Sonicware have rolled out a pre-production early-bird opportunity on Kickstarter, offering 500 places for pledges of ¥37,500 (~ AU$385) or more. The company, who in 2020 successfully crowd-funded their LIVEN 8-Bit Warps synth, have again smashed the goal targets of their next creation, the SmplTrek Portable Production Sampler.

This hand-held sampler is a Swiss Army Sampler. A capable all-in-the-box sampler/sequencer/wave editor/effects processor/streamer. It can capture audio with its built-in mic, or can be connected to a range of audio sources such as dynamic microphones, electric guitar/bass, synthesisers, or USB-connected smartphone or computer. The audio can be recorded with onboard insert-effects for a faster workflow. Samples can then be quickly assigned to pads with auto-slicing, manually edited and trimmed, beat or pitch-matched to the project, as well as having the ability to resample sequenced sample-based phrases. The SmplTrek comes loaded with more than 500 high-quality sample sounds, over 100 drums kits, and 30 internal DSP effects that can be used simultaneously as insert, send, and master effects.

Each song project has 16 sequential parts called ‘Scenes’. Each Scene has 10 sequencer tracks which can behave in different ways:

• Loop Track: Sequencer for a looping sample
• Shots Track: Sequencer for a single one-shot sample
• Drum Track: Step sequencer for drums
• Instrument Track: Piano roll type sequencer for musical instruments
• MIDI Track: Piano roll type sequencer for external MIDI equipment

Three additional Global Audio Tracks are available for longer recordings such as vocals and external instruments. These tracks can record multiple takes which can be spliced into a final version. Traditional “punch-in” style recording is also supported.

Song structures can be established by sequencing the Scenes, and Scene order can be set with copy/paste functions, or recorded in real-time with the Scene buttons. Automation can also be recorded and edited. This is the case for all parameters, including the Mixer. A song can be mixed-down all the way through to mastering with on-board effects before being exported to a single audio file. Finished tracks can be restreamed, including using it to provide an audio-bed for live-streamed vocal or other instrument performances.

While the early-bird offer is running for another 6 days (ending 13/04), very few places remain.
The projected RRP will be ~ AU$570.

Sonicware offers some tasty new sound treats with their ELZ-1 ‘synthesizer reinvention laboratory’. It sits in the sub-$1k area of the market also occupied by Korg’s constantly growing Volca series and Teenage Engineering’s OP-Z and Pocket Operator products, so buyers are already spoilt for choice with a smorgasbord of relatively inexpensive sound generators.

So what’s different about the all-digital ELZ-1? Let’s flip the bonnet and find out.

THE SOUND

The ELZ-1 is a six-voice synth with Poly, Mono and Legato modes and has a generous selection of flexible and evocative sounding synthesis types, which I’ve listed elsewhere this page.

The ELZ-1 has a good selection of filter types designed to sculpt and enhance the various sound generation types: LPF-6, LPF-12, HPF-6, HPF-12, BPF, PEQ, Lo EQ, Hi EQ, Notch.

Complex envelope generators are also available to modulate the various parameters of synthesis engines: standard ADSR and ADSR with curve parameters, ADS-RA-R with additional key release control, and ADS-RA-R with curve parameters for extra shaping control.

The built-in arpeggiator has a good selection of up and down playback variations plus ‘random’ (functioning as you would imagine) and ‘play order’ (based on the order of the notes played). Tempo is set from the tap tempo button or can be adjusted using the time parameter. Gate time of notes can be changed from 10 to 90%. The ‘OK’ button is used as a Hold control for the playback so you can manipulate parameters without having to hold the keys.

Speaking of syncing clocks, the ELZ can use its internal clock, an external MIDI clock, an external clock pulse input through the Aux IN, or in Sync (Thru) mode, the received clock is also output from the headphone jack, allowing you to synchronise through to another device.

With the v2.0 update to the firmware added [v3 has now landed], Sonicware has now integrated a 64-step, six-voice step sequencer, with 128 patterns available. Sequencer functions are accessed with the same buttons as the arpeggiator. You can record notes in step time when the sequencer is stopped, or in real time when it is running.

A stereo audio output path is provided, with some great stereo effects, including Drive/Mod (overdrive, distortion and fuzz, chorus, flanger, phaser, ring modulator & auto wah); Modulation (stereo chorus, auto pan, ring mod, etc), Delay (stereo, tape echo and reverse), and Reverb (the usual suspects: room, plate, hall)