Ahead of the NAMM 2022 trade show to be held next weekend in Anaheim, Playtime Engineering in San Francisco has unveiled a pair of toys, the Blipbox SK2 synthesizer and the Blipbox myTrack groovebox, designed to help even the youngest musically inclined minds produce, record and save and share electronic beats and melodies.
Playtime Technique
The spatial detail of the SK2’s surface belies its ability to generate over 400 pre-recorded melodies ranging from chip tunes to orchestral, as well as multi-mode filters, 16 oscillator schemes and stereo multi-tap delay functions. A signal flow chart is printed on the front of the unit and all controls are labeled so that even basement level beginners can easily learn and discover new synth sounds. Users can export their tracks via a 1/4-inch audio output and import new sounds via the MIDI In.
The myTRACK, on the other hand, is a kid-sized multi-track sampling device that uses a 5×5 grid of playpads to trigger beats and sequences (think a toned-down Ableton Push 2). Any of the 48 pre-included instruments can be applied to one or all five of the available tracks, as well as process effects controlled by the unit’s physical levers. In fact, many of the myTRACK’s more advanced features are presented as dedicated, physical buttons rather than hidden submenu options. In addition, those prepackaged sounds and sequences can be updated via USB-C with new sets such as orchestra, hip-hop, jazz, rock and EDM. With a built-in microphone, your future Grandmaster Flash can explore the outside world in search of new sounds to capture and modulate. The myTRACK offers a 5-pin MIDI OUT port so the unit can connect to and control an SK2, while the USB-C port is class compliant USB MIDI in and out so you can use it with any Mac or Windows DAW.
Playtime Technique
The SK2 will cost $199 and will be available in November 2022. The myTRACK will follow in Q1 2023 for $249
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