pankat (1)

Electronic Steelpan Midi Controllers

The Arrival of  Electronic Steelpan Midi Controllers


Now we  see  new projects on the horizon like the  electric midi controllers made in the pattern of Steelpans. This is a great breakthrough for Panist because it allows us  the freedom of using our skills with modern day technology. The beauty with these instruments is that you can hook them up to a computer and use them with music programs which opens a wind range of sounds and instruments, hence the panist  does not have to learn to play keyboards to get access to the thousands of  sound modules that is out there.

 

What makes these instruments suitable for Pan players  is the fact the notes are laid out in the circle of 4th & 5th the great discovery of the Trinidad genius Tony Williams.  My first in counter with one of these sound modules was the PANKAT with notes hexagon shaped  it seams very similar to the original Spider web pan. This demonstration of the PANKAT I have used a sound other than the steelpan, but obviously the technique  of  a panist.

Mighty Jamma demonstrates   the PANKAThttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYearIXk2gQ&feature=related

 

Jamma Salmon & Jamani

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Recently I had the great pleasure of meeting another magnificent genius “from  the Land of Pan Trinidad & Tobago ” Salmon Cupid the inventor of the Electronic Pan ( Epan ) from the moment I saw the pan come  out of the case, I knew I wanted one. I had been following cupid  on the net, but meeting him in person and seeing and playing the epan  as a panist I just knew that this is an  invention that is bringing pan forward in an  unimaginable way. Just  the size of how neatly it fits in your home, and you can practice with head phones, it is like magic, I would defiantly  recommend the epan  for any serious panist to have as well as an  the original pan.

Mighty Jamma  demonstration on  the e.panhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HdLChwzxE0

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The epan has all the modern functions to hook up with your pc, but  the lay out and shapes of the notes are  closer to an original  pan, and it has excellent casing for transportation.

Sometimes I feel some panist don’t understand the fact that these new creations are not here to replace the original steelpan but to bridge the gap with authentic  & modern  day technology .

I feel we  have to be thankful as panist  that we have lived to see this  kind of technology developed in our life time.

 

Mighty Jamma Demonstation  epanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glgq9GgCt_g

 

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Jamani Stewart  Young Steelpan ambassador


The journey of the Pan Man continues with  father & son  using traditional and electronic steelpan midi controllers

 

12yr Jamani Stewart PanKat Demonstration  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1r_MGuUjq8

 

15 yr  Jamani Stewart  1st  demonstration  on epan

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OSOrymuA6A&feature=related

 

15yr Jamani 2nd  Demonstration on epan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vywryggbdec&feature=related

 

It must remembered that the electronic midi controllers are not  here to take away from the amazing  beauty and craftsmanship  of the pan maker , but  it is an extra tool  for panist to use along side there PC & music programs.

 

To see &  hear  more  live  audio samples please visit

http://www.jammasteelpan.net/trinidad09.htm


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