The MalletKAT is a musical instrument in a class of
MIDI
MIDI (; Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a technical standard that describes a communications protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers, and ...
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Ex ...
controllers which also includes the
DrumKAT, DK10, and TrapKat.
Description
The Control Surface is a velocity-sensitive gum-rubber pad that has force-sensing resistors (
FSR) which detect and convert mechanical energy into electrical signals. The
trigger pads are laid out like a conventional
marimba
The marimba () is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets. Below each bar is a resonator pipe that amplifies particular harmonics of its sound. Compared to the xylophone, the timbre ...
. The MalletKAT is made by the company Alternate Mode. Alternate Mode also makes the
DrumKAT, DK-10, TrapKAT, and the PanKAT. The MalletKAT is a MIDI controller which can be directed to a sound module and to an amp or to a computer with a MIDI interface if needed. Pedals are also provided with the MalletKAT.
Controller
The MalletKAT comes in three main models. The first, the MalletKAT Express, is a two-octave controller and is normally about ($1,500). The MalletKAT Pro is a three-octave controller and is usually ($2,100). Lastly, the MalletKAT Grand is a four-octave controller, usually comes in a gold plating, and is normally ($3,000).
Neil Peart
Neil Ellwood Peart OC (; September 12, 1952 – January 7, 2020) was a Canadian-American musician, best known as the drummer and primary lyricist of the rock band Rush. Peart earned numerous awards for his musical performances, including an ...
, the drummer from the rock band
Rush, used a MalletKAT Express. The Controller's FSR technology allows it to be extremely sensitive to any touch, and can recognize damping,
tapping, etc. Performers can program the MalletKAT by depressing an "Edit" footswitch and then choosing functions to edit based on text written beneath the pads. They can then use pads marked "Increment," "Decrement," "Forward," and "Backward" to change settings.
Sound Source
The sound source provides the sound for the MalletKat. One sound source commonly used is a Sound Module. The Sound Module is a MIDI device which the malletkat gets directed to via a MIDI cable. One can also use a computer instead of a
sound module.
See also
*
Marimba Lumina
Marimba Lumina is a MIDI controller developed by American engineer Don Buchla that lets a musician play music via a control surface based on the layout of a marimba. Joel Davel and Mark Goldstein were the co-developers of the design and implement ...
, a specialized MIDI control device
References
External links
Manufacturer web pageJazz concert performance on MalletKAT
Drum machines
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