Roland simply launched a bizarre little riff on an acoustic handpan

Synthesizer big Roland simply introduced a reasonably weird contraption. The Temper Pan is the corporate’s digital take on an acoustic handpan. For the uninitiated, a handpan is a model of the steelpan instrument that is been widespread in Trinidad and Tobago for the reason that Nineteen Thirties. It is broadly thought-about to be the one actually new acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century.

Nevertheless, handpans and steelpans take severe talent to play. Roland’s Temper Pan is far simpler to play, thanks to obviously seen pads that signify notes. These 9 pads will be set to completely different musical scales, making it unattainable to hit a fallacious observe. The corporate says that this less complicated design requires “no earlier musical abilities.”

There is a built-in 2.1 speaker system and a Bluetooth receiver, which lets customers stream audio from exterior sources. The sound engine presents “tranquil tones,” with a number of sound variations and results.

The Temper Pan permits entry to quite a lot of completely different percussive devices just like the tongue drum, gamelan, crystal bowl and singing bowl, together with distinctive tunings. It may additionally emulate stuff like sitars, orchestral strings and synth pads. There’s an affiliated app for altering up sounds and for fine-tuning pad sensitivity.

It is performed with finger faucets, identical to a lot of its acoustic cousins. The instrument is sufficiently small to be positioned immediately on a lap, although additionally works on a desk. Roland claims that is the right gadget for “musical exploration, leisure and meditation.” As for these final two, the Temper Pan can play built-in environmental music and nature sounds. The corporate says these modes are for “mornings, evenings, stress-free and yoga classes.”

This being a contemporary digital instrument, there is a USB-C MIDI port for triggering sounds on computer systems or by way of different devices. It is powered by six AA batteries or by way of USB-C connection. The instrument is accessible to order proper now, however shipments will not be going out for just a few weeks. The Temper Pan prices $660.