Chompi

NickD · 2024-06-26T00:26:22.604Z

Well, I grabbed a returned unit at a discount after much deliberation, and I predict a lot of good times with this. I think the price is reasonable if you compare it to an Organelle, which is probably the closest device in terms of form factor and cost. Chompi doesn’t have the endless expansion options (though it might move that way in the future), but the few things it does, it does really well - and the build quality and design help bring that out.

At the heart of it there’s just something that’s always magical about being able to manipulate sound physically, which the interface supports very nicely - I think the closest device I’ve used in this respect would likely be the Morphagene (which also makes the price seem not unreasonable).

Things that have irked me - I do wish there was some implementation of undo on the looper, but at the same time this does fly in the face of the device’s ethos. If you fluff a layer, it’s over - obviously the multitrack features of the OP-1 and various Organelle patches (and yeah, the 404 too) have an advantage there. I suppose the solution is that you bounce a layer off before building on it, which is easy enough to do and not a million miles away from the 404’s push-things-forward approach.

Also I’d like samples to use their individual tweaks when copied to the looper - so if I trim a four bar loop down to one bar in the sampler, I should be able to copy just that one bar to the looper. But I find early frustrations like these usually fade as you settle into the design and workflow of the instrument and figure out how they want you to do it.

It’s a hard one to recommend, I suppose, because it’s very focused on its niche - it’s easy to imagine it not meeting expectations given the general trend towards multifunction, all-in-one devices. A 404 MK2 it is not. But it is a fine, well-designed tool for hands-on musique concrète excursions, and can offer some unique features in that respect.

I guess coming back to the Morphagene, Chompi might be usefully considered as a standalone modular device - something designed around a focused and limited role. Or perhaps a boutique pedal - not difficult to imagine the effects and looper bundled into pedal form, and the collaboration with Chase Bliss isn’t a huge surprise.

Thumbs up from me, I can see many happy hours emerging from this. It might be a thumbs down for you; I understand why it’s divisive, but I’m glad I took the risk and discovered which side of the divide I’m on. And if you didn’t get on with it and recently returned it to Juno, cheers for the resulting discount.

captain8 · 2024-06-26T00:52:07.672Z

the chompi was a collab with chase bliss?

Jukka · 2024-06-26T01:33:51.575Z

Sort of … specifically on the Treasure Island version and the return feature. See this video.

captain8 · 2024-06-26T01:34:23.317Z

thanks missed this

wow the chompi has come along, have no idea how he resisted the urge to throw some drums and funky basslines into this demo but what a wonderfully quirky fodder machine this is becoming… me want!!

NickD · 2024-06-26T09:33:01.017Z

One other contender I could have thrown on to my big pile of comparisons is the Kaleidoloop - I have the original model and always enjoyed it as a tactile “sound collector”, and there’s certainly a bit of Kaleidoloop in Chompi. The original KL is limited by its single loop workflow - you need two units to do any kind of advanced tape-style transformation - but the new model addresses this (though owning an Organelle makes it less compelling).

“Fodder machine” is an apt term for the KL - it’s always great to come back to it after a while and rediscover loops you captured years ago still sitting on the card - and Chompi gives you tools to take this concept and run with it - I expect that like the 404 MK2, it’ll turn out to be a rabbit hole of resampling. The main issue there is likely to be the limited sample slots - two sets of 3x14 is a bit of a downer when you have six hours available, and the no-screen UI doesn’t really lend itself to sample or project management, so I suppose swapping SD cards is the current fix (in which case I’d rather they were full-size).

But re. wanting one - I suspect that Chompi might be one of those cases where if you think it’s going to work well for you, it will - whereas if you have doubts, they’re probably worth listening to. I watched all the videos, including Ricky Tinez’ rather frustrated one (still very fair, and updates have addressed some of his key complaints) and arrived at the conclusion I was going to end up buying one eventually, so if I could afford it I might as well take the option of a discount.

rotallytuined · 2024-06-26T15:31:40.432Z

Secret Chomper here

alexwasashrimp · 2024-06-26T16:21:06.640Z

I got a cheap one for reselling, and for the first few hours I was dangerously close to keeping it. It’s really fun.

However, I don’t think I would find any use for it in my music, other than making creepy atonal background noises, and that niche is taken by the Lyra already.

If you can afford spending that much on something that’s fun but not very practical - go for it. It’s a very enjoyable instrument, and I say it as someone who doesn’t like samplers in general and is absolutely allergic to loopers ever since getting a Reface CS.

Also check whether your feet are screwed in tightly, maybe apply some thread locker even. One of mine got missing, a couple of spare feet is $5 on the website, and shipping is a whopping $18, which is quite impressive for such a tiny package.

NickD · 2024-06-26T19:02:16.314Z

I’ve made my peace with the cost - it’s in the DFAM ballpark and that seems reasonable. I don’t really get the “maybe for $200” comments you often see, but maybe Behringer will step in to make that a reality. In the meantime if I panic I’ll just think of it as a permanently wired Eurorack skiff for one quarter the price.

IronIsIronic · 2024-07-10T13:01:33.724Z

I made this request in March. They seemed to like it. Seems simple to implement. Fingers crossed–

So Chompi has both gate and one shot playback modes for the samples, but it would be gigantic if a latch playback mode was also added so you didn’t have to hold the key down to keep the sample looping. This could lessen the demand for a clock source/metronome as well as give us a quick way to build tracks in a looping fashion while also keeping them separate from each other (multitrack) so we could arrange them elsewhere. Workflow could go like this:

Load a drum loop into a Cubbi slot. Press it once to trigger it while in latch playback mode so it continues to loop until you press it again. While the drumploop plays in a loop, you could go to a Jammi slot and record your chords into the looper. Copy the chord phrase from the looper to a Cubbi slot and play it in latch playback mode, so now you have the drum loop and chords looping together. Clear the looper. Go to a Jammi slot and record your bass into the looper. Copy the bass phrase into a Cubbi slot and play it in latch playback mode, so the drum loop, chords and bass play looping together. Clear the looper. Repeat for all parts. This workflow also eliminates the need for an undo since, if you mess up, you just clear the looper and try again.

Clarke_111 · 2024-07-10T14:41:07.291Z

I think this workflow sounds great, but wouldn’t the looper also record the drum loop you have going? If that could loop in the background and the looper only capture the chords (for example) that would be an amazing workflow.

MattLxx · 2024-07-10T14:59:34.603Z

Seem to be selling on ebay used for £320-350 judging from the few recent sales. Which starts to make it a much more attractive proposition…

IronIsIronic · 2024-07-10T15:33:52.225Z

Indeed it would. I was just thinking in terms of workflow. I’ll leave it up to CHOMPI team to figure out how to implement it. One way might be-- whenever a sample slot is in latch mode, it would automatically disconnect its routing to the looper.

BassesAndPads · 2024-07-10T15:36:59.169Z

Does anyone know what the guts look like? Just curious if it has any analogue parts or is all dsp driven.

First impressions to me was that it was targeted to music gear collectors, with its quirky looks and design. I finally messed around with one and really liked the filter and time stretch as I expected from the videos, but did not see much use for it at the time though, especially at that price point.

It’s always nice to have one hardware sampler that I can tweak live and get unique sounds out of, but for me I’m more focused on making unique hooks and melodies with vocals and samples. Or screwing with sampled chords. I feel like software has really been dominant for those things lately, but I’m open minded.

Honestly surprised they are still updating this thing. Felt like a short term play at the “take my money” crowd, but I’d love to be wrong. Good hardware samplers are always appreciated.

IronIsIronic · 2024-07-10T15:47:41.504Z

I’m at a point of my music-making life where I’d literally pay someone good money to get rid of functionality that I don’t need. I’m also at a point where, if the gear isn’t easy to learn and an absolute blast to use, I won’t buy it. So, hello, Chompi.

Easy + fun = productivity = priceless

Clarke_111 · 2024-07-10T17:44:19.623Z

I would agree with this. It’s the strength of the chompi - I really wish some of my other gear didn’t same (looking at you octatrack and to a lesser extent sp404mk2).

The chompi and the rc505mk2 might be my most used bits of kit (sold the 505 and regret it) simply because they are so easy to use.

I would love a MPC built with the chompi mindset…

kippertoffee · 2024-07-10T18:12:06.321Z

Clarke_111:

I would love a MPC built with the chompi mindset

That’s koala, if you can stand apps

Clarke_111 · 2024-07-10T18:31:54.406Z

Alas, I cannot. I did download it but couldn’t get into it at all. Not sure why.

mleaf · 2024-11-03T07:10:57.114Z

I just discovered this thing trawling the gear pages for one of my local shops.

Seems I’m way out the other side of the hype train bell curve on this one. Also seems some firmware stuff has settled and other cool features have been added like the send / return.

This thing fits my use case exactly, I want to get back into music making and have fun, and make some nice ambient stuff. And at the moment, I think I’m more curious about instruments I don’t really know how to use.

I was sort of considering this OT, DNII, +FX, maybe even DTII setup - but jeebus - it seemed to add up and those boxes are all mighty expensive - even for one. It seems that the Chompi post-hype plateau now sees folks flipping theirs for pretty low prices, so I think I’ll snag one if I can while the goings good.

It means I can get started, combine it with the pedals I want, and in general just start building a collection of sounds I can use down the line, and then perhaps when I pick up another Elektron box later (looking at you, Tonverk) I can more formally sequence and layer things.

Are people still using Chompi and enjoying it? I can imagine for many folks it’s just not the right tool, but I feel like it looks really fun and exploratory.

Dr.K · 2024-11-18T18:15:19.377Z

I have a question for Chompi owners:
Can you also sample in mono or only in stereo?

ddiamond84 · 2025-01-23T13:39:35.090Z

I still love mine even though I barely use it. When I do it’s so sweet and magical. Anyone mess with the newer firmwares? I’m not sure I’ve ever updated mine…