1010music Bento

[Azzarole]

Oh there’s also one severe limitation I hadn’t thought about: the eight tracks are al the options for sounds you have in a project. Since there isn’t a pattern or kit structure like on Elektrons, you won’t be able to use a different instrument on the four sequences, every one of them will have the same tracks. You have 16 slots on one shot and loop tracks though, but those will still be the same across all sequences.

I’d say because of this and other structural limitations, you’ll most likely use a different project for each track. So consider that if you’re planning on buying it for live sets.

[Megamind]

One thing that makes MPC and Maschine feel more enticing and more fully fledged is the branded FX and on board synths such as Raum, Phasis, Massive, Hype, Odyssey - all with fancy aesthetically pleasing GUI skins.

Right now Bento is bare bones extremely functional that looks like that horrible Windows high contrast mode. It doesn’t have that modern slick eco system yet, and possibly never will.

That makes it a harder purchase.

[MellowTron]

@Azzarole

I’d say because of this and other structural limitations, you’ll most likely use a different project for each track. So consider that if you’re planning on buying it for live sets.

On that note - can it switch projects quickly and stay in time, I wonder? When Benro is receiving some external clock device

Would be kind of a live performance dealbreaker if not, considering each song has to be a new project basically

[bangonadigi]

A lot of people would prefer to be rid of the plug ins and GUI bloat and have a more stripped down, focused sampling and sequencing experience. This is why there is a still a thriving vintage MPC community, particularly MPC 1000/2500 w/ JJOS.

There is definitely a market for someone to develop something along the lines of a new MPC 1000 with modern connectivity and portability. Not saying this is it, but the opportunity is there.

[Roman01]

For what it’s worth, Blackbox was pretty seamless with DT. I’m speaking past tense because I no longer have a Blackbox. Granted, I’m making assumptions applying that experience to Bento speculation.

[Roman01]

Question about file structure and sample management. If you copy an existing project (or save as), does Bento duplicate the project folder and samples or does keep all samples in a root folder?

[echo_opera]

@Azzarole I’m curious if you’ve used an SP404mk2 or Koala Sampler on the iPad, and if so, how you might compare the workflow and features of the Bento to these.

For the Bento i see myself using it as a Looper and Sample Slice groove box with Filtering and Effects per pad/sound if possible.

I keep my workflow fairly streamlined so i can easily move between my projects on hardware and software.

Anyhoo just curious if you can relate the Bento to any other apps/devices that you’ve used, knowing that i know the Bento may or may not be feature set complete.

[KnockKnock]

I’m currently waiting 20 minutes for my local FedEx shop to open so that I can go and pick up my Bento, which arrived there yesterday.

I’m very much looking forward to getting my hands on it.

Watching all of the Superbooth interviews with the different 1010 people and extrapolating a little bit from that, it seems like what they’ve done is to put the foundations in place at or close to release time. I’m guessing a little bit here, but with the pauses that they put on firmware development for all of their other boxes over the last 18 months, and the fact that they are saying that they will now have time to get back to working on those, and that the Bento is intended as a greatest hits / Swiss Army knife for 1010, they can probably now develop improvements for the nanoboxes and black/blue boxes which they will then be able to selectively port over to the Bento as well.

If this is the case, I think that it nullifies many of the complaints leveled against 1010 and the way that they handle bug fixes, fw updates, etc. It sucks to have to wait for functionality that you want / need, but knowing how small their team is (4 people plus freelance help), I actually think that they do a pretty amazing job of pumping out fixes and features and developing new products.

They also are clearly listening to what people want and trying to get there when feasible.

It’s easy to get pissed about something that doesn’t work the way that you need it to, or when you feel like something has been promised but not delivered.

My personal experience with 1010 products has always been positive though, to my ears, they have sound quality locked down as well or better than most, and I’ve enjoyed both bluebox and blackbox, as well as the lemondrop.

The interfaces are generally the thing that I haven’t gotten along with that well, so I’m genuinely excited about the Bento, as it looks like a blast to use. Also, contrary to a lot of the opinions that I’ve read in comments, I like the on screen graphic design. It’s simple, clear and looks unfussy, but very informative. The wave editing and granular synth pages looks particularly great to me.

Anyways, I’m looking for ward to getting my hands on it and writing this post has chewed up most of the twenty minutes before I get my mits on it!

I’ll report back once I’ve had a minute or two with it.

[dhunterrr]

You’ve had a minute…

[KnockKnock]

Hahahahahaha. I have had a minute, but not with the Bento yet! Initial observations may have to wait until later tonight unless I can get away for “a nap” at some point this afternoon!

Can confirm what I’ve heard about excellent build quality though because of course I had to check and make sure that it an arrived in one piece. My plans to sit in my car and monkey around with it for a few minutes were foiled by the fact that it asks you to connect to power the first time you turn it on.

Full-ish report back will be posted here sometime today or tonight, though. Promise.

[Azzarole]

@echo_opera

For the Bento i see myself using it as a Looper and Sample Slice groove box with Filtering and Effects per pad/sound if possible.

I can’t compare it to much else sample based, I only have experience with DT, OT and a bit of OG Deluge. I also haven’t used it enough to make bold statements. My suggestion is for everybody who is on the fence to watch the available YT videos, the quick start guide and hopefully soon the manual. It has lots of limitations, but is also quite generous in other aspects. So I’d say it’s really dependent on personal workflow whether this thing can become your centerpiece or is garbage to you.

What you’re describing sounds like a use case I can see. Both the slicer and looper give you a lot of options and seem pretty useful. The one shot also gives you options like filter, amp envelope, FX send and LFO for each slot, no weird limitations like on XY. But FX sends are limited, I haven’t found them on the multi instrument for example, where I’d find them most useful. The granular synth also didn’t allow me to dial in reverb and delay sends, although for this machine, the option is displayed.

I’ve played a bit with the granular instrument today and you can also just use it as a really basic synth. Just load no grains or dial their level down and then you have one oscillator with different waveforms, amp envelope, filter and an LFO. Square wave has PWM, the other wave forms have no additional parameter. It’s poly though.

[Azzarole]

@Roman01

Question about file structure and sample management. If you copy an existing project (or save as), does Bento duplicate the project folder and samples or does keep all samples in a root folder?

I’ll get back to you on that, but my overall impression so far is that sample management could be better. When you record a loop, it doesn’t ask you to give it a name and I also don’t know where I would name it after the fact. Or where it’s saved, so I can import it to other machines.

Scrolling through samples is okay (but laggy) with encoder and nice with touch screen. I haven’t found a way to preview a sample before loading yet. It also always shows an empty screen when you want to load up a sample first. Took a while till I figured out I first have to press left arrow first because for some reason it always starts on a weird empty folder.

It also hard crashed on me today when I wanted to save a project, so the latest edits to the project were lost.

[Pawelou]

@Azzarole

to preview a sample before loading

according to Mr Bobby Beatzzy cannot be done currently (wishlist toward the end of his review)

[KrisG]

This device is so rushed to the market. The more i see and read about it, this will not be a device for me. It looks (only one granular per project for example) very underpowered too for me to make an investment in this.
Also, when companies releases a device in a very basic state (barebones functions not available, like copy seq or undo), release it for a lower price for your test group. Then later up the price when its cooked. 1000 euro is just… lets say there are way better alternatives for less.

But i hope that the ones who have it, enjoys it and that improvements are on the way soon.

[Pawelou]

@KrisG

one grain per project

Oh, I thought that was Tempera? Maybe it’s a new trend in the making tho, hard to tell

[Azzarole]

@KrisG

It looks (only one granular per project for example) very underpowered too

How many true granular engines can you load on most other grooveboxes? Zero. I think it really adds much to the value that they just threw in a Lemondrop here, which by itself costs like 400€.

I agree that it’s in basic state and some things are missing to make it more of the “workstation” they advertise it as or the OT killer that some wish it was.

I think it still offers a lot and sits nicely between a Move and Push, both in terms of price, size and features. It’s definitely not a no brainer though and I’d advice anyone interested to look closely at the options and limits and think about how that might enable or frustrate you.

[captain8]

Roland P6 ?
how does the Bento’s gran engine compare with the P6 gran engine?

[herman5115]

I had Blackbox - one thing I’ve learned: buy 1010 music stuff that’s at least 3 to 5 years old. For first 6 months when I had BB, there was a new firmware, but they were not able to finish the manual. For months. On the forum, 95% of issues people had with their BB was met with reply “use original brick, fast SD and good usb cable”. Firmware updates removed certain functions from previous versions - that didn’t went down well with some of the users. Bottom line: had a feeling that a small company is trying to deal with great success that BB was, but it’s too small. I will check it out again in a year or two. I’m a bit shocked to see that they sent Bento to YouTubers for reviews - it’s not finished.

[Megamind]

Well I would tend to give companies like 1010 extra leeway over the big ones that drop a product nearly right away if it didn’t do the expected business.

Doesn’t mean I will jump straight in but I will be watching with interest. If you go over to the forum you at least feel like your voice is heard and there is some communication.

Once it settles I think the capabilities Bento will have in this portable form factor will be formidable.

[Plsmk]

100% agree. Also I want to see first that 1010 ships some of the top user requests for improving the Blackbox OS to know they are serious about customer satisfaction.