Image Credit: Synth Anatomy

Sonicware has revealed the SmplTrek, a portable sampler for music production. It’s a handheld groove box that lovers of the Roland SP-404 and its recent MKII may find interesting.

Sonicware is a developer with a reputation for building interesting grooveboxes like Bass&Beats and 8bit Warps. Now, though, Sonicware is taking a slightly different approach to its previous groove adventures. Introducing the SmplTrek Portable Production Sampler.

SmplTrek Portable Production Sampler

As the name suggests, it’s a portable sampler. For example, you can record straight into the device with its built-in frontal microphone. Alternatively, you can record samples straight from your smartphone, tablet, or PC. And recording is possible with the touch of a button!

You’ll notice the square, vector-style screen. In addition to the visual aid that screens always provide, the interface itself is pretty interesting. It’s been built to be held with both hands while you use your thumbs to navigate its features. This screams back to the early 2000s when Gameboys were all the rage! This design allows us to hold it comfortably while jumping straight in with its sampling & song-writing potential.

SmplTrek auto-slices samples and maps them across its 15 velocity-sensitive pads. Furthermore, editing tools like time-stretching are available too. Additionally, you can resample all of your samples, run them through 30 internal effects, and repeat that process too! The SmplTrek is actually a multitrack recording device too. To illustrate, you can record up to 3 audio tracks in parallel to your sequenced track. Plug a synth, microphone, or another instrument signal in and record straight away…

But the recording engine inside the SmplTrek is unlike what you’re likely expecting. For example, you can apply emphasis in contrasting ways on each track, and set what are essentially different modes for each track too.

The interface off the SmplTrek features a square, vector-style screen. In addition to the visual aid that screens always provide, the interface itself is pretty interesting. It

One track can be a Loop Track, where the audio on that track simply loops, and a second track can be a Shots Track for single one-shots. But, more specifically, other modes include a Drum Track step sequencer, an Instrument Track piano roll, and a MIDI Track for external instruments! The levels of versatility are pretty high, right?

To conclude, you can stack each of these sequences on top of one another up into scenes and make a whole song. Your recorded audio runs alongside any sequences you create. You can record multiple takes of an audio source and splice them together for that perfect final audio.

Out of the box, the hardware comes with a bank of 500 samples for you to jump straight in with. However, you can add more samples with an SD card.

Let’s talk about the SmplTrek Groovebox

In addition to its sampling capabilities, the SmplTrek is a groove box. It features 10 sequencer tracks for you to program sample-based music, and you can link 16 “scenes” into songs. If you’re familiar with how Native Instruments’ Machines software works, you’ll be right at home.

As we mentioned, the pads are velocity-sensitive. They function both as drum pads and as a keyboard, and above them sit numbered buttons that provide quick access to the 16 scenes of your song. Furthermore, a console controller-style direction pad allows you to navigate controls and menu options.

SmplTrek streaming capabilities

You can use the SmplTrek for live streaming too! Its USB port can act as an output and send audio to your computer/smartphone and stream your performance directly online via Twitch, OBS, etc. In contrast, you can stream a pre-sequenced and finished track online in the same way – just without the performance side of it.

On Kickstarter, Sonicware has cleared its goal of £31,000 and has raised over £268,000. Due to already meeting their goal, any project backers on Kickstarter should start receiving their units in September.