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PRODUCTS
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The E-Pan™
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The e-pan ™.
It is with a spirit and sense of great pride and excitement, that we announce
the long awaited arrival of the e-pan.
The e-pan name is the abbreviated short form chosen for the electronic
steelpan. This novel idea was created using high-tech electronics to
advance the invention of the traditional instrument. To lend some background,
the steelpan, also known as the steeldrum, is an invention born of the
people of Trinidad & Tobago. It is an acoustic musical instrument
indigenous to that nation which remains to this day, the only such
invention of the 20th century and with the dawn of this new century and
millennium it manages to retain that title.
The inception of the steelpan can be traced back to the 1930's. Since then
and throughout the decades, the "cause célèbre" has
witnessed advancement through numerous innovations. Considering the track
record and history of most musical instruments, to accomplish that much is
such a relatively short period of space and time is a remarkable testament
to the talents, skills and creativity of the people of T&T.
To get a better sense of the history of the instrument, we suggest you
peruse the internet further, starting with the link that follows which is
an excerpt extracted from the website of PanTrinbago (The World Governing
Body for Steelpan), as good a source and authority as anyone can get.
The E-Pan - A
Short History - 2007
News
Update - 2008
News Update (Revised as of 11/21/09)
Dear
valued customer,
It is with great pleasure that I announce that you will be able to purchase the Coat of Arms version 1.0 of the E-Pan on July 1st, 2009,. A lot of research and development has gone into making this vision a reality. The Coat of Arms E-Pan is
geared to allow musicians to develop familiarity with the steelpan using state-of-the-art technology. A driving focus at this point for NAPE, Inc. which was a major concern was to get a first generation product to market that was affordable and accessible. This version of the Coat of Arms E-pan does not produce "pan sounds" from tuner to tuner of choice. You can use MIDI to connect to an external sound generator to obtain a digital steelpan tone (we recommend a Roland product). As much as we are manufacturing a machine which maintains the capability of "pan sounds" from tuner to tuner of choice, with preferred colour and tone, only a selective few would be able to afford one after amortization is completed should we include that technology at this point in time. Many musician-pannist and enthusiast of all ranks, pressed us for the need to get "our" product out there soonest as they see it as the flag bearer and are eager to prove it in the steelpan world.
NAPE, Inc. is prepared to offer customers of the Coat of Arms E-Pan a free upgrade to the next version. NAPE, Inc. will continue to receive feed-back and do R&D. Some technologies are more expensive to incorporate, but we plan to continue to strive for affordability. When that transpires, we will be able to upgrade for customers wishing to do so, but hardware costs will be the onus of the customer. We have designed the Coat of Arms E-Pan with the capabilities of upgrading so that the customer would not have to purchase a brand new E-Pan.
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The user will be able to
enjoy familiarity of note location. You will be able to play the E-pan in
the same conventional way with zero learning curve because of the industry
standards and conventions of note placement (both size and shape).
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The user will be able to
use built in speakers to monitor what he/she is playing.
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The user will also have
the capability of using a headphone to allow practice without disturbing
anyone in close proximity.
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The user also will have
the capability of changing from octave to octave, both manually, by the
control panel or by the use of a foot pedal.
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Nine (9) function
buttons will be on the control panel for the user to pre-select which tone
they will like to use at any given time. Nine choices will be labelled A
through I. This function is for both use from the built-in sounds and in
the event one uses an outside sound generator. For example the use of MIDI from the E-Pan to a keyboard of choice, sound
generator rack, module or computer.
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The E-Pan is a
stand-alone instrument with many features and capabilities. One of the derivatives
is its capabilities of interfacing with other instruments. The user can
interface with a keyboard or a sound generator of choice. Please note that
is a choice not necessity to interface with another instrument, as the
E-Pan has its own built-in tones. Because of the above mentioned, NAPE,
Inc. recommends the following if choosing to interface, e.g. Roland Fantom,
Yamaha Motif or through the software on your computer. Please note, using a
computer, one will experience latency. Not because of the NAPE, Inc.
product the E-Pan, but this is just an attribute of computer, software and
(adaptor) combination. While this computer, software and adaptor trio have
been improving over the years, it is still a warning we would like you to
heed.
We trust all your questions and concerns have been addressed and
continue to look forward to hearing from you while we endeavour to keep up
in the F.A.Q.'s section.
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IP DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
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The Intellectual Property (IP) rights of the e-pan invention are protected by a number of measures, whether for copyright, trademark and/or patent, inherently recognized by the signatories to WIPO and the respective conventions in place, supported by trade secret agreements with contracted parties.
With respect to patent protection for the e-pan, thus far status has already been granted by the USPTO and the EPO, while patent pending in other global domains. We remain confident that our pursuit will continue to be successfully prosecuted by our team of competent IP attorneys.
The e-pan invention is a novel and unique innovation. It is important to understand that our IP right protection is for a utility patent and not an industrial design certificate as there is a distinct and important difference. A utility patent protects a new and useful process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. In a simplified sense, a utility patent on a product protects the function or structure of an invention or what it does.
The e-pan invention is not simply about another angle or twist on the miking and amplifying of the conventional steelpan using electronics with external, peripheral equipment independently linked and hooked-up like piezoelectric or magnetic pickups. It is instead about creating a new addition to the steelpan family of instruments by employing state-of-the-art technology. In this case, using composite materials and electronics with built-integrated circuitry to deliver digital sound reproduction with the capability for not only true steelpan acoustics, but other voices in the orchestral range of musical instruments. Successfully accomplished while maintaining the standardized methods of playing the traditional steelpan aided with the perspective of both an aesthetical and functional look and feel. The e-pan is an advancement to prior art, in the sense that the classic acoustic guitar was advanced by the technology of the semi-acoustic electric guitar, then again by the electric guitar, or in a similar vein as the playing of musical drums progressed from being played individually, then came the acoustical drum kit as a drum or trap set played by an individual which could be miked, to the modern electronic v-drum kit.
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DESIGN ADVANTAGES
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Enables musician to play in the
conventional way without having to relearn another method to master the
new instrument, also eliminating the need for studied stage positioning
and maintaining proper intonation
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No need for re-tuning, rusting and
premature replacement
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Durable, compact and light-weight
to facilitate ease of transportation
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Delivers consistent sound and
tonal quality
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Easier for stage set up and
positioning than regular steel drums
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Can be produced in several
enhanced versions to cover the complete orchestral range of a
conventional steelpan ensemble
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Provides access to the sounds of
just about every musical instrument which is built-in to the instrument
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Double Seconds E-Pan
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Tenor E-Pan
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Tenor E-Pan Controller
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Six Bass E-Pan
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DESIGN FEATURES OF E-PAN
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Consists of an electronically
operated instrument which is slimmer and lighter than the steelpan, with
parts made from materials such as rubber, plastic and electric
components/circuitry housed in an industrial plastic covering, where
surrounding skirts are more of an aesthetic consideration, than a design
necessity
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The configuration of the notes
will differ from instrument to instrument (e.g. tenors; seconds, etc.)
with placements recognizing the moves towards standardization
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Jacks for routing input/output signals to amplifiers and sound
systems
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Users can also choose any
particular instrument range as each e-pan will be able to play the
complete range from the highest (tenor) to the lowest (bass)
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Top lip of instrument will have a
control console with a panel that will entail; display window, selection
of buttons for left/right volume controls etc., CD port which can be used
to download a wide variety and selection of sampled sounds and can also be
used as a MIDI port making it possible to interface the instrument with
other electronic or digital instruments and sound modules.
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Instrument design will facilitate
play-along to accompany your favourite songs (karaoke-style)
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ABOUT THE INVENTOR
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 The
inventor of the e-pan: Salmon Cupid,
Salmon Cupid was born in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies. It was there, growing up like so many
youngsters, that he first fell in love with and learned to play the
steelpan.
The native pan men and women of that twin-island nation of the Caribbean have matured into today's pannist musicians
and many have migrated to adopted lands all over the globe, taking the
innovation of the instrument and charm of the melodies with them.
So it was with Salmon, that in the early 90's as a "steelpan
ambassador", he migrated to Canada where he currently
resides. He continues to play and teach pan to students in schools all
across Toronto
and the GTA, in effect maintaining strong ties to the pan community at
large.
As he recounted, the idea of the electronic steelpan first entered his mind
back in his youth while on tour with his school band, St. Augustine Senior
(a.k.a. mean green on steel), in Europe.
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INVENTOR'S INSIGHT
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Through his own personal observations, in playing and listening to the
music, he noticed that the quality often came up lacking in the delivery of
the truest sounds and tones. This was so, regardless of venues and even
came into question with recording sessions.
It was further complicated by the complex task required by the pan tuners
to maintain that correct and required sound through repetitive tuning of
the instrument. There is no doubt that these pan tuners are indeed experts
and true artisans in their own right, but that does not diminish the
logistics and recurring expense required to maintain the best sound in a
steelpan. When you bring in the question of sound volume, the effect
compounded the dilution of resulting sound quality, even with amplification.
Capturing the true "ring and ping" steelpan sound in that
atmosphere and environment was too often compromised and remained elusive,
that's up until the idea of the e-pan arrived.
The classical and traditional steelpan musical instrument as it has evolved
to this point and beyond, will always maintain its place. But as pannists
know only too well as musicians and artists, the search for an electronic
version has always been anticipated. Top pannist the world over have long
hoped for that companion electronic version, to allow them to have a
well-tuned durable instrument in their keep. That "dream pan" it
was hoped, would not require the time, effort and cost to maintain,
especially if compared over the life of the steelpan. This would allow
them, especially as solo artist, arrangers and composers, the flexibility
and versatility to practice, explore and create in traditional and new
ways. Only their imaginations, musicianship and artistic creativity will
limit them once this new tool is in their hands.
We have all at one point or another heard the maxim which says,
"Necessity is the mother of all inventions." Well once again that
point was proven as Salmon thought more and more about ways to improve the
status quo and bit by bit, his thoughts began to take shape, form and
structure. As he stated, "The idea was like a muse in my head and all
I could do to think, kept my brain refocusing on it. It has always remained
in my mind as I matured and sought ways to realize my dream to
fruition."
Then and still, pannist and pan-fans would constantly discuss the merits of
the pan sounds of one steelband over the other. In fact, this was often the
difference in advantaging an edge where performance and competition were
concerned. Enormous time and effort is taken to properly place and set up
the pans, so that the "correct" sound will emanate and capture
the ears of the audience and not discount their hard work and practice
rehearsals. Pannist quite often must act in a dual-role as stagehands and
non-electric acoustical engineers. They get the instruments to a
performance area, spend the time to make sure they are set up so that the
audience and judges will hear the sound, conduct repetitive sound checks,
then and only then can they and their band leader feel comfortable in going
forth with their performance. That alone has sometimes allowed one group to
win approval, even though the technical skill and talents of another were
actually better. In the home of steelpan in T&T, pan-fans were and are
still known to have the ability to distinguish and recognize particular pan
sides, just from the sound alone and with no other identification. This is
remarkable, but also revealing.
The rest as they say is now part of the history and of course there will be
the usual debates following the launch of this idea. No different than what
was encountered when the electric guitars and the like first emerged. The
traditionalist and purist amongst them will offer their criticism, but
detraction will also be countered and tempered by pan-fans and progressive
minded pannist all over the globe. Salmon intends to engage the top
pannist, with a concerted focus on the youth and the young in mind and
heart, building a coalition by employing dynamite and dynamic performance
presentations.
He envisions and senses that over time and with prudent marketing, critics
will dissipate and they too will be won over to embrace the instrument. He
foresees it finding a niche and earning its rightful place in the evolution
of pan. From skin-drums to tamboo-bamboo and dustbin cans and
covers…to pan-round-the-neck with the ping-pong and do-doom from
discarded oil drums…to the metallic silver-chrome finished steelpan
from factory-made drums…leading to the futuristic e-pan. Once again
taking pan to higher heights, the mantra that guided him has been the
refrain, "by the people, of the people and for the people".
If you need to learn more about any aspect of this innovation, please do
not hesitate to contact the inventor, asksalmoncupid@napeinc.com.
He looks forward to feedback from you…
Copyright © NAPE 2006
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
All Rights Reserved
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