I made a tiny device for automatically recording digital pianos
Hey HN! A few years ago, I left my cushy big tech job to make hardware. And made the device I always wanted - an automatic piano recorder! I usually play piano improvisationally, and manually hitting record never meshed well with that. But there are always moments I wish I recorded, and now they are! Hopefully it scratches a similar itch for some of you as well! A few of the tech details: * built on an esp32-s3 * custom injection molded enclosure * BLE comms, sd card storage, DS1302 RTC * android & ios apps with Flutter * Shadertoy vfx support for video sharing - Chip
I made a tiny device for automatically recording digital pianos launched on November 7, 2024 with 590 votes, #32 of 4,990 launches that month and more than 99% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 1 year on.
In plain words
The Jamcorder is a small hardware device that automatically records digital piano performances to an SD card, designed for pianists who play improvisationally and want to capture moments without manually starting recording. It connects via Bluetooth to iOS and Android apps and includes built-in real-time clock and storage capabilities. The device is built around an ESP32-S3 microprocessor in a custom-molded enclosure and offers video sharing features with visual effects.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Have you ever thought, “wow, I wish I recorded that”? With Jamcorder, you did. Jamcorder is a tiny device you attach to your digital piano that quietly captures everything you play — effortlessly, for life. With automatic play detection and over 25,000 hours of included storage, that’s 3 non-stop years of music , it turns everyday practice into visible progress and a growing personal archive to revisit and share. It's more than a recorder — it’s your journal of growth, ideas, and moods. Sit down, play, and every moment becomes part of your story, nudging you to play with more intention and focus. Once you try Jamcorder, you’ll never want to go back. It shows in our reviews . Have you ever…from jamcorder.com
Pricing, as stated on its site
Paid from $185/mo — One-time purchase of $185 USD for the Jamcorder device with included storage for up to 25,000 hours of recordings.
checked September 2026 · prices change
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