Bastl Instruments has introduced the Bastl Kalimba – a new instrument that combines microphones, touch sensors, and an accelerometer, with a user interface inspired by the traditional kalimba.

Plucking the Kalimba’s tines with varying intensity is captured by internal microphones and touch-sensitive areas, which then excite both the physical modelling engine and the FM engine. You can also excite the engine by knocking or strumming on the unit’s casing or directly on the tines.

The internal accelerometer acts as an alternative exciter for the physical modelling engine, while also interacting with the FM engine by dynamically filtering the left and right channels as you move and rotate the device.

The front panel features function-based touch points (for creating pads, pitch slides, and timbral modulation) and there are also 2 function-assignable ones on the back of the device.

Custom scales, octave shifting, an arpeggiator, presets, an internal layering looper, tempo/metronome, and built-in effects (such as reverb, delay, bit-crush, overdrive, filtering, and modulation) are all included.

Pricing and Availability:

Production of the Bastl Kalimba is being funded via a Kickstarter project, and it’s available to backers starting at about $494 USD, with the initial units expected to ship in Dec 2026.

Note: Crowdfunded projects involve risk. See the project site for details.