im thinking going tempera route seems like a full functional instrument compared to the s4 for my needs
this question can spawn another heated thread hereā¦ beware
(Ambient - yes, granular - some sort of granular effects are possible, not the cloud-like, bending - absolutely. But itās veryā¦ whatās the word? Idiosyncratic. Itās very specific in many departments and there are tons of heated threads about it there)
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I thinks S4 is good for that.
Worth a try. It lacks a proper sequencer.
With an iPad maybeā¦(USB C MIDI/AUDIO)
Octatrack is more complicated to achieve granular stuff, you need to use its recorders for realtime resampling and playback, eventually use feedback. I experimented Lemondrop as insert fx with OT, it was really interesting. Now I have to try with Tempera.
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I also have an OT. The OT can do much more due to itās sequencer, slicers, more (flexible) tracks, more FX types, more hardware audio inputs/outputs etc.
On the other hand, the S-4 has a much friendlier and focused workflow, a more intuitive looper and modulation, the granular FX and more digital audio inputs/outputs.
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FFS Torso! Anyone else had a unit show up that is totally unresponsive out the box. Iāve connected it to the power, the buttons light but nothing else happens. Nothing on the screen, no functionality at all.
I tried long press on power switch, short press, taken the power lead in out and out etc. nothing. Total brick (but clearly not a power issue as the button light up ok) Argh!! So annoying.
This is my second unit, returned the first due to multiple crashes, but at least it turned on. Guess itās my fault for going back there, but with the new update promised and talk of it being more stable now I got tempted. Never had a product turn up and not even turn on though!!
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Sorry to hear that my friend, thatās really, really annoying.
I hope Torso gets back to you asap and sort you out.
They are good guys(Torso), but I have to admit that itās a bit of a bumpy ride with the S4.
Itās the only instrument Iāve had to put back in box from time to time, cause it just seems too wonky.
But Iāve been testing the Beta FW and though my biggest ask(clock/looper/sync) hasnāt been addressed yet, it feels like they are on the right path with the possibilities of this machine.
Of cause, that helps you 
when you S4 isnāt even turning on.
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As a last-ditch, can you connect it to the Config tool and update/re-update the firmware? Just in case itās stuck in some debug mode from the factory.
I would also check with the Torso Discord to see if they have any tips, theyāre usually pretty responsive.
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How long did you wait after powering on? It takes a while to bootā¦ for the screen to come on.
Yeah, itās not that. Plugged it in, pressed the button. Waited. Nothing. Unless I need to wait for over 5 minutesā¦ but I think I probably did that at some point anyway.
Itās totally bricked right out of the box. Weirdly some of the buttons seem to function - as in change how they are lit up - when they are pressed, for example the play button starts to flash or the mod buttons slightly change colour, but not as brightly as I recall on previous unit. Itās like they āhalf changeā - itās very odd.
I tried the torso discord and was given a de-bricking script to try. To be honest though I think I am out and just going to send it back and move on. First time Iāve ever had to deal with a unit that is dead on arrival (other than once with a faulty power cable but thatās a different issue) - do they test them prior to packing? Certainly lost some faith. Itās a shame as on paper itās my dream unit (nearly) but there are too many issues I think.
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I am sorry to hear you are having issues, i had issues as well with the powering together with other main issues and i returned it and never re-bought it.
I an starting to lose trust in this brand, the website is not updated since last year there is very slow communication only via their Discord channel.
I think theyāre a very small team (with good intentions). I read something online about it being around a 10 people company? Iām sure the workload is pretty high for them, when the T-1 development is also ongoing. But I concur, quality control should at least catch a DOA. Soon-to-come software features are less of an issue for trust than receiving a unit thatās dead from the beginning.
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I get your point but there are even smaller companies, I do not want to advertise any name, which are made of just 4 people and their products are top notch qualityā¦
Canāt deny that 
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Itās a real shame this has happened, as a happy T-1 user the quality and āfeelā of the T-1 are great and the updates have been excellent. Torso make very original boutique products, I hope they get the S-4 sorted for all users as they had a lot of āgood willā with the T-1, but this will no doubt tarnish their reputation a bit.
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From a boutique company I would expect boutique products but S4 is definitely not a boutique product hardware wise
Well, I guess people may have a different definitions of āboutiqueā -small, specialized shops definitely, but not necessarily āhigh endā (not in the Eurorack world anyway) but for me its the ācostā that gives me āhigh endā expectations! Anyway, I am one of several ālurkersā here that was going to buy the S-4 (natural as a T-1 owner to look) but was put off by all the adverse comments and problems reported. I decided to buy a Tempera instead (now that is āBoutiqueā :-)) so Torso are definitely loosing customers over this.
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such a shame that so many people are having problems with it, i really want the S4 to succeed, i really love itā¦ luckily havent had any probs myself. Hope they get their stuff together cause it has so much potential (and thats the problem, its not there yet)
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Yeah, me tooā¦ havenāt had any problem with firmware or hardware, I used it for 3 months daily, saved lots of projects and having fun each time ( well, on my last session , I wanted to save the work and it failed cause I had no more placeā¦need to make a backupā¦). looking for the upcoming new firmwareā¦ Not nice that other people are having problems with itā¦
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Anyone having issues with the notification āsave failedā? Keep getting it, and I have the newest firmware (1.2.2).
I do not have an S-4, but first thought reading this is that perhaps the unit is fine, but the power supply is faulty? Worthy of consideration.
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