Introducing Polyend Tracker

Published on Mar 17, 2020 Polyend

"Introducing Polyend Tracker - Standalone Audio Workstation.

Sample, sequence, arrange, perform, create!"

Playlist:

Introducing Polyend Tracker
Performing with Polyend Tracker - Performance mode and MIDI sequencing fun by SLG (Łukasz Seliga).
Polyend Tracker Demo One
Polyend Tracker Demo Two



"A retro form factor updated with forward looking functionality and designed as an easy to use compact standalone workstation. Made for the creatives who break patterns on a daily basis. Designed to help artists forge unique avenues of sonic construction. Introducing the first hardware tracker in the music world.

The Polyend Tracker incorporates the quintessential characteristics of a classic tracker. The vertical timeline, the powerful sequencer and the mechanical keyboard combined with a newly designed input interface enables you to make and perform your music in a new and intuitive way. After a quick glance and a few minutes with the Polyend Tracker interface, you’ll soon realize the array of tools that are at your fingertips.

Polyend Tracker is slick, light and portable. It's also easy on the energy consumption so you can use it with any USB power source. Its sturdy and compact form factor makes it a great companion for music creation wherever and whenever you feel like it. No matter if you’re in your studio, on the run, or at the gig.

Polyend Tracker is equipped with a variety of powerful sound design tools. Use your existing sample library, record new ones with line or mic inputs, or use the built-in FM radio. Record samples, play them, slice them, mash them, or even make a synth out of them using Wavetable and Granular synthesis with its all necessary parts (filters, ADSRs, etc.)

Polyend Tracker works great with other instruments too. Thanks to the bilateral MIDI implementation, you can use it to sequence and control external gear or it can be used as a sound module controlled by any external MIDI software or hardware devices.

Don't be fooled by the classic tracker look. While maintaining the original quick and straightforward workflow, the Polyend Tracker is armed with an updated arsenal of sonic weapons. Automatic filling, randomizer, probability, selection rendering, effects per step, live recording, batch parameters editing, micro-tuning, micro-timing, rolls and many more give you the tools to be endlessly creative. Compatibility with MOD files allows you to import and finish tracks from back in the days or export and finalize them in the modern software trackers."


via Polyend - 499 GPB which comes out to roughly 600 USD, and 550 Euro. Update: Official price is €499 EUR/$599 USD

Update: and the official press release with a new pic:

"Polyend Tracker reboots retro form factor of software past with forward-looking functionality as world’s first hardware tracker

OLSZTYN, POLAND: famed for bringing new technologies to creative musicians by building innovative and unique musical instruments, Polyend is proud to announce availability of Tracker — effectively extracting the best bits of yesteryear’s tricky tracker software classics and rebooting them with forward-looking functionality as the world’s first hardware tracker, deftly designed as an easy-to-use compact standalone workstation with immediacy and simplicity at its creative core, and aiding artists with forging unique avenues of sonic construction to boot — as of March 18…

For the benefit of the uninitiated, a music tracker — tracker, for short — is a type of sequencing software. Speaking historically, the tracker term itself is derived from the first tracker software, Ultimate Soundtracker, starting life as a game sound development tool released for the Commodore Amiga personal computer back in 1987. The first trackers supported four pitch and volume modulated channels of 8-bit PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) samples, a limitation imposed by the Amiga’s audio chipset. Classic trackers represented music as discrete notes positioned in individual channels at discrete positions on a vertical timeline with a number-based user interface. Indeed, notes, parameter changes, effects, and other commands were entered via computer keyboard into a grid of fixed time slots as codes comprising letters, numbers, and hexadecimal digits — the latter being a positional system representing numbers using 16 distinct symbols. Saying that, those in the know appreciated the immediacy and simplicity of classic tracker software, if not necessarily those hexadecimal digits! One thing’s for sure, though: tracker software has exerted its influence on modern electronic music with influential IDM (Intelligent Dance Music) artists like (Aphex Twin alias) AFX, (Polish-American) Bogdan Raczyński, Brothomstates (a.k.a. Lassi Nikk, Finnish composer), Machinedrum (a.k.a. Travis Stewart, American electronic music producer), and Venetian Snares (a.k.a. Aaron Funk, Canadian electronic musician), to namecheck but several so-called ‘demo scene’ movers and shakers skilfully orbiting around those tricky trackers. That said, some might say that trackers need not be so tricky in this day and age. And it is this thinking that led to Polyend’s trailblazing Tracker.

The timely arrival of the aptly-named Tracker puts Polyend in pole position for blazing a new trail, tooled to take the tracker concept to a new level of innovative, inspirational, and immediate music-making by effectively extracting the best bits of yesteryear’s tricky tracker software classics and rebooting them with forward-looking functionality as the world’s first hardware tracker. Thankfully, Tracker waves goodbye to hexadecimal hysterics — not only did those entering the brave new world of classic trackers not necessarily know what those values actually represented, they could not see what was affected by them. Thinking inside its beautifully-engineered box, Tracker instead implements a simplified system of readable decimals that also shows the effects parameters when those decimals are entered in a frenzied fast track to creativity.

Tracker takes the quintessential characteristics of a classic tracker — the vertical timeline, powerful sequencer, and mechanical keyboard — and cleverly combines them with a newly-designed input interface, divided into several sections: a (high resolution, crisp, and bright) big screen and associated screen keys — mechanical controls that always correspond to what is displayed on the screen directly above them; the grid — featuring 48 backlit multifunctional silicon pads for quick note and pattern value entry and visual feedback (while also acting as a highly-customisable keyboard controller with editable scales); function keys — for fast and responsive control over all functions and options; plus navigation keys and associated (metal-manufactured) jog-wheel (with haptic feedback for fast scrolling or precise adjustments) — for facilitating transport control alongside arrow keys for navigation control, as well as dedicated Insert, Copy/Paste, Delete/Backspace, and Shift keys. All are at hand, helping to streamline making and performing music in a new and innovative way — without having to leave the world’s first hardware tracker, deftly designed as an easy-to-use compact standalone workstation with immediacy and simplicity at its creative core, and aiding artists with forging unique avenues of sonic construction to boot.

Better still, the classic tracker look of that dominating (default) screen — showing (up to) 48 instruments and 256 patterns with a maximum of 128 steps per pattern per project — belies an infinite source of inspiration. Indeed, Tracker comes complete with a wide variety of onboard sound design tools to enhance creativity still further for those wishing to take it to the limit. Let loose with Instrument — a chain of tools (Volume, Tuning, Panning, Filters, Reverb Send, and ADSRs) to make an instrument from any sample; Sampler — choose from different (1-shot, Forward, Backward, and Ping-Pong) play modes; Slicer — slice samples manually, or let Tracker take care of it ‘automagically’ at any time; Wavetable — full-blown wavetable synthesis with variable table length to make it compatible with the most popular (Ableton Wave and Serum) standards; Granular — single grain yet very powerful granular synthesis to create crazy and futuristic sounds from old and boring samples; Sample Editor — built-in precise offline rendering sample editor with multiple effects; and Sample Recorder — records up to two minutes of 16-bit/44.1kHz samples using built-in Radio, Pattern selection, Mic or Line In inputs, all of which can be saved to the included (16GB) MicroSD card for later use or loaded directly into a project. Put it this way: with Tracker, users can quickly and easily use existing sample libraries, record new ones, or use the built-in FM (Frequency Modulation) radio. Record samples, play them, slice them, mash them, or even make a synth out of them!

Tracker also plays nicely with other instruments. Thanks to its bidirectional MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) implementation, it can be used to sequence and control external gear or be controlled as a sound module by any external MIDI software or hardware devices. Whatever way anyone chooses to use it, armed as it is with an impressive arsenal of sonic weaponry — including automatic filling, randomiser, probability, selection rendering, effects per step, live recording, batch parameter editing, micro-tuning, micro-timing, rolls, and much more besides — it has what it takes to be a surefire hit, harbouring endless creativity. Compatibility with MOD files — a computer file format primarily used to represent music, made up of a set of instruments (in the form of samples), a number of patterns (indicating how and when the samples are to be played), and a list of what patterns to play in what order — allows users to import and finish tracks from way back when or export and finish their Tracker creations in modern-day software trackers.

The world’s first hardware tracker is slick, light, and portable. It is also energy efficient, so will work with any USB (Universal Serial Bus) power source. Sturdy and compact, the retro form factor of software past with forward-looking functionality makes for a great music creation companion — in the studio, on the run, or on stage. Simply put, Polyend’s Tracker puts everything right on track as a ‘back to the roots’ experience like no other!

Tracker comes complete with a USB-A power adapter, 2m USB-C cable, 3.5mm to 2x 6.3mm adapter, Minijack to MIDI DIN adapter, 16GB MicroSD card, and MicroSD to USB-A adapter, and is available to purchase through Polyend’s growing global network of authorised dealers at an MSRP of €499 EUR/$599 USD. Or order online directly from Polyend itself via the dedicated Tracker webpage, which also includes more in-depth information."

Polyend Reveals the Tracker Mini

The Collector video upload by Polyend

"Behold the breathtaking Polyend Tracker Mini. With its fusion of classic software tracker features and the latest production techniques, this portable workstation is the key to unlocking the depths of your creativity. So don't let the chance to transform your artistic expression pass you by - seize the moment and make your musical dreams a reality with the Polyend Tracker Mini today."

Breathe life into your tracks


Polyend Tracker Mini Drum&Bass

Like Tracker, but more

We’ve refined the signal path to provide more headroom and pristine stereo audio playback. Additionally, we’ve added genre-specific sample packs pre-designed by professional artists to help you get started making music faster. The sampling time has been increased to four times the capacity of the original Tracker, and the audio over USB and USB MIDI make it perfect for hybrid setups. You can add individual track effects, record directly to your laptop, or mix and master in your DAW. The included travel case will keep your Tracker safe while you do what you love in new places.

Tracker Mini has all the necessary tools to create an album, whether you want to start with the included sample pack or record your own. You can convert samples to instruments, control external devices, create simple or complex compositions, mix tracks, master, and export songs. The Mini has got you covered.

Equipped with a high-quality microphone and an onboard battery that provides up to 8 hours of playtime, the Tracker Mini enables you to instantly transform your surroundings into a musical canvas. You can create a sample pack from a camping trip or craft a drum kit from your morning commute. Store your sonic memories, get inspired, and leave the studio behind.

Projects created on the original Tracker are fully compatible with the Mini, allowing you to start a song in the studio and finish it on the go.

Tracker Mini has a complete MIDI implementation, enabling you to control any external gear or use it as part of a larger setup. For greater convenience, you can also connect it to a MIDI keyboard to input notes.

Renoise 2.5

Renoise is tracker software. What is tracker software? In simplest terms think of it as sequencing software that allows you to trigger either samples or VSTs via multiple tracks. Renoise 2.5 is taking it to the next level by allowing each step in the sequence to to do more than just trigger a sound.

via Renoise, where you'll find more detail: "Just in time for a new decade, Renoise gets an upgrade from executive suite to penthouse with a panoramic view. The Renoise Pattern Matrix, both a bird's eye view and a song editor, is the missing link that pushes Renoise's unique approach to music composition to the next level. It's the perfect companion to the "eyes on the details" appearance and capabilities of the Pattern Editor.

Renoise meta-devices (FX units that receive and transform parameters and other non-audio data) are now interconnectable across tracks. This opens the door to more modular approaches, like linking LFOs or key/audio signals all throughout your mix. Two new meta-devices round-up this "do anything" experience, giving the sound artist the freedom to connect and modulate all parameters with all others.

That's just the beginning. Vastly improved MIDI mapping, automated rendering of plugin instruments to samples, a native guitar & bass amp simulator FX, performance optimizations, GUI improvements and much more..."

Be sure to also see this CDM post for Peter Kirn's take on Renoise 2.5. He states, "imagine if you suddenly got the modulate-anything, script-anything, customize-anything, control-anything-with-anything, use OSC and MIDI and keyboards everywhere you’ve been asking for."

The following is the first user video showing Renoise Beta 2.5.

tonematrix

YouTube via patto2k

"enoise 2.5 beta test. thanks danoise for tonematrix" The following is Renoise 2.0 which should give you an idea of what the prior version can do. keith303 - stuck in the beehive - (polka/pop/trance drum&bass) renoise 2.0


YouTube via keithX303

"This is my entry for the soundevotion competition round 36 called "stuck in the beehive". (1st place) to maintain conformity to the competition rules, no VST / VSTi, midi hardware / synths were used. renoise internal fx + supplied pack of samples (few MB) only. renoise is a cute beauty, isn't it? :) more stuff: http://www.keith303.de http://www.myspace.com/k303 ps: if you like the song and are looking for a HQ mp3 version, get it here: http://www.scene.org/file.php?file=%2... pps. a cutted version of this tune has also been released at breakpoint 2009 streaming competition. (5th place"

New Superbooth Berlin 2021 Presentation Videos

You can use the controls on the bottom left or upper right of the player to skip around.

Playlist:
1. Joranalogue - SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

The Belgium Eurorack synth maker Joranalogue presented not one, but three new modules at SUPERBOOTH21: Orbit 3, Enhance 2 and Step 8.

During their Gesprächskonzert at Fuchsbau they not only talked about these new modules, but Alter Fritz also performed a live session with a Joranalogue based Eurorack system.

Driven by an unrelenting passion for analogue circuits, Joranalogue Audio Design offers an expanding series of high-quality Eurorack music synthesizer modules. They're continually introducing new approaches and techniques to the Eurorack platform, making waves in the waters of analogue synthesis. All products are designed and made in Belgium, guided by experiences in both modern hardware engineering and vintage synthesizer servicing.

This year, the Joranalogue crew finally returns to Berlin to present its latest developments. Join designer Joran van Gremberghe and artist Frits Jacobs (Alter Fritz) for a whirlwind ride through the exciting world of these black and silver modules!

2. u-he Wiretap - SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert) @SUPERBOOTH21

For this Gesprächskonzert Urs Heckmann, founder of Berlin based company u-he, teamed up with Sebastian Hübert for their performance and presentation at Fuchsbau during SUPERBOOTH21. The former one-man show u-he is now a tightly knit team of employees, active associates and 3rd-party contractors – with ambitious plans.

Famous for very accurate and widely appreciated software synthesizers and effects, u-he showed their first eurorack module at a previous edition of Superbooth – the CVilisation. At SUPERBOOTH21 it was time for another announcement. They took the chance to present their latest development with a Gesprächskonzert, of which you can find the video documentation below.
The module is named Wiretap and it played a major role in creating rhythm during their performance.

Wiretap is a double gate extractor for v/oct signals. It will generate a gate when the voltage goes high, when it goes low, when it's steady, when it moves, when it's higher than the other one and when it's lower. And you can set the gate length and get additional envelope outputs.

3. Bitwig - SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

Berlin based DAW-makers Bitwig played a Gesprächskonzert on Thursday of SUPERBOOTH21. With the idea of - Less is More - Dave Linnebank showcased Bitwig and its possibilities, concentrating on simple ideas and how to creatively make them more complex. In other words: In this performance Dave starts with some short phrases, and then uses Bitwig Studio to extend them into musical passages. These will then become performance-ready clips by adding Bitwig's Operators for some fuzzy logic, getting the computer to make compositional choices while Dave is busy playing new lines on top.

Dave Linnenbank is a musician, technologist, and teacher. Over the past 20 years, he has crafted musical tools for pop and jazz artists, Broadway musicals, and desktop electronic musicians everywhere. Dave is part of Team Bitwig in Berlin, regularly making YouTube tutorials and more.

4. Verbos Electronics Complete Systems – SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

During his Gesprächskonzert at SUPERBOOTH21 Mark Verbos is introducing the audience to the newly designed Verbos Electronics System Configurations: Designer Configuration, Performer Configuration, Producer Configuration.

Mark Verbos explains the intended use of each configuration as well as the philosophy behind not only the module selection but also module arrangement. He also plays some examples with all three system to give a musical reference to the explanation of the ideas behind each system. This Gesprächskonzert is a great opportunity to watch and hear all three configurations right next to each other – where else would that be possible? Enjoy the video!

5. Modor DR-2 - SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

Modor introduced its powerful DR-2 drum machine at SUPERBOOTH21 with a short explanation by Marcel from Modor Music about its most deviant possibilities. This six-channel drum machine is completely digital – a discipline that Modor shines in. The DR- drum synthesizer features a sequencer with 128 steps and a very tidy user interface.

It positively surprised many people when it was introduced, because it is unusual and brings something new to the table. Luckily the DR-2 is not a copy of a classic, but uses modern digital synthesis to create drum sounds. A drum model can be assigned to each of the six channels. You can also assign the same model to several or all channels. The models include: Three bass drum models, three snare models, three cymbal models, claps, two tom models and miscellaneous, the latter divided into three subcategories: rimshot, rattle and cowbell.

This Gesprächskonzert was a very welcome opportunity to hear this rare drum machine in action. Enjoy the video!

6. Polyend Tracker - SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

Sobutane presents his upcoming album Future Cake using two Trackers and one Medusa durng this Gesprächskonzert at SUPERBOOTH21.

After working with the Yamaha RM1x sequencer for 13 years Sobutane discovered the Tracker by Polyend. Originally bought just for drum parts, it revealed itself to be a great live-oriented tool, making him compose music outside his trusty RM1x for the first time in his life. Although the idea of a tracker is not particularly new, the Tracker still feels fresh and inspirational to many musicians. The Tracker brought Sobutane ideas and a new approach to composing his music, so he bought a second one and a Medusa, also made by Polyend. That was the starting point for the creation of the music you hear in his Gesprächskonzert for Polyend. Enjoy!

7. Ploytec Boom Kick - SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

This Gesprächskonzert was unusually opened with a steel-guitar performance by DobBroMan, showing the Ploytec Boom Kick (Guitar Pedal).

Ploytec always valued the opportunity of Gesprächskonzerte at Superbooth and so they took the chance to do another one in 2021 this time for a rather unusual product – a guitar pedal that generates a kick drum in sync with the tapped in tempo. Additionally it sends a MIDI clock to other gear. This is useful for simple backing of what the guitarist is playing. The addition of a bass drum completes the otherwise solo guitar and with the MIDI tempo output, other instruments can play in sync – whether these are additional drum machines or synthesizers or whatever.

And there is one special thing to note about the bass drum sound – there are no samples saved to this machine. The drum sound is generated through synthesis and it has a huge range of possible sounds, suitable for pretty much all music genres.

And if you haven’t heard the Superbooth blues yet, watch until the end!

8. LPZW & Tubbutec - SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

Kai and Tobi (aka LPZW & Tubbutec) probably could have sold every second SUPERBOOTH21 guest a 6mod6, that's how well their first joint product was received. At Fuchsbau the Berlin based manufacturers presented the result of their collaboration: a highly modified homage to the 606.

They were accompanied by an opening performance from Cem Oral a.k.a. Jammin’ Unit in which he used the new module intensively, giving a good idea about what the module sounds like in a musical context.

After the performance Kai and Tobi walked the audience through every sound engine of the module and showed their modifications of the original 606 circuits. Not only with the Gesprächskonzert, they convinced a lot of people that they created a great sounding and very versatile 606 inspired drum module.

Now the wait begins, the first batch of the 6mod6 still has to be built. Let's hope that the chip shortage does not delay the production too much.

9. Erica Synths PĒRKONS - SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

Erica Synths team of engineers and musicians have been working hard to bring surprise us all with a new instrument that no one expected and everyone wanted. Erica Synths had their booth completely dedicated to their latest product the PĒRKONS HD-01 drum machine.

PĒRKONS features four sonically versatile hybrid voices (digital sound engine + analogue multimode filter with overdrive) and a sequencer with simultaneous control over all four percussion tracks, an internal analogue BBD FX send, parameter automation and much more. This is a modern drum machine with a serious vintage look.

For their Gesprächskonzert they brought not one, but two of these machines and finally explained it and showed what it is capable of. For everyone’s surprise, the demo started with a drone set – yes, it can also do drones. And for the final concert part of this presentation, no other than Kodek entered the stage. Sounds fun? Enjoy the video!

10. Nonlinear Labs C15 – SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

Stephan Schmitt, the founder of Nonlinear Labs, plays some improvisations on the C15 and shows the enormous tonal possibilities of this instrument and its ability to be played very expressively – with up to four expression pedals and the two large ribbon controllers. The C15 is a puristic and distinct digital synthesizer. Its sounds are generated by elementary algorithms and feedback structures. This opens up new fields for sound design and gives musicians an expressively playable and dynamical behavior, similar to acoustic instruments. The C15 is an instrument that has to be played by hand to unfold its full potential. After the performance Stephan explains what features are new and which special features of the C15 he used.

This isn’t the first Gesprächskonzert by Nonlinear Labs, so be sure to check out the previous editions for more information about this unique instrument.

11. Haken Audio & La Voix du Luthier – SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

Haken Audio and La Voix du Luthier have been presenting together at Superbooth for several years now, showing how well these two companies and their products fit together. This Gesprächskonzert features a Haken Continuum, the all-new Continuum Eurorack Module and the large Pyramid Resonator.
Watch Edmund Eagan passionately talk about his products and enjoy the demonstration and performance of the Continuum Fingerboard by Rob Schwimmer.

The almighty synthesis engine behind all these sounds is the Eagan Matrix, that now is also featured in the Eurorack module. This is a huge opportunity for sound designers and artists to expand their sound palette with very expressive and unique sounds.

12. UDO Audio Super 6 Desktop - SUPERBOOTH21 Gesprächskonzert (lecture concert)

UDO Audio brought the world one of the most interesting poly-synths of the recent years. Very rarely a company achieves such a success with their first ever product – but the Super 6 made it. Now UDO Audio showed the desktop version of this incredible synth. Great looks, ergonomics and the sound of the original Super 6 make this machine a very interesting option for many musicians and studios on the hunt for a capable poly-synth.

In this video George gives a little insight into the development of the company in general and his view on the past two years, since he presented the Super 6 to the world at SUPERBOOTH19.

XILS 3LE EMS VCS3 Soft Synth

via this auction
"The XILS 3 is a virtual instrument based on the of the architecture of the EMS VCS3* matrix-based modular synthesizer.

Matrix connection brings modularity and sound design to a new dimension. More than 450 connections (audio signal, controls signal, trig signals) are available on the XILS 3, much more than any other type of modular synthesizer!

Easy to connect, easy to modify, easy to see, the matrix is far and away the easiest way to connect modules to each other.

But a connection matrix would be nothing without modules to connect! XILS 3 boasts alias free, warm sounding analog style oscillators, analog curve matching, 2 pole and self-oscillating 4 pole dynamic filters, fast envelopes, a noise generator, a spring reverb, and a ring modulator.

approach to sound design, the XILS 3’s matrix and the sequencer get their own presets, providing the user with flexible sound management options.

Although the XILS 3 is an instrument, you can also use it as a powerful and versatile effects processor. Two mono inputs can be modified, modulated, or used as modulator source or trig source, thanks to four input modules: gate, envelope follower, pitch tracker and transient tracker.

* Xil-Labs is in no way affiliated with EMS (Electronic Music Studios)
* Three alias-free oscillators with sine, ramp, square, triangle waveshapes.
* One 2/4 poles low pass filter
* One envelope, based on two different designs, trapezoid and ADSR
* One spring reverb
* One ring modulator
* One 128 steps sequencer
* two output static filters
* One joystick
* Three connection matrix
* One input gate
* One input envelope follower
* One pitch tracker
* One transient tracker
* Mono/Unison/Polyphonic playing mode, up to 18 voices of polyphony
* all parameters MIDI controllable
* Many presets made by famous sound designers (Kevin Lamb, Chris Pitman, Cliff Douse, to name but a few )

This is an audioMIDI.com Special Edition of Xils-Lab XILS 3; the full version upgrade adds the following extra features:

• filter enhancement with a self-oscillating 18db/oct three-pole filter (this is the type of filter
used in the original VCS 3 synthesizer that XILS 3 is based upon)
• driving sound possibilities with an analog modeled distortion adds to the output stage
• oscillator hard sync
• various enhancements of the sequencer features (a "playlist" of existing patterns)
• various enhancements of the preset management for better preset browsing and sorting

Warning : the XILS 3 is not a stand alone application, but a plug-in to be inserted into a music software application.

The XILS 3 is available in the following formats :
* Mac OSX 10.3.9 and later : VST, Audio Unit, RTAS (Protools 7.0 and later)
* Windows XP and Vista ; VST, RTAS (Protools 7.0 and later)

NOTE: Along with the XILS 3 virtual instrument, the installer will install an iLok extension. This is because XILS 3 makes use of a "soft" iLok license, but you do not need a physical iLok key to install and use XILS 3. This will not effect existing iLok devices or associated software. You will not need to do any additional registration procedures- as soon as your serial number is sent, simply enter it the first time XILS 3 is opened."

Radio Noise - old school 4 tracker. Precursor to the Polyend Tracker?

video upload by Aisjam

"Picked up this machine at a local local garage sale. The owner said he picked up in the 90s and it was not working. Poking around and fixing the power board, it fired up and it turned out to be a tracker sampler. Looks very similar to a modern tracker?"

If only, according to the video: "This one was is blender magic ;)."

Blender is a free open-source 3D computer graphics software.

Superbooth 20HE: Polyend Tracker With The Designers

Published on Apr 25, 2020 sonicstate

"Polyend made a splash with Tracker a few weeks back, we have seen it all over the internet but haven’t actually spoken to the Polyend guys about the development of the unit. We were keen to get Piotr on the end of a skype call to discuss the instrument.

Piotr gave us a walkthrough of a demo that was prepared ahead of time to demonstrate some of the capabilities of Tracker. Tracker is an 8 track sequencer, sampler and synthesizer. Originally trackers were the love child of early software samplers. As they were dealing with such small memory they used lots of sequencing tricks to get around the lack of memory."

SunVox Tracker Basics

Published on Mar 18, 2020 boxoftextures

"SunVox has been around for a long time on practically every platform. Heck, they even have a Palm Pilot version if that's what you need. I did this video on my iPad Pro but I could have just as easily done it with the Mac version, say, as they're basically identical.

This is a First Contact™ video. The app's not at all new but this is the first time I've really delved into it. In other words, please forgive me if I missed something truly obvious. Definitely looking forward to digging in deeper.

I really only touched the tracker parts of the app, and only one pattern, but there's a lot more to it than that. There are several synthesizer modules, and you can also make complex arrangements on the fly by making multiple patterns. You can add bits of randomness and uncertainty as well in order to make things perhaps more organic or maybe even self-playing possibly, although to be honest I've only barely scratched the surface and not gotten anywhere near those things yet.

I made this video mostly as a very basic demo for folks who've never seen a tracker before, or were wondering how one might be different from a sequencer. The simple answer is that a tracker is perhaps "lighter" than a sequencer in that you can do everything in it just by typing things in on your keyboard. You could just as easily do what I did on an iPhone while waiting for a bus rather than at home on an iPad or a computer, and that's kind of the point. Heck, you could probably do it just as easily on a Game Boy maybe. Not going to give up my laptop or my regular software, but I can actually do music on the fly on my phone at a moment's notice, and that definitely has value.

You can find me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/selgart
I also have a Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/boxoftextures

SunVox is at https://www.warmplace.ru/soft/sunvox/
The SunVox iPad/iPhone app is at https://apps.apple.com/app/sunvox/id3..."

Renoise Tracker

"Renoise is the next generation of music tracker software, combining studio quality sound and virtually infinite expandability with a clear and concise interface putting every parameter and option literally at your fingertips!"

Title link takes you there. See this post for an album made with nothing but Renoise.

XILS-lab breathes virtual life into prototyped EMS VCS4 analogue matrix modular monster

"'XILS 4: a life-changing tool... absolutely 100 percent indispensable modular heaven!'

- Anthony J. Resta (record producer and multi-instrumentalist)

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software company XILS-lab is proud to announce availability of XILS 4 — an authentic software emulation of the legendary VCS4, a ‘dual VCS3’ analogue matrix modular synthesizer prototyped by EMS back in 1969, but never commercially released — as of May 19...

EMS (Electronic Music Studios), a British company founded by the pioneering Peter Zinovieff, made musical history in 1969 with its introduction of the VCS3, the first portable synthesizer commercially available anywhere in the world. Its innovative modular matrix-based patchboard dispensed with the telephone exchange-like cabling of other (much larger) modular systems in favour of making connections with (removable) coloured pins, so it could be comfortably housed in a small wooden (solid afrormosia) cabinet.

Needless to say, the (hi)story of the EMS VCS3 is well documented, with XILS-lab later playing its part in resurrecting its still-sought-after sound with its cost-conscious and award-winning XILS 3 software emulation for Mac (OS X 10.4 and above) and PC (Windows 7, Vista, and XP) proving popular with both first-time buyers beginning a wonderfully in-depth journey into the wonderful world of modular synthesis and also seasoned synth explorers, including renowned sound designer Richard Devine and original VCS3 aficionado Tim Blake (Hawkwind), and even Peter Zinovieff himself, who commented kindly: “A great step forward!”

Not so well documented, though, is the stuff of legend: the 1969-vintage VCS4 was EMS designer David Cockerell’s so-called ‘Live Performance Module’, comprising two VCS3s sat side by side, together with a five-octave keyboard, a mixer, and a signal-processing unit, all housed in a single wooden cabinet. Only one prototype was ever produced, its ear-opening sounds lost in the sands of time... until now, that is!

By being based on two intricate and interacting VCS3 (‘Synthi’) cores — following in the fanciful footsteps of its one-off analogue ancestor to a tee, XILS-lab’s XILS 4 favourably emulates EMS’ VCS4. Indeed, those two cores can be set to work side by side or operate in serial (with one feeding the other). Each and every module on one side can be used to modulate or feed anything on the other side with stunning sound possibilities plus weird and wonderful effects readily available in abundance as a direct result. That said, XILS 4 shows its true 21st Century colours by also allowing amount settings to be individually applied to each patch ‘pin’. Providing patchboard power par excellence to an already special soft synth shows that there is clearly so much more to XILS 4 than solely emulating vintage hardware — rare as the vintage hardware in question clearly is. Little wonder, then, that XILS 4 is billed by its creator as being the Ultimate Analog Matrix Modular Synthesizer!

XILS-lab has sought to take things severals steps further still by coupling those cores with the SEQUENCER 256 module, inspired by EMS’ trailblazing Synthi Sequencer 256 namesake. Needless to say, this three-layer sequencer with analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters to enable digital processing of control voltages to drive multiple analogue synthesizers or multiple parameters with storage of up to 256 ‘events’ was well ahead of its time when released in 1971. Here in the virtual world, XILS-lab has well and truly transported it to the present day with three independent layers, slew rates, and recording modes, together with added abilities like sequencer layers acting as modulation sources in a dedicated SEQ MATRIX — matchless, even by today’s most sophisticated DAW standards!

So is that all? No, not at all! Adding a second ‘pin matrix’, two additional envelopes, an LFO, comprehensive SAMPLE AND HOLD module, and VOLTAGE PROCESSOR, plus several new input modules — including GATE, ENVELOPE FOLLOWER, and PITCH TRACKER — means that there are hundreds of additional connections available to the discerning synthesist set on exploring XILS 4 to the full as a superlative soft synth or as a powerful effects processor plug-in in its own right. The fact that there are over 1,140 possible connections per patch makes for a literal lifetime of programming possibilities that will surely far outlast the host computer concerned, though those in need of a helping hand have easy access to almost 700 professionally-programmed presets from world-renowned sound designers, including the complete XILS 3 factory library and over 350 presets specifically designed for XILS 4. A selection of tutorial-style patches are also available to help users seeking to take their first tentative steps towards scaling the heady heights of this mountainous modular monster of a soft synth!

Simply put, with a whole host of modules and associated far-reaching functionality — for starters, 12 aliasing-free oscillators, grouped in six pairs with wave-shaping and hard sync — yesteryear’s impossibilities have become today’s possibilities with XILS 4... a great step forward, indeed! A giant leap for modular synthesis software, some might say.


XILS 4 is available to purchase as an eLicenser or iLok copy-protected virtual instrument and effects plug-in for an introductory discounted price of €149.00 EUR (rising to €179.00 EUR on June 17, 2014) from the XILS-lab web store here: http://www.xils-lab.com/pages/STORE.html (Note that this time-limited offer also includes the XILISTICS sound bank with 160-plus presets worth €25.00 EUR, plus a free USB-eLicenser copy-protection dongle!)

XILS 3 owners can upgrade to XILS 4 for an introductory price of €29.00 EUR (rising to €49.00 EUR on June 17, 2014). XILS 4 can be directly downloaded as a 32- and 64-bit-compatible virtual instrument and effects plug-in for Mac (AAX, AU, RTAS, VST) and Windows (AAX, RTAS, VST) from here: http://www.xils-lab.com/pages/XILS4_Download.html

Check out several informative XILS 4 tutorial videos here: http://www.xils-lab.com/pages/XILS4_Videos.html"

trkr_Trm - Upcoming Portable Hardware Groovebox Tracker

video upload by hinick



trkr_Trm is a new 64bit real-time tracker/groovebox that runs on the Linux.

The following are some details in via the creator, hi_nick aka hihihihinick.

"The device is implicitly designed for hosting Renoise, but as shown can be used for many other ARM64 based programs. Even the well loved headless M8 tracker. I wanted to make something that was just as fun and musically useful as some of the other retail offerings but following the tenants of open source hardware and software so anyone can roll their own. The demo is of the v1 t prototype, and there is still much to be done, but at present, I'm up to prototype v3. The focus presently is completion of the design for the main board which will serve as a carrier for Raspberry Pi compute modules, or offerings from other companies that use the compute module form factor. This carrier board ideally could be used for other purposes than the trkr_Trm, that require audio i/o, and modular connections to peripheral devices.

The goal is to have everything, including build guides, hardware, and software repositories live upon completion of a crowd funding campaign. Pre-built units for those who just want to 'get to cookin' will be available if all goes to plan during and post funding."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Legowelt - Studio Tour

Published on Apr 2, 2014 Future Music Magazine·411 videos

"FM head to The Hague in The Netherlands to visit the two synth-packed studios of Legowelt.

CREDITS
Producer: Chris Barker
Editor: Keir Doherty
Videographer: Will Seelig
Videographer: keir Doherty"

Commodore Amiga at 12:54 with OctaMED tracker software.

cTrix- Live @ The Blip Festival 2009 Open Mic

YouTube via littlescale. Think tracker software for the Nintendo Gameboy.
"cTrix- Live @ The Blip Festival 2009 Open Mic"

Ten Thousand Free Men And Their Families - Live @ The Blip Festival 2009 Open Mic


Fenris (Maddest Kings Alive, Ninjaspew) - Live @ The Blip Festival 2009 Open Mic

ASID player using real C64 (Ode to 64 by Søren Lund) Station64

video upload by Avrilcadabra

"This is not my music. Though this video needs to be on the internet.

lot of this stuff is so niche or lost it just doesn't exist on youtube. it's not really what I usually do on this channel but if not me who else is going to do it.

So what's going on here. The Software on the Laptop is from Elektron's download page for the SID station. it is an ASID player. Basically you load a sid file into it and it sends that data via midi cables (not midi protocol)

so the Sidstation..Midibox sid. (I think Hardsid) can support ASID. probably others. DJ Indikator wanted a way for a real commodore 64 to be compatible with ASID so in recent years they made Station64 which is a full midi native c64 software but it amazing supports ASID. http://www.djindikator.net/c64/

The Elektron software doesn't know what it is sending to. So the c64 is playing it on its 6581r4ar into my mixer. into the little M8 tracker which is being an audio interface for my phone so this video has direct audio.

I was so happy to get this working. had to share. Also more people that hear Ode to 64 the better."

Bad Gear - Polyend Tracker

video upload by AudioPilz

00:00 Intro tune
01:31 Trackers in general
02:31 Overview
05:58 Hate
06:22 Jam 1
07:12 Jam 2
08:19 Finale
08:50 Verdict

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Polyend Tracker. Is this hardware take on the ancient software-based music production technique yet another hipster toy???

Thanks to Polyend for sending me a Tracker as a long term loan."

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

NerdSEQ 'More Triggers 16' Expander

Published on Apr 15, 2019 XOR Electronics

"A small introduction into the new 'More Triggers 16' expander for the NerdSEQ Eurorack sequencer.It adds 16 more Trigger/Gate outputs which are totally integrated into the sequencer."

"NerdSEQ is an 8–track Eurorack sequencer with a rich feature set, allowing you to sequence modules or MIDI compatible gear, put probabilities on probabilities, generate randomness (or, on the contrary, create and effortlessly save rigid song structures), upload & sequence samples and much more.

This software update is a major one as it elaborates on NerdSEQ’s many key capabilities and adds plenty more fun and flexibility – it is now possible to use its effective tracker–style workflow to sequence all of your external MIDI gear with per–track 4 voice polyphony across all channels. CC messages, Aftertouch, Pitchbend, Program change and NRPN are all accessible as well, and the imaginary cherry on top is that most of this can be manipulated by NerdSEQ’s Automations engine – meaning you can use its internal LFOs or external CVs for all sorts of crazy modulations and breathe some new life into your old rack synths collecting dust. All of this can be achieved with the MIDI I/O expansion.

All of this MIDI freakiness is just the start though – also out with this update is the ‘MORE TRIGGERS 16’ expander, offering 16 additional trigger/gate outs, chainable to up to 4 units/64 outputs, enough to trigger your room. On the software side, this means a super effective and simple drum matrix screen has been added and you can now set each of the six tracks per your preference – to modular, MIDI or trigger mode. The 2 sample tracks are fixed. More expanders are soon to follow, the closest one being ‘MORE CVS 16’ – we’ll let you figure out what will that one do on your own.

While these are the two most exciting and visible updates, there’s plenty more additions and improvements to the UI and functionality – color coding for tracks, track tempo dividers/multipliers and overall improvements in performance.

This free firmware update is now available on the XOR Electronics website and the More Triggers 16 expander available through its web shop and select dealers."

SunVox - Multiplatform Modular Music Creation Studio

"SunVox is a small, simple, fast and powerful program for music creation, based on modular synths and tracker-like interface. (Detailed info about music trackers is here)

SunVox is Based on parts of the PsyTexx tracker, the PsyTexxSynth engine and the SunDog engine.

Examples of use:
* composing music on PDA;
* music for games;
* "chip tunes" (sunvox tunes can be very small; for example - 30 kBytes (unpacked) or 2 kBytes (when packed to ZIP)).

Main features:
* Modular interface.
* Highly optimized synth algorithmes.
* Flexible architecture: SunVox can working on variuos devices. For example: PDA with slow CPU - 16bit sound (fixed point arithmetic); or big PC with powerfull CPU: 32bit sound (floating point arithmetic).
* SunVox engine (without GUI) is open source and distributed under the terms of BSD license.
* Built-in synthesizers: Generator (saw,triangle,square,noise waveforms); Flanger; Echo; Distortion; Filter (Low-pass, High-pass, Band-pass, Notch); Kicker; Sampler (supported formats: WAV, XI); SpectraVoice (FFT-based synth for analog-like pads); Loop.
* Supported platforms: Windows, Linux, PalmOS, WindowsCE.
* Export to WAV.

What is different between the SunVox and another music editors?
* SunVox has simple and useful interface.
* SunVox is small and very flexible. It can be ported on any device.
* SunVox engine (player and modular synthesizers) is open source software.
* Each music pattern has its own graphic icon (instead of name)."

Click here for more info. via Peter.

Arguru, Fruity Loops Creator Dies in Accident

Sad day. Condolences to everyone close to him.

Translated via hispasonic.com:
"Arguru, virtual programmer of Image Line (FL Studio) and creator of sintes of DiscoDSP, passed away yesterday near Benalmádena (Malaga), in a car accident.

Yesterday Sunday 3 of June, to 18:45 hours, the car of Juan Antonio [left the road] in the AP-7, near Benalmádena (Malaga), despeñando themselves and ending its life. Its burial was celebrated Monday to 17:30 today, in the park cemetery of Malaga, company of its relatives and friends more close friends.

Arguru was [hispasónico nº 2,751], one of most veteran. He was [sworn of IV the Musical Battles], celebrated in the spring of 2004, and many moments, active participant of our forums.

But mainly,] the 19 of July of 2002, George was known to found the company [DiscoDSP along with Real. DiscoDSP is the person in charge of sintes as famous as [Discovery] and Vertigo. In [December of year 2002] we already gave account of one of his first products, NightShine.

Arguru was a great professional, who called the attention by the quality of his creations. Sintes of DiscoDSP is surely the perfected and powerful virtual instruments more of the market, without concessions in quality of sound.

The community to tracker will have without a doubt a great memory of Arguru thanks to [Aodix], secuenciador-tracker very powerful, that incorporated professional MIDI, support VST and other characteristics. ] Was also an important component of [Smartelectronix and the scene [Buzz].

In 2004,], the creative company of the famous FL Studio left DiscoDSP to give to the jump to [Image Line. Arguru had a great implication in the development of FL Studio 7; it created in addition sampler Directwave, and very recent [Deckadance], a software for DJs.

He was referring an absolute one of the small group of Spaniards who dedicate themselves professionally to the musical technology. Some we already remembered to him from the excited ones to char them of IRC-Hispanic. Arguru always emphasized by its seriousness and the deep knowledge of the synthesis and the programming.

A great loss, to an age in which nobody would have to leave this world. From we give to many spirits to family and friends him, and left to a sense memory for the brilliant Arguru here, to which we will never forget in Hispasonic."

via sequencer.de.

Syntrax - Free Mobile Music Studio

"Meet Syntrax, the long awaited sequel to Jaytrax, the first software synthesizer and sequencer on the PocketPC. It has all the modern musician wants when away from the studio! A sequencer, sound synthesis and sample editor all wrapped up in a nice little package! Syntrax runs on Symbian devices as well as the PocketPC. Syntrax is the first and only professional music package for the mobile phone. Syntrax is packed with all the professional features you might expect from a mobile music studio. This includes MIDI support, a sequencer, sample editing, software synthesizer, realtime echoes, morphing etc."

This was sent in by Stefan who had the following to say about it: "It's a free tracker with (unique) softsynth for running on a PDA or Smartphone. i did some demos for it in 2001 already. It's mega cool fun playing around with. (great for killing time in public transport)" Syntrax website. Samples.

300+ Wavetable Pack for Novation Peak, Summit, Polyend Tracker, Samplers

Published on May 31, 2020 True Cuckoo

"Download pack in my online store at: http://store.truecuckoo.com
This pack of over 300 wavetables is made especially for Novation Peak and Summit, and the Polyend Tracker. The snippets of waves will be useful for samplers such as Digitakt, and wavetable software too. I've designed and sampled custom patches on the Sega Megadrive (Genesis), Nintendo 8-bit, Super Nintendo, the SID chip, and some speech synthesis. All in all over 300 individual wavetables. I've collected them in groups"