At SynthPlex 2019, 1010music introduced Blackbox – a standalone, touchscreen sampling music workstation. We talked with designer Aaron Higgins, who gave us an overview of Blackbox.
Blackbox is a portable sampler and groovebox that lets you record, save/load, apply effects and edit one-shot samples and beat-sliced loops. You can create sequences with samples by tapping on pads, playing a virtual keyboard, using external MIDI controllers or by drawing-in notes using a standard Piano Roll editor on a touchscreen interface.
Sequences can be played back to create song sections and entire compositions. You can finish your song by mixing it, adding stereo effects.
You can record hours of song ideas, jam sessions, and performances thanks to a microSD slot that enables you to expand internal memory.
Blackbox comes with gigabytes of premium samples and loops by SoundTrack Loops and Loopmasters to let you start making beats right out of the …box. Here’s an intro from SoundTrack Loops’ Jason Donnelly:
Features:
- Record/edit samples and sequences to create songs via a fast, intuitive touchscreen interface.
- Expandable microSD memory slot for importing WAVs, hours of audio recording/playback time and saving samples and Presets.
- Combine loops with different tempos using built-in BPM synchronization and beat-slicing.
- Play one-shot samples and loops from pads and/or a virtual keyboard.
- Create and edit sequences using a standard Piano Roll interface.
- Connect external hardware via USB to expand performance and control capabilities.
- Make music anywhere thanks to a compact and nearly indestructible design.
- Includes a sound library of beat packs with loops and one-shots by SoundTrack Loops and Loopmasters.
- Input/output connectors to easily integrate with other studio and live sound tools: MIDI IO and Clock via USB and TRS, one 1/8” Audio In, three 1/8” Audio Outs plus a 1/8” Headphone/Stereo Output and USB power.
Pricing and Availability
Blackbox is available in limited quantities now for US $599. Full production units are expected in May 2019.
I’ve been waiting for a small sampler in this scale for a while. Some questions still remain though. It seems like a Digitakt, Circuit type box so will it grow to be more than just a sequenced groove box? I could see myself using a bigger keyboard hooked to this as the keys page looks too small for my hands. Also, running a show and possibly sending a click track to the drummer with one of the outs. It doesn’t look like it has multi-sampling, so is there a plan to have that? I ask this because I wan’t to play more complex sounds from many types of VST, Analogue synths, and acoustic sources by sampling in the traditional sense. I want to avoid lugging a laptop around and map my sounds properly so they don’t sound transposed. Also it usually sounds great when you can layer or vary the sounds of drums based on velocity. Deluge and MPC Live have multi-sampling, so I hope it’s in the works for a future update.
What are the MIDI specs? Can it send MIDI to sequence external gear? Is that coming? Does it quantize sequence/song section selections? Can you control volume/panning via MIDI? Will it have a VA synth engine like other similar boxes? I guess I’ll wait a bit to find out. I think it’s great to see a sampler/sequencer this size though. Nice to see a move from big rompler workstation keys and laptops with a DAC. I’m eying the Deluge as a possible solution also. Would be nice to have an all-out sampler in this size that could emulate E-MU, Akai, type sound. I will have to try this Blackbox out at some point. It does seem quite a hot temptation…
Finally a current standalone affordable priced loadable sampler module 😀 nice one
I learnt that this can operate as 6 mono audio outs.The outs are stereo pairs. Hope to pick one up when they arrive in England.
Anyone else a fan of the UI? To me looks like a sampler running windows 3.1
No, agreed. OK for boutique but I feel no desire to repeat the technological pain of the 1990s.
I need this asap.
a groovebox for ants? It has to be at least 3 times bigger than this
Damn, out of stock. that was quick.
Looking forward to see more about this sampler. Looks perfect for a small setup.