The Jambourine

The Jambourine is a patented, ambidextrous handheld electronic musical instrument and wireless MIDI controller equipped with low-latency wireless MIDI (WIDI), shaped for natural handheld play.

It features an arc of velocity-sensitive strike pads, an index-finger trigger, grip-based continuous FSR pressure sensor, thumb navigation controls with an onboard LCD.

Its integrated accelerometer translates natural shaking motions into real-time MIDI clock BPM, allowing performers to fluidly steer loops, playback tracks, drum fills, individual percusion events and modulate MIDI parameters untethered on stage.

The ambidextrous modular handlebar uncouples and rotates 180° to provide identical ergonomic access for left- and right-handed musicians.

*The Jambourine introduces a new relationship between physical movement and electronic musical performance. The user is able to trigger individual drum samples such as a snare, crash cymbal etc. with one hand, trigger a kick drum with its index finger, Trigger dum fills with thumb buttons, while simultaneously controlling the tempo of MIDI loops (e.g.,) a hi hat, shaker, ride cymbal, cowbell, or drum fills in synchronization with a live ensemble performance, with the ability to physically move freely during an onstage performance.

*Squeezing the handles lower programmable MIDI FSR presure sensor when assigned (e.g.,) to a sequenced hi-hats decay value, could allow realtime closed open variation control, as just one example of a possible MIDI CC command.

*The invention is lightweight and can be transported much easier than a typical drum kit. It can be used to replace multiple percussion instruments and easily perform the basic functions of a drummer live with the same quality sounds as any electronic percussion drum kit accepted and currently used by many professional and amateur drummers and percussionists.

*Modular Ambidextrous Architecture: A patented 180-degree reversible handle assembly ensuring identical ergonomic balance and control access for both left and right-handed players.

*The major innovation the Jambourine introduces to the MIDI ecosystem is the organic tempo steering, the dynamic gesture tracking that translates physical cadence directly into broadcast MIDI Clock to keep internal, or external sequencers fluidly locked with live musicians, while simultaneous multi-dimensional control of velocity-sensitive strike pads, discrete trigger buttons, and a continuous handle-squeeze pressure sensor (CC) that together allow a complex mobile one-person rhythm section performance when jamming obtained by just swapping the tambourine with the Jambourine.

*I would emphasize a musician walking onto a stage carrying essentially one handheld percussion instrument and being able to control an entire electronic percussion performance while physically interacting with the other musicians.

*That the Jambourine can perform core drummer/percussionist functions without a conventional kit, while remaining lightweight and portable.

*That the Jambourine can liberate the addicted vocalist to the rarely audable tambourine can now lead or follow the band by adding sequenced tracks of percussion loops, while tapping individual now audable percusion sounds, like a tambourine, cowbell, handclaps, shaker etc while moving freely across the stage.?