comprehensive set of controls is completed by dedicated pitch and volume knobs for each of the five channels \u2013 plus a send for adding delay and reverb effects \u2013 as well as global tempo, swing and pattern length controls in the bottom left corner of the unit.<\/p>\n
In terms of onboard sounds, Tembo has eight sample packs, with the ability to add your own samples via either its XLR\/TRS input or built-in microphone. There\u2019s also dual USB-C\/MIDI connections so more seasoned musicians can connect the device to their DAW or external instruments.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not professional musicians but music is huge in our lives,\u201d reflects Rosenberg, Musical Beings co-founder.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been playing and making music our whole lives as amateurs. But we never felt truly good at it or highly musical. We want to change this. We want everyone to feel musical, especially the youngest musicians.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you search for step sequencers or drum machines, they look complex and intimidating, even if they are also beautiful,\u201d he continues.<\/p>\n
Tembo is live now on Kickstarter<\/a>, with nearly \u00a3700,000 pledged, well over its \u00a337k goal. A number of tiers are available to get your own, ranging between $369 and $549.<\/p>\n
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