This Jack Of All Trades Masters It Too

Sonicware have rolled out a pre-production early-bird opportunity on Kickstarter, offering 500 places for pledges of ¥37,500 (~ AU$385) or more. The company, who in 2020 successfully crowd-funded their LIVEN 8-Bit Warps synth, have again smashed the goal targets of their next creation, the SmplTrek Portable Production Sampler.

This hand-held sampler is a Swiss Army Sampler. A capable all-in-the-box sampler/sequencer/wave editor/effects processor/streamer. It can capture audio with its built-in mic, or can be connected to a range of audio sources such as dynamic microphones, electric guitar/bass, synthesisers, or USB-connected smartphone or computer. The audio can be recorded with onboard insert-effects for a faster workflow. Samples can then be quickly assigned to pads with auto-slicing, manually edited and trimmed, beat or pitch-matched to the project, as well as having the ability to resample sequenced sample-based phrases. The SmplTrek comes loaded with more than 500 high-quality sample sounds, over 100 drums kits, and 30 internal DSP effects that can be used simultaneously as insert, send, and master effects.

Each song project has 16 sequential parts called ‘Scenes’. Each Scene has 10 sequencer tracks which can behave in different ways:

• Loop Track: Sequencer for a looping sample
• Shots Track: Sequencer for a single one-shot sample
• Drum Track: Step sequencer for drums
• Instrument Track: Piano roll type sequencer for musical instruments
• MIDI Track: Piano roll type sequencer for external MIDI equipment

Three additional Global Audio Tracks are available for longer recordings such as vocals and external instruments. These tracks can record multiple takes which can be spliced into a final version. Traditional “punch-in” style recording is also supported.

Song structures can be established by sequencing the Scenes, and Scene order can be set with copy/paste functions, or recorded in real-time with the Scene buttons. Automation can also be recorded and edited. This is the case for all parameters, including the Mixer. A song can be mixed-down all the way through to mastering with on-board effects before being exported to a single audio file. Finished tracks can be restreamed, including using it to provide an audio-bed for live-streamed vocal or other instrument performances.

While the early-bird offer is running for another 6 days (ending 13/04), very few places remain.
The projected RRP will be ~ AU$570.