Musical and responsive
Inherits the proven dynamics and playability perfected in the DM48
IMPROVED Wireless Bluetooth MIDI & built-in battery
Mind-blowing MIDI control
The unique DM48X MIDI controller harmonica from Lekholm Instruments has a dedicated following among chromatic harmonica players and innovative musicians who want an expressive alternative to MIDI keyboards. The DM48X builds upon the proven DM48 while adding multiple new features including wireless connectivity.
12independent pressure sensors
5 hof wireless playing
18 + 18tunings & presets
700+DM48/DM48X users worldwide
Features
DM48X key features
Everything that made the DM48 loved by players — plus wireless freedom, more memory and finer control.
Built-in tuning editor
Edit custom scales directly on the device, or import/export them using MIDI
Powerful brain
Stores 18 tunings and 18 presets, doubled compared to DM48
Highly configurable
Numerous MIDI/response options including mono/poly modes, multichannel/MPE output and velocity sensing
Bluetooth MIDI
Wireless playing over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) MIDI
Built-in battery
Powerful battery charges over USB, for five hours of wireless playing
Ribbon controller
Use your finger for pitch bending or modulation (vibrato or any MIDI CC)
Smooth slider action
New mechanically improved slider (side) button, used for transposition or MIDI control
The instrument
What is the DM48X?
The Lekholm DM48X Digital Chromatic Harmonica is a multichannel MIDI wind controller for harmonica players or anyone who wants an expressive alternative to MIDI keyboards. Twelve independent pressure sensors detect positive and negative pressure (blows and draws) and put players in control of a world of electronic sounds, silently at night or loud on stage with instant key changes.
Highly adjustable with a built-in tuning editor for custom scales. Control and modulate using your breath plus the configurable ribbon controller. Three buttons are configurable as “sliders” for quick transposition or as MIDI control keys for even more modulation possibilities. All settings are easily accessible through an improved menu system on the built-in OLED screen. Pair with your iOS device or connect to a computer, via USB or Bluetooth.
The DM48X is a pure MIDI controller without onboard sound synthesis.
Videos
Hear it in action
Demos, reviews and performances by players around the world.
Wireless MIDI Harmonica Lekholm DM48X — ReviewBrendan Power
The DM48X Digital MIDI Harmonica — Exciting new features and more!Jason Keene (Bluesbop)
“Wee Weary Traveler” — Lekholm Digital HarmonicaSandy Weltman
DM48 Digital Chromatic Harmonica & Yamaha VL70-mLekholm Instruments
DM48 & SWAM Flutes: remote control with the buttons & moreLekholm Instruments
Laurent Maur plays the DM48 with YOUPI 4tetLekholm Instruments
Adam Glasser plays the DM48Lekholm Instruments
Alien plays harmonica!Laurent Maur
“A Smooth One” — DM48 & Sample Modeling: The Sax BrothersJason Keene (Bluesbop)
Luc Baiwir — “Out of Time” with Olivier Poumay, harmonicaRecitalmedia
Many more examples are found on our YouTube channel.
Visit our YouTube channelOrdering
Order your DM48X
Secure checkout via PayPal. We ship worldwide by tracked parcel.
Carefully select the correct order button depending on your location, and please state your cell phone number when ordering!
EU customers
non-corporate
12 375SEK
~1150 EUR · including VAT, plus shipping
- Including Northern Ireland but not UK
- Please state cell phone number when ordering!
PayPal or credit/debit card
Non-EU customers
or EU corporate
9 900SEK
~1100 USD · plus shipping
- Local duties may be added depending on destination
- EU corporate customers: please state VAT number
- Asia: please use Latin characters
- Please state cell phone number when ordering!
PayPal or credit/debit card
Swedish customers
kunder i Sverige
12 375SEK
including VAT (moms), plus shipping
- Please state cell phone number when ordering!
PayPal or credit/debit card
Worldwide shipping
We ship anywhere worldwide by tracked parcel. Instruments are typically dispatched within three working days and shipping takes around one week to most destinations. Do not hesitate to contact us if needed before ordering.
A synthesizer is required
The DM48X is a MIDI controller without onboard sound synthesis, and third-party synthesizer software or hardware is needed for a complete setup. Some setup suggestions are given in the user manual and the FAQ, but we cannot provide support for products beyond the DM48 itself. Potential buyers are advised to first consult these texts.
What’s in the box
Each unit is shipped with a USB cable and a custom protective case.
Made in Sweden
Hand-assembled in Gothenburg
The instruments are assembled by hand in Gothenburg, Sweden. The casing is produced using high-quality SLS 3D printing, which gives it a slightly rough surface. The mouthpiece is manufactured in aluminum by precision CNC machining, and has a smooth semi-matte anodized surface.
Testimonials
What musicians say
It’s a really amazing instrument.
Brendan PowerUK
The DM48 is an awesome instrument! It is an incredible amount of fun to play.
Steve HamiltonUSA
It’s just too cool, congratulations on an amazing invention.
Jason KeeneUSA
Absolutely incredible. Thanks again for making this amazing creation.
Tim ScanlanAustralia
My dream since 20 years is real and the door is open to a universe of sounds! Thank you!!
Laurent MaurFrance
I am enjoying the DM48 more than any other instrument I have played in the past 48 years.
Jonathan SpoolUSA
Support
Information and resources
Answers to common questions, manuals, firmware and community.
Blows and draws
The DM48X, as well as its predecessor the DM48, is built around 12 pressure sensors that can sense both positive and negative pressure, enabling both blows and draws.
Bending
Only one parameter is measured: air pressure. Traditional bending is therefore not possible. A pressure-controlled bending feature is available, where bends are triggered by strong blows/draws. Bending threshold and sensitivity are adjustable. Additionally, the DM48X features a ribbon controller, allowing the left index finger to be used for bending as well as modulation (e.g. vibrato).
Feel / response
In contrast to an acoustic harmonica, one cannot use mouth geometry, hands, and classical bending/overblows to modulate the sound. MIDI breath data is however transmitted continuously, such that sound intensity can be modulated throughout the duration of a note. The DM48X responds and transmits MIDI data almost instantaneously, but total latency depends on what software and computer is being used.
Slider
Rather than mechanically redirecting the airflow, the slider is electronic. The DM48X has an improved slider with a longer stroke length, which is generally perceived as being better and closer to the feel of a regular chromatic harmonica compared to the original DM48 slider. Older instruments can be upgraded to the new slider (contact us for more information).
Wireless MIDI
The DM48X supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) MIDI, allowing it to be wirelessly connected e.g. to any Apple device (simply connect from within your music app). The built-in battery provides about 5 hours of wireless playing.
Note that the data rate of BLE MIDI is intrinsically much lower than USB MIDI. Latency over BLE MIDI is a tad higher than using USB, but most players find it to be acceptable in typical playing situations as long as the DM48X is within a couple of meters of the host device. Note that multichannel mode on the DM48X (e.g. MPE) can sometimes produce large amounts of MIDI data per time unit, thus surpassing the limits of the wireless link.
Peripherals
The DM48X is a MIDI controller without sound synthesis. Similar to a MIDI controller keyboard, a synthesizer (software or hardware) is needed to generate sounds. The DM48X can be connected directly to a computer via USB, which will also charge the built-in battery.
Apple’s Lightning to USB-A or USB-C to USB-A adapters (not supplied) allow wired connection to iPhones and iPads. iPhones/iPads can power the DM48X, but will not allow charging of the battery. A USB hub plus a USB headphones adapter is additionally needed to connect a pair of headphones or an amplifier (Bluetooth headphones have latency issues). A MIDI USB host adapter is needed to connect the DM48X to a standard 5-pin MIDI connector.
Suitable synths / sounds
Like other electronic wind instruments, the best results will be achieved with sounds that are specially adapted for the purpose. The acclaimed Yamaha VL70-m virtual acoustic modeling synth sounds great and works really well with the DM48X, but note that it is monophonic. Patchman Music has a large selection of quality wind-controller-adapted sound patches for various hardware and software synths.
The SWAM virtual wind instruments from Audio Modeling are outstanding in terms of realism and a joy to play with the DM48X. Note that some of them are now available on iOS through the GeoShred app or stand-alone, finally making SWAM portable and also very affordable. Wind instruments in GarageBand are a decent budget option.
The Acoustic Electro Waves wind synthesizer plugin for Reason is great together with the DM48X, and works on both Mac and Windows machines. ThumbJam on iOS is another good budget option that conveniently handles DM48X multichannel data correctly by default, for independent breath pressure control of each hole. MPE synths/patches can also be used with the DM48X.
Harmonica sounds
Decent realistic harmonica sounds can be achieved with physical modeling synths as well as sample-based software instruments. However, the DM48X cannot be expected to replace or convincingly emulate an acoustic harmonica.
Firmware
Manual
The DM48X manual gives a more complete view of the wide range of features. The manual for the older DM48 is available in English and Chinese.