1010music Blackbox Compact Sampling Studio

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The new year is only 12 days old. Even if it is still tranquil in the music tech world, there is still a lot of development going on behind the scenes. This is shown in the latest forum post by 1010music. The limit of 16 sample slots could be problem for some, along with the inability to load multiple presets or kits. An entire live set is unlikely to fit into 16 samples and 16 sequences, so if you're looking for a gigging sampler, make sure you have time to load songs on stage. It's also a bit weak on the sound design front, modulation capabilities are bizarrely limited, and the effects aren't anything to write home about. In KEYS mode, each sequence cell now maps to a single pad, played chromatically. This simplifies recording and routing in that you specify where the notes will go for all 4 layers. You can record into a KEYS sequence from the MIDI Seq channel and from the KEYS screen when in SEQ mode. Create dynamic sounds by controlling level, pitch, ADR, loop points, the granulator, effects and more using MIDI control surfaces and an internal LFO. oh, no! too much DAW...and less an instrument, like the MPC live...leave this stuff for computers and add instrument features instead!

From the sample section, you also access deeper editing functions such as an envelope per sound, a filter, start- and end-points for loops, time-stretch parameters, and so on. The shaping is more geared for sculpting your sample to work in a mix, and less about creative effects. The filter acts like an EQ that blends between states. The lower you go, the deeper the thuds and greater the cutoff. Aim high, and you’ll lose the rumbling deep ends and position your sample in the cleaner forefront. The amp envelope is used to trim what’s already there, so if your bass sound doesn’t snap on its own, don’t expect the decay, sustain, and release to fix that for you. Just watch your source material, and these tweaks will serve you well for their intended purpose.

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USB MIDI Device In and TRS MIDI In can trigger samples, notes and sequences, modulate your sound, and trigger sample recording So for some, this is going to be a no-brainer. Maybe you just need a way to mix your live jams and record the results for further explorations elsewhere. Maybe you don’t like DAWs. Or you’re just curious. Desk space is tight but you take mixing and recording seriously.

Then, there’s the master EQ which now allows you with four bands to hone your mix into something that can compete with any digital competitor. It’s a fantastic way to get the mix ready for the club or just prepare it for final mastering, if you want to make sure it’s as clean as can be on its own, before you take it to a more high end context. I’ve been leaning towards the MPC one because of the vocal processing and the ability to utilize the midi/audio interfaces through usb. Unfortunately I don’t have either of those, and the Akai force(used) is about the same price, also has midi thru and XLR inputs. Additionally the clip based workflow seems interesting Enhanced Delay algorithm with integrated band-pass filter and the ability to play just a single echo Well, 1010music heard our woes and they’re bringing us mercy with their latest product, the Bluebox. Which brings us nicely to the topic of modulation. Some, but not all, parameters have three modulation slots underneath. Each slot allows you to choose a source and modulation amount. The number of sources and destinations is a bit limited. For example, you can modulate pitch, level, slice, start, end and loop points, but not filter, envelope controls or anything relating to sequences or effects. Also the selection of sources is small: MIDI velocity, pitch bend, mod wheel and a couple of control changes. There are no LFOs and no assignable envelopes. To make things worse, the only modulation source which can be recorded into a sequence appears to be velocity — all others are ignored when recording. And even then, if you want velocity to affect, for example, pitch, you have to assign that pad its own MIDI channel. Modulation will not work at all when using the Global MIDI channel. Unfortunately, by this point, I felt like the modulation was so restricted, I gave up trying to use it.Copy and paste of PADS. From the PADS screen, turn the lower right knob to the right as you will see a new control panel. In the forum, 1010music wants to know what the beta testers think of the update. Are there any improvements etc.? Please leave your input in the forum. MIDI-only sequences. Choose MIDI as the cell type in the upper left and the sequence will not play internal pads.

I still don't think it is great as a standalone groovebox, mainly due to the touch-screen. If the 8 tiny pads were velocity sensitive and could be repurposed for adding beats or notes, it could be a winner. Honestly I could have lived with #1-9 if I hadn't experienced #10. Again, I REALLY wanted to like this thing and give it a forever home. If you only want to give your mix some room, though, the onboard delay and reverb are both good. They’re crisp and clean with lots of options that can take you from the ordinary to the crazy. But their role is clear – even if you can be experimental, their purpose is to create space where it’s needed and save the funkier explorations to any favorite effect you got lying around. The frequencies This cookie stores user-like settings for the chat system provider, which are required for our online chat service. Trusted Shops Support for 1 and 2 channel WAV files with 16, 24 or 32-bit resolution at any sample rate (48kHz preferred)EQ'ing every single sample is impossible with external gear, but it's important for a good mix. As we are all well aware, most of us don't like using DAWs or avoid it if possible. When playing my modular, I send copy of my master signal to this and I can easily grab a loop and then cross-fade to this loop before changing what is going on in my modular. The sound quality is much better than the Pigtronix pedal and the loop customisation is easier.