Super Time Ultra

A Webcam Music Instrument for Chords, Melody, and Beats

Turn a webcam into a free browser music instrument. Play chords, melody, beats, and synth with hand tracking, with touch and keyboard controls when a camera is unavailable.

Hand Jam turns a standard webcam into a playable browser instrument. It recognises a small set of deliberate hand shapes for harmony and uses hand movement for a scale-aware lead, while touch controls keep the experience useful on smaller screens.

What this tool includes

No extra hardware

Start with a webcam, browser, speakers, and a clear view of your hand. There is no plugin or MIDI controller to install.

Camera-first play

Use one hand for chord shapes or Air Melody and the other for tone, filter, or beat controls.

Local by design

Camera processing stays in the browser during play. Recording begins only when you explicitly open Cover Studio and press Record.

Phone-friendly fallback

Touch ribbon, chord pads, Space, and arrow keys provide a practical path when camera framing is awkward on a phone or tablet.

Performance tools

Add a beat, arpeggiator, polyrhythm, count-in, microphone, overlays, and reviewable local video.

How to use this tool

  1. Open the instrument: Launch Hand Jam from a current browser over HTTPS.
  2. Choose an input path: Start the camera, or keep camera access off and use touch or keyboard controls.
  3. Frame your hand: Use even light and keep the playing hand fully visible to the camera.
  4. Play and shape: Use hand shapes for chords, a pointing finger for melody, and the second hand for tone.
  5. Record only when ready: Open Cover Studio to make a local take with optional microphone and backing track.

Practice tips

  • Place the camera at hand height and leave enough space around the fingers for the full outline to remain visible.
  • Use a plain, evenly lit background when the hand landmarks are difficult to read.
  • Start in Chords mode before adding Air Melody, filter movement, or Air Dock actions.
  • On mobile, keep the touch controls close to the bottom edge and rotate only when the camera stage needs more width.

Webcam instrument questions

Does the webcam video leave my device?

Hand tracking runs locally in the browser. Play mode does not record a take; Cover Studio only captures a local performance after you choose Record.

What do I need to use the webcam instrument?

Use an HTTPS browser with camera permission, Web Audio support, and enough light for the hand landmarks to stay visible.

Can I use it on a phone?

Yes. Touch controls keep the instrument usable when the phone browser cannot provide a suitable camera view or when you prefer not to grant camera access.

Can I play without a webcam?

Yes. Use the chord pads, Air Melody touch ribbon, Space, and arrow keys for a camera-free version of the instrument.