Contrary to what its name might suggest, the Bastl Kalimba is not your traditional thumb piano. It’s actually a synthesizer that mimics the playing style of a kalimba. The metal tines, characteristic of a kalimba, are designed not to produce much sound on their own. Instead, an internal microphone adds a hint of acoustic flavor, but the primary sound comes from the synth engine, which blends physical modeling with FM synthesis. The tines serve as touch-sensitive and velocity-sensitive triggers. While it can mimic the sound of a conventional kalimba, this instrument offers a broader range of sonic possibilities exclusive to synthesizers.
The Bastl Kalimba doesn’t stop at synthesizer sounds, which span from plucks to lush pads. It also incorporates built-in effects, including delay, reverb, distortion, bit crushing, and tape emulation. Additionally, it features a multi-mode filter for high- and low-pass adjustments and a straightforward arpeggiator.
What truly sets this instrument apart are its looper and touch-sensitive points that introduce distinct effects. The looper offers time-stretching capabilities, reverse playback, and the ability to be re-recorded with effects for destructive audio processing. A set of touchpads on the front facilitates note glides and alters the timbre through effects called Soil and Wind. These effects activate the Kalimba’s accelerometer, offering further manipulation of sound. Moreover, two programmable touch points on the top can be configured to control nearly any parameter, ranging from pitch bends to adjusting reverb size.
Bastl Instruments is launching a Kickstarter campaign for the initial production run of the Kalimba. Typically, crowdfunded ventures involve some uncertainty. However, Bastl is a reputable company known for delivering unique musical instruments on a large scale. They describe the Kalimba as “one of the most challenging” projects they have undertaken, having spent over three years in its development. It seems they are testing the market’s interest before proceeding with full-scale production. We have reached out to Bastl for further comments and will provide updates as they become available.
