2021: A Year in Gear (What You've Bought or Want to Buy in 2021)

[elxsound]

I like mine, can basically get my whole sample library on a micro SD and then browse them on the sofa. Planning to mainly use it for talky backing tracks etc.

The polyphony is a bit limited and engine a bit shallow so you can't really build super expressive instruments; but a lot of power in a small fun box. What it can do is tempo-sync audio loops by slicing or stretching.

I was mostly looking at the sampler/slice workflow, but can you also record entire passes, like if you have a sequence saved, can you then record the output of a synth for the duration of that sequence (or longer)?

It's really good at recording loops:

I think you can do this with the internal sequencer but would need to check.

That’s a great video. I’ve seen some of his others using the Blackbox, but this is the first one (for me) seeing him in his element.

This just makes want to take that euro rack leap sooner. The size of that rack is still too large, so not yet!

I do think I’ll give in to the Bluebox because seeing his use of the mixer makes perfect sense, plus... there’s that space issue again.

[Shabdahbriah]

I just ordered one of these. I'm sure the Bluebox will follow, but for now, I think the Blackbox makes more sense for my uses.

ooh nice little sampler?

But wait, there's MORE!

[vurt]

I just ordered one of these. I'm sure the Bluebox will follow, but for now, I think the Blackbox makes more sense for my uses.

ooh nice little sampler?

But wait, there's MORE!

ok "seemingly a very small package that contains a huge package"
where's the catch? that looks far to cool to be so easy?

[Shabdahbriah]

Yeah, 1010 seem to really have their shit together, and know how to cross-market their goods.

Hmmm. just clicked play on the post I made and it started somewhere-else. I meant it to do so @14:55 (recording CV). Also, innumerable 'features' before the 3-minute mark make it clear that this desktop version of their eurorack module is 'intended' to interface-with modular, as well as other gear.

Nice comparison chart, here:

https://1010music.com/samplerguide

[pekbro]

Whoops!
https://m.facebook.com/JK.Wrinkles/albu ... 611243295/

Thanks

[pekbro]

Yeah, 1010 seem to really have their shit together, and know how to cross-market their goods.

Hmmm. just clicked play on the post I made and it started somewhere-else. I meant it to do so @14:55 (recording CV). Also, innumerable 'features' before the 3-minute mark make it clear that this desktop version of their eurorack module is 'intended' to interface-with modular, as well as other gear.

Nice comparison chart, here:

https://1010music.com/samplerguide

Actually, it's not a bad idea to wait for an iteration or two with 1010 as that guy doesn't really
have his shit together at all.

[whyterabbyt]

https://1010music.com/samplerguide

wait... the micro has 8 outputs and MIDI but its bigger, $200 more expensive brother only has 4 and no MIDI out?

I'd not noticed that before; I just assumed the difference was smaller format/screen/fewer triggers.

odd call.

I guess the other firmwares for the original series 1 and series 2 modules (Fxbox, Toolbox, Synthbox etc) are completely deprecated now as well. shame, i'd hoped they would unify them onto a single platform.

[Shabdahbriah]

Yeah, 1010 seem to really have their shit together, and know how to cross-market their goods.

Hmmm. just clicked play on the post I made and it started somewhere-else. I meant it to do so @14:55 (recording CV). Also, innumerable 'features' before the 3-minute mark make it clear that this desktop version of their eurorack module is 'intended' to interface-with modular, as well as other gear.

Nice comparison chart, here:

https://1010music.com/samplerguide

Actually, it's not a bad idea to wait for an iteration or two with 1010 as that guy doesn't really
have his shit together at all.

Duly noted. Notwithstanding, I did (albeit unconsciously) qualify it with 'seem'. Which was based on the sheer number of relatively high-profile people I've seen actually using them, and/or raving about them. I have avoided anything eurorack with menus, and am not inclined to get any more 'desktop' anythings (due to space limitations), but I do really like the menu layout/access simplicity of this recent iteration, in comparison to other specifically 'granular' offerings, particularly the single function buttons, and the larger touch-screen sample display, zooming, sample start/end selection with large dedicated knobs, and the looping. Thanks for the heads-up.

[WatchTheGuitar]

I take hardware/software raves from high profile people with a massive pinch of salt because they get a lot of that equipment for free or with a massive discount primarily to attract fans to buy that gear. If they're still visibly using that gear a year or two later then maybe that's a form of validation.

[Shabdahbriah]

https://1010music.com/samplerguide

wait... the micro has 8 outputs and MIDI but its bigger, $200 more expensive brother only has 4 and no MIDI out?

I'd not noticed that before; I just assumed the difference was smaller format/screen/fewer triggers.

odd call.

Very odd indeed. Though TBF, the bigger one was released before the 'micro', and the stereo outs are doubtless TRS, so you could use Y-splitters (TRS-to-dual TS mono) cables. It does seem logical to wait for the next generation with the hope that those features will be implemented in the larger version, if that size/layout difference is important enough to be worth $200 more.

{aside} The Micros outputs are configurable as: "Route the audio from each pad out to one of 3 stereo audio outputs or one of 6 mono audio outputs. Listen to all of the pad outputs combined on the master stereo output".

I guess the other firmwares for the original series 1 and series 2 modules (Fxbox, Toolbox, Synthbox etc) are completely deprecated now as well. shame, i'd hoped they would unify them onto a single platform.

Hmmm. Can't speculate on that, but I had the impression that the firmware was (to a some degree) interchangeable, as expressed by Daniel Fisher in this video, with regard to how he had configured one of the two units he is using here. @4:46

[Shabdahbriah]

I take hardware/software raves from high profile people with a massive pinch of salt because they get a lot of that equipment for free or with a massive discount primarily to attract fans to buy that gear. If they're still visibly using that gear a year or two later then maybe that's a form of validation.

Oooh, me too. My comment is more predicated on your last sentence. I've seen quite a lot of version 1's in many cases, or desks, and based on the owners/users 'usability' comments (pro-con), and/or responses to questions about the gear, posted by viewers. Unless of course its Deadmouse, or Jordan Rudess, then... well...

[vurt]

don't knock deadmouse. he's got a funko pop.

[vurt]

ive decided i hate modular videos as well
been watching some, well listening, to chill at night, not even researching purchases.
but obviously, everyone uses something awesome
stupid lists getting longer!!!

[elxsound]

ive decided i hate modular videos as well
been watching some, well listening, to chill at night, not even researching purchases.
but obviously, everyone uses something awesome
stupid lists getting longer!!!

This is exactly what scares me about going modular! It all looks awesome. It's a good thing I don't have the space to go modular (yet)!

[elxsound]

I take hardware/software raves from high profile people with a massive pinch of salt because they get a lot of that equipment for free or with a massive discount primarily to attract fans to buy that gear. If they're still visibly using that gear a year or two later then maybe that's a form of validation.

Oooh, me too. My comment is more predicated on your last sentence. I've seen quite a lot of version 1's in many cases, or desks, and based on the owners/users 'usability' comments (pro-con), and/or responses to questions about the gear, posted by viewers. Unless of course its Deadmouse, or Jordan Rudess, then... well...

I had honestly ignored most of the people using the 1010 stuff, but I've gotten so annoyed with finding a lightweight portable setup with my iPad Pro, that I decided it needed another look.

Since 30pin and lightning have been deprecated, I have not seen a setup that I liked. I always ended up back on Zoom (but they look like they're ready for a product refresh) and IK's Duo Pro, which has proprietary cables and enough vocal upset users to make me look the other way.

The 1010 Blackbox arrived yesterday (and I got a damn good deal on it). The short answer is that it's going to work for me. The software is clunky. It's fine though... It's not bad. I've menu dived on enough things now that this seems polished compared to some hardware, but far from software on a PC which I think is to be expected.

There are also steady updates, which can be bad or good depending on what you're looking for. I'm a big fan of stability, but if they're working to continue to polish out the clunk, I'm all in favor of it.

For a portable scratchpad, this works nicely bridging all the various devices I have *away* from the computer.

The size of this box is a big reason I'm still looking at Bluebox. It's still too new for me to get the price I'd like to pay, but that device would help close that gap with the way I'd like to record.

What I hate right now is that I think I might need to pick up an Arturia Keystep (not pro) to get more out of these little setups, but we'll see. I really don't want to make space for it.