Featuring a three-octave adjustable range, the Mallet Station is designed for the learning student through to the touring professional. The adjustable range allows you to set the root note to what you need, whether it's a guitar in low E or a vibraphone in F - it's easy to configure with the low note selection buttons on the controller. Using the included 'Gap Caps' you can add or remove the accidental notes depending on what key you are playing in. This allows you to easily deactivate the notes you don't want to use.
The notes are sensitive to your dynamics and highly responsive to your touch. This means you can use techniques such as mallet dampening and dead strokes in the same way you would if playing the vibraphone. Just press down gently on the note to choke it, or hit firmly to play dead strokes for a staccato sound. Using the MIDI controls you can even set the motor sound, and use the fader to modulate the motor speed much like on the modern vibraphone. It doesn't have to be vibraphone though, you can use those same techniques on piano, guitar, synthesizer sounds - any instrument you want to play with the Mallet Station.
You don't have to be a professional jazz vibraphone player to make the most of the Mallet Station. Electronic artists can use it to loop samples, modulate effects, control VST synthesizers and play with the satisfaction offered by the intuitive layout and percussive feedback. It's fun to play with and highly versatile no matter what your musical background is, and the creative possibilities are endless.
The Mallet Station was designed to be sleek, simple and lightweight. That's why much of the MIDI control has been moved to the Mallet Station software. Using this software you can split the instrument into two zones, which you can then assign to separate MIDI channels. You can even re-enable the ''gap cap'' notes and assign each one to a different channel. For example, you could have timpani on the bottom with chimes on top, and a mix of other percussion sounds on the Gap Cap keys. You can customise and mix up your performances in so many different ways using this feature.
Don't let weather shut down your performance, the Mallet Station features an all-weather silicone playing surface, allowing you to perform through rain and heat. The lightweight, streamlined design makes it easy to transport, and since it hooks up to iPhone/iPad, you don't even need to have a computer around to utilise it. Take the Mallet Station on the road, or bring it to your classroom for versatile demonstrations, there's no doubt the students will love it. As long as you have instrument software, you are ready to go.
