chess-like instrument mixes drum machine, sequencer and sampler in one wooden device

Wooden drum machine, sequencer and sampler in one

Meet Tembo, a chess-like instrument that mixes a drum machine, sequencer, and sampler in one wooden device. Designed by the startup team Musical Beings, it triggers sounds using small magnetic pieces called Beats that users place physically onto a wooden grid. Each position on the grid activates a step in a rhythmic loop. Basically, when the user puts this magnetic piece on the surface, they hear and produce a sound. When they move it, they change the rhythm. So, adding more means building a pattern of sounds, creating a complete track. 

The controls of the wooden drum machine, sequencer, and sampler are minimal, starting with two large knobs at the bottom: one on the left for tempo and transport controls and one on the right for volume and parameter adjustment. A single blue button adds a pop of color, the starting point of the device. Along the right side, smaller knobs and pins handles per-track controls: individual volume, effects, and pitch adjustments in the sequence. There’s a jack at the bottom for the line input and a built-in microphone grille near the top right corner of the face.

all images courtesy of Musical Beings

Adding and Moving magnetic pieces produce sounds

The wooden drum machine and sequencer Tembo is also a sampler, so that means users can record any sound, their voice, a piano chord, and more, and immediately use it as a percussion element in their sequence. There’s MIDI out, so Tembo can talk to other instruments and studio equipment, and there are also adjustable audio effects to add to the tracks. The team at Musical Beings says that Tembo was tested with over 300 people across a wide range, including children, musicians, and music producers. 

That testing process shaped every decision about how the wooden drum machine, sequencer, and sampler works, The designer founders come from backgrounds at Google, Waves Audio, and Wix, so for the team, that’s enough to understand the difficult design problems, hoping to make their musical object easy to use and understand. So far, the team has launched the campaign for the musical instrument. If everything goes according to plan, they plan to ship the first batches of the wooden drum machine, sequencer, and sampler starting January 2027.

meet Tembo, a chess-like instrument that mixes drum machine, sequencer and sampler in one

it triggers sounds using small magnetic pieces called Beats | from here (except last image): photos by Alon Daniel

each position on the grid activates to a step in a rhythmic loop

when the user puts this magnetic piece on the surface, they hear and produce a sound

the controls are minimal, starting with two large knobs at the bottom

smaller knobs and pins handles per-track controls

there’s a jack at the bottom for the line input and a built-in microphone grille

project info:

name: Tembo

design: Musical Beings | @musical.beings

campaign: here

photography: Alon Daniel | @alond555