This time I’m playing with LFOs and filters a bit more. Figuring out on trigger of LFO to create the panning sweep when pressed. I wish I’d done something different with the 8th track. I had a couple of timing issues during the performance. And afterward, I realized I could have held MUTE then toggled the tracks, and released mute to toggle the mute state instead of tapping MUTE and then the tracks, which would have made things easier.
Next, I’m going to duplicate a pattern a few times and try out song mode.
I’ve had the Liven XFM and the SmplTrek. Based on that I wouldn’t compare it to an IPad+Koala etc.
The SmplTrek is not a well explained product. It’s not a sampler really in the classic sense. I would rather call it a “Swiss Army knife” tool that includes a sampler.
What it is, is yes sampler, but also, a multitrack field recorder with built in mic and mic inputs, an audio and midi sequencer, and a 2 in-2 out audio interface, 5-pin to usb midi interface, and a guitar tuner as well.
So it’s a handy portable audio tool in general and still so really even if you had an iPad.
Not that it’s perfect but it’s the old saying about jack of all trades vs master of one.
But the reason it failed as a product is they did an awful job of positioning and explaining the product and the initial firmware let the hardware down.
Then they followed up with the Lofi-12 XT (I guess from that learning) and it’s a more focused product, as a result. But still it does suffer from the screen being a bit small for that particular focus.
I hope they stick with that SmplTrek/Lofi-12 XT chassis, but with a bigger screen and move all their product lines to that one chassis.
I find it pretty charming, like a little game boy. Absolutely fits the lofi aesthetics they are going for. Keep in mind this is a 400 USD device also. Good luck finding something sturdier in that price range with this amount of features.
Personally I would never want that many features in something so small it gives me nightmares. The tiny boxes are good at making little grove ideas I can sample into my bigger samplers or creating vocal riffs to sample.
Finally got my hands on mine today. Love it! My first 30 min feedback:
• It bugs me that I need to preconvert samples to 24Khz… but you only do it once.
• The UI and workflow is miles ahead of Smpltrek, don’t be fooled by that.
• I have the retro color. Looks lovely. It’s a warm matte gray (nicer than MPC One Retro, like an old PC case).
• track FX (chorus, flanger, etc, are not stereo). delay & reverb are. So if you basically send a track to reverb just a little, it widens it a bit. But I don’t mind that (Circuit Rhythm is the same, Digitakt 1 is the same, etc.). Stereo would’ve been lovely though.
• Loading projects takes a while. I recommend having a “Beats” project, and just create patterns, since each pattern can have its own sounds like DT.
• Don’t convert files on device. Use some batch tool on your computer. It takes a lot.
EDIT: If you drop some folders into the CONVERT folder, you can convert on device (takes a while), and delete original files, AND IT KEEPS FOLDER STRUCTURE. Dope!!!
• It has lazy chop (YAY!)
• It can match a sample to bars by repitching it. Nice for drums & percs if you don’t fluctuate the tempo too much.
Overall it’s fun! I’ll come back with more stuff after I get some proper time with it.
No slices. But you can alter start point.
I’ve messed around with the LFO and retrigger… apparently it can do that time stretch thing… but you need to mess with speed, retrig…etc. I remember I fumbled on the Digitakt too until I got the hang of it.
Maybe they’ll add a new playback mode in the future, like the DT, where it does it automatically
I bet that LFO to slices destination could come with a firmware update. And they seem to be pretty open for new ideas/features for all their products, lofi-12 got live drumming and resampling in firmware updates !
I was initially excited as that grey little box would sit nicely next to my model cycles. But at this price (nearing 500) I can get an OG DT. Hope it comes down in time.
it has features the DT1 doesnt have and the DT1 has feature this little box does not have, its not as easy of a choice as you make it out to be. the official price isnt 500 btw, its 399 usd or 429 usd in special edition. I dont know where you saw 500 usd.
Its already very cheap, there isnt any sampler at this price point doing as much.
Its more expensive in EU, comparable to sp-404 mk2, but again at this price point there is nothing doing what the lofi-12 xt does except second hand stuff. I think people need to tame their expections, when you’ve been buying a 900 euros sample based computer/drum machine that doesnt have polyphony nor manual slicing and you’re complaining about something half as expensive having all of that (and more).
