The Pearl malletSTATION EM1 Mallet Controller provides realistic feel, ease of use, and unlimited possibilities to play on electronic keyboard instruments. The malletSTATION can easily be connected to any PC, Mac, iOS or Android device that supports USB with virtual sound software to simulate performing on a marimba, vibraphone, or any other percussion instrument.
Pearl designed the EM1 with Muse Kinetics utilizing their Smart Fabric technology this mallet controller design. This technology and silicone bar material provides a very natural playing feeling and response, while also being extremely sensitive. The EM1 pads support dampening and after touch, which can be adjusted and customized via software.
With the Pearl malletSTATION you can easily change the instrument to any range you need. The unique pad layout allows you to shift ranges by moving the included accidental covers ("gap caps") so the player can visually see the range they are playing in. By pressing the "low note" selector button and shifting the covers, you can easily change from a C to C instrument to an F to F. The low note selector supports every natural note and uses an LED to indicate which note is selected. The "octave" selector button easily changes the octave range up or down as well. The EM1 control panel also includes 4 additional assignable buttons and 3 faders that can be assigned and customized within your software.
The malletSTATION receives power via the USB port. An optional Keith McMillen MIDI Expander (sold separately) can be used to connect the malletSTATION to any MIDI device or legacy systems. There are 3 MIDI assignable 1/4" pedal inputs as well.
| SKU | PEA-EM1 |
|---|---|
| UPC | 633816699221 |
| Weight | 31.65 lb |
This product is easily the worst midi controller ever created, and definitely the worst “musical instrument” in history. Avoid. Save your money unless you enjoy sounding like a hack. Zero stars.
Supposedly, you can just plug this thing in to a USB port on a computer and it will work. Nope. It didn't do anything on a Windows desktop, so I bought a MacBook Pro (another $1,500) outlay, and it didn't work either. Then I download a copy of Mainstage for another $20 or so. Then I got online advice to plug the mallet station int using an Apple-specific USB A-C adapter. STILL no joy. Then I downloaded a software update from Pearl. After hammering on keys enough, I managed to get MainStage updated to the point where it recognized the mallet station (I'm a Windows expert and find iOS completely opaque) and I could ask MainStage to make sounds like a xylophone. It kind of worked through the built-in speakers, but it's awfully soft even with all volume controls set the max. MainStage won't play through an external amp plugged in to the MacBooks' headphone plug. Oh, and the latency is so bad that I can't play faster than 120. At the end the end of the day, I still don't have an instrument that I could take to a gig in place of a real xylophone or glockenspiel. It's not exactly a rip-off, but it's certainly not what I was hoping for.
