I first saw the developer introduce the Drumbeam at Superbooth 22 here in Berlin. I immediately fell in love with the concept and design.
As a keyboard player and percussionist (rather than drummer) I can connect it with my synth's percussion patches which gives me a real feel for playing Timps, snares, bells, marimbas, and so on, instead of using the synth's keyboard, which never felt comfortable for me as a percussionist.
Its slim design, which fits most drum stands thanks to the supplied multi mount, is a great space saver in a cramped studio. The light display indicates which preset you are using allowing for a quick programme change without referring to a mobile device. Talking of which:
The downside for me is the app, which is totally browser dependent and can be problematic, as browsers often alert a non-secure status when trying to connect the beam to its intranet. It's a neat idea for performance when connecting to a mobile device, but not necessary in the studio environment. The option of a downloadable app would be great, and I've already contacted afk-audio with a request for one. That said, this was worth the long 4-year wait. It's early days yet, but I can see this little midi controller becoming an essential part of any self-respecting serious musician's set up.
