Now available on the iTunes App Store
Now available on the iTunes App Store
HexJam is a high-quality, easy-to-play, Hayden-Wicki style hexagonal layout "Jammer-style" concertina for the iPhone/iPod Touch.
The scale patterns are very intuitive, and the built-in note guide makes it easy to learn to play!
Concertinas, sometimes called "squeezeboxes", sound like a small accordion or reed organ.
The 52-button keyboard can be configured to play with either the left or right hand. The keyboard has a 3 1/2 octave range.
There is a very good background article about Jammer keyboards on Wikipedia:
To play, simply touch the buttons.
Multiple buttons may be touched at the same time to play chords.
You can slide between the buttons.
Touch the '?' icon to show the note names for each button.
Touch the 'i' icon to show the settings/help page.
Play along with tunes in your iPad's music library by starting a track using the iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad iPod app, then launching the HexJam. Adjust the volume by touching the 'i' icon, then use the on-screen volume control.
Uses high-quality audio samples recorded from a high-end concertina.
Have an iPad? Interested in the same style app with two full 52-button mirror image keyboards on the screen at the same time, one for each hand? Please check out HexJamHD.
Demonstration video using two iPads:
The sound was recorded directly from the headphone jacks on the iPads.
Click here for the high-definition version of the video
HexJam main screen (right hand layout):
Right hand layout note guide (touch the '?' icon):
HexJam main screen (left hand layout):
Left hand layout note guide (touch the '?' icon):
Touch the 'i' icon to show the Settings/Help page (touch the 'i' icon)
Right hand layout selected:
Left hand layout selected:
FAQ:
Q: I'm not hearing any sounds! Help!
A: Make sure your ringer switch isn't in the "mute" position and that the volume controls on the iPhone/iPod Touch as well as the volume slider on the HexJam settings page aren't turned all the way down.
Q: When I launch the app it either quits immediately or when I first touch a button.
A: These kind of issues are almost always are a result of a low memory condition on the device. My apps need to have enough free RAM to load all the samples into memory in order to run.
First, try freeing up as much memory as possible by closing any Safari pages that are open.
Power cycling the device will almost always fix this issue. Turn the device off by holding down the power button until the "slide to power off" is displayed, then turn the device back on by holding down the power button.
In iOS4, to remove an application from running in the background, bring up the multitasking dock (double-tap the home button), then tap and hold on an app (like you do when you want to delete an app from the home screen until you see a red minus sign (-) on the corner of the app's icon. Tap it to kill the app.
If after trying these recommendations, the app still fails to run, please contact me at the support email address below.
Q: Where can I learn more about how to play this style of instrument?
A: Jim Plamondon and Ken Rushton's websites are the definitive starting point for all things having to do with Jammer-style controllers:
Ken Rushton - Music Science Guy
There is also a very good background article on Wikipedia:
Q: What's the purpose of the "Release" slider on the settings page?
A: The sound APIs I use for the apps don't have a way to do a clean sound stop without some possibility of popping. When playing through the speakers on the device, this generally isn't a problem actually contributes to the sound realism, but I found it to be distracting when playing through headphones. This control allows you to set a delay time at the end of the sound to avoid the pops.
If you are using headphones and want to reduce the clicks, I suggest trying setting it as high as possible, then slowly lower it until the pops stop. The value is saved when you quit the app. Setting it to the max value disable the anti-pop feature.
Future Plans:
I am very interested in any suggestions for features or improvements to the apps for future updates, please drop me an email anytime with your ideas!
Other Apps by Michael Eskin:
HexJam - Hexagonal Jammer Concertina for the iPad
mJammer - mJammer - Wireless MIDI Jammer-style Control Surface for the iPhone/iPod Touch
iJammer - iJammer - Wireless MIDI Jammer-style Control Surface for the iPadUilleann - Uilleann pipes chanter and drones for the iPad
ConcertinaXL - 30-Button C/G Anglo Concertina for the iPad
>Uilleann - Uilleann pipes chanter and drones for the iPad
Concertina - Anglo Concertinas in C/G, Bb/F, A/E, and G/D.
Englitina - High Quality Treble/Baritone English Concertinas
JustDrones - Three Uilleann pipes drones in the keys of Bb, B, C, C#, D, E, F, G, and A, with additional interval drone.
3QuarterSet - Three Uilleann pipes drones and two regulators in the keys of D, C#, C, B, and Bb, designed for live play
4QuarterSet - Full set of three Uilleann pipes drones and three regulators in the keys of D, C#, C, and B
Uillitina - Uilleann Pipes as an English Concertina
PipeKeys - Uilleann pipes 3/4 sets in D, C, and B as a standard piano keyboard
ButtonBox - 3 Reed Bank Irish Button Accordion using English concertina fingerings
BoxKeys - 3 Reed Bank Irish Piano Accordion
Haydentina - Hayden-style Duet Concertina
Canntina - MacCann-style Duet Concertina
MIDIKeys - Wireless MIDI Keyboard Controller
MidiAnglo - Wireless Anglo Concertina MIDI Controller
Miditina - Wireless English Concertina MIDI Controller
3QSWiFi - Uilleann pipe drones + two regulators wireless MIDI Controller
4QSWiFi - Uilleann pipe drones + three regulators wireless MIDI Controller
Duettina - Two-sided Hayden-style Duet Concertina
For more information, please contact Michael Eskin or visit the Tradlessons.com website:
