think i menti9oned that somewh
i hope the tempera can get even half of the way there. would be tough to justify, already owning a norns. it reminds me of some of my favorite scripts like cheat codes 2 or MLR. i just havent heard any examples i like that dont just sound like scrubbing through my octatrack buffers via the fader with a jittery lfo on the position
Itās been a bit quiet here. The anticipation is growing on my end as Iām sure it is with a lot of people (this comes with a bit of frustration too but thatās the impatient mindset in this day and age) but I can imagine from someone who isnāt sold on the S-4 itās easy to just forget about it. Itās a funny one. Itās not something I can shake easily from my mind though. Iāve been thinking about the possibilities of this as an effects unit, about how it can replace my microcosm while being so much more than that ever was for me for only a couple hundred more gems. I could be playing something on guitar or keys and before even using it as a sampler or looper, I decide to mess with the incoming audio and put together a bunch of interesting effects configurations. The 5 audio devices look super tweakable and like there are many possibilities there. I could be playing live, track 1 drum loop, track 2 synth loop, track 3 granular vocal loop and then on track 4 (no sample) I could load in a save state Iāve created by adjusting the 5 audio devices to use solely as an effects processor for live incoming audio from guitar or keys. It SEEMS super versatile and like this should be totally possible.
Speaking of live, say you have the initial 4 tracks going on for a bit and the loop is getting dull, I wonder if you will be able to load (cue) another set of 4 tracks on the fly to keep the set interesting. Something like the pattern change on elektron devices. I think itās (maybe) far fetched and Iām not expecting it. But boy if it does. Wow.
Iām just thinking out loud. Maybe itās something others hadnāt thought about. Maybe not.
So much potential here.
good thing or not so good thing in your opinion?
the S-4 clips kind of seem like they want it to be a groove box but for some reason resisted putting in groove box features like slicing etcā¦ I dunno, but itās intriguing.
Nor good nor bad. iPad wonāt replace S-4 for everyone, but everything ever requested for S-4 lives already there.
That video was just an example of advanced and innovative granular techniques, more than S-4 could possibly fit.
Iāve always been impressed by what 4pockets comes up with, had no idea they had made that app though and am as intrigued about it as I am the S-4ā¦ I like the idea of the tactility of the S-4 and if there is an attitude shift in the development where they are willing to go ahead and make it a viable beatmachine alternative to something like the sp-404 Iād definitely be interested in trying it out but right now they are dancing around the elephant in the room. The S-4 wouldnāt need to have a full on sequencer or even one as bare bones as the sp-404 but just some good resampling options and a few extra utilities to aid in collage work or at the least make what it looks like they are trying to accomplish in the teaser videos easier to doā¦ pretty much some excellent slicing options and motion sequencing would do it
I canāt seem to find any info on the Torso site but maybe someone on here knows this- considering the S-4 will function as an audio interface, does that mean it can also sample directly from a computer via usb? I just started to explore the idea of using my M8ās midi output to sequence a few vst synths. It would be a really cool to then be able sample those sounds into the S-4 for hands on manipulation.
āYou could also connect an iPad or a USB microphone as long as itās class compliantā -
That suggests to me that you probably can sample from the USB, I guess?
This is what i was pretty nuch hoping for some goo slice options to chop records seqeunce those slices and then at the touch of a few parameters turn them into massive textures and sound materials to further resample and chop and sequence.
Iād only be interested in this if it had an internal sequencer or audio clip arranger. Having to pair this with an additional sequencer with midi cables, etc. takes away from the compact, portable appeal.
I look at this more as a modern and compact hardware sampler. None of my old Akais have sequencers, and that is fine by me. Sequencers are very complex to integrate. This is why the Digitakt is a really nice hardware sampler with the new updates but still very limited in functionality compared to a more dedicated sampler. The digitakt is more of a sequencer with sampling capabilities and the S4 should be a lot deeper than that.
The S4 is rather expensive so I am going to be real interested in what it can do compared to what I do now - which is plug in my T-1 to the laptop and sequence Serato Sample and other sampling software. That said, it is nice to have a standalone sampler too. More of a luxury but something more immediate and possibly more unique. We will see.
If I was only interested in a hardware sampler to sequence with another sequencer and am spending this kind of money, Iād want/expect multiple outputs and the ability to create multi-sample kits for drums and more expressive instruments.
Why canāt the hoover mow the lawn?
Well, if I could at least cut the hedge with it Iād take it, but like this! And why doesnāt it have a neuralink? Itās 2024!
Wanting a $900 sampler that only functions as a sampler to have more than 2 outputs and the ability to play more than 4 different samples at a time seems appropriate imo. Of course, Iām only stating my opinions.
Anyhowā¦ I thought Torso was looking for feedback since everything seems so vague. Is it better not to request anything?
This is not a sampler but āalso a samplerā.
Apart from that, that was just a general observation on my part and not meant personally.
āThe S-4 is a sculpting samplerā¦ā per Torso
To show a positive perspective, Iāll tell you all how I see the S-4.
I was about to buy a GR-1 to use it as a kind of live granular looper. It didnāt fulfil all my requirements but enough to give it a try. Then the S-4 was announced. Just from the information the website gave me/us it was clear that the S-4 was exactly what I was looking for. A stereo looper with tape emulation, granular engine, filter, FX, compressor, mixer and various modulation possibilities. I created a Discords account and bombarded Torso with my questions. All were answered and every item on my wishlist was ticked off. You can make sound on sound, you can define loop lengths, loops can be synced or free, the stereo input can be used as 2x mono and so on and so forth.
As you can see, I was mainly looking for a next level looper that didnāt exist yet. I think Torso fills that gap. Maybe the choice to call it a sculpting sampler is a bit off if you immediately think of Akai or NI Battery when you hear the word sampler. I see the S-4 as a live sampler that, in addition to recording sounds and sculpting them instantly, can also access previously created samples. For me, who mainly makes live improvised music, the S-4 combines several devices in one and in a very compact way. I like that because I lug my equipment around town once a week for the next jam session. If I had been looking for a sampler with slicing options and drum pads, I would have looked elsewhere. I think Torso has created a very creative tool for live performance with the S-4.
By the way, I donāt understand the complaints about the position of the display and the free space above it. Everything seems to be very well thought out and in the right place. For me, the ergonomics and design are very well done.
For all these reasons, I put my trust in the people at Torso and took the opportunity to take advantage of the early bird discount. If I hadnāt been sure, I would have proceeded as I do with other devices. I waited a year until there were enough reviews and I could test the device in a shop.
If you think from the information we have the S-4 could be something for you, go over to discord and ask your questions to the developer they are very friendly and open. I donāt think the Torso people are on this forum.
Does the marketing leave something to be desired?
Yes.
Would I prefer a 1 hour video explaining all the functions to these 1 minute clips?
Yes.
Torso is a small company and I think they put all their energy into bringing a good product to the market.
Sorry it got a bit longer, but I felt the need to share my point of view.
This definitely seems more like a synth to me than a sampler. There would be less confusion and more appropriate expectations if this was just called a granular synth imo.
EDIT:
Actually, maybe āgranular looperā would be better
Why? It even has a little mic. Itās aimed at recording sound and sculpting that with multiple layers of audio , modulation and fx. Itās not just a granular synth but Iād say itās a slightly different take on the traditional sampler paradigm. But getting into semantics here. It samples, so itās in fact a sampler 
And I could be wrong but since one can connect an audio interface, we can assume that would add multiple outputs.
Maybe all my suggestions will actually occur with time and thereās no need to be so defensive.