CHOMPI, New Keyboard promises to make Sampling Fun

Chompi is a super-cute sampler that was inspired by the Casio SK-1.

The creators of CHOMPI – a new sampling keyboard that’s designed to make musique concrète style audio manipulation fast and fun – shared this sneak preview of the portable sampler.

As the video demonstrates, CHOMPI is designed to make it easy to sample sounds and play them back, using the built-in keyboard.

Chompi is a new “magical” hardware sampler and looper that looks to prioritise personality and playability over a lengthy spec list. With its cute carry handle and big-buttoned interface, it is giving us strong ‘My First Electronic Instrument’ vibes, but might also be capable of charming more mature and experienced musicians, as well.

Built on the open-source Electro-Smith Daisy platform, Chompi puts the focus on a simple sample-based workflow that is designed to encourage experimentation. Hit the record button and you can immediately capture a sound via the built-in mic, and this is automatically mapped across the two-octave mechanical keyboard.

The interface provides big, dedicated controls for sampling, pitch, sample editing and effects. CHOMPI also features a looper, so you can record phrases and play over them, and even overdub layers.

Chompi offers seven voices of polyphony and gives you 14 preset slots. You can adjust the sample start/end point, there’s an AD envelope, and the playback speed and direction of the sample can be controlled, as well. The multi-FX section is all on one knob, and provides a multimode filter, lo-fi saturation, a granular delay-reverb and more.

Recordings can be made using the tape-style stereo looper, which enables you to overdub sounds as many times as you like. The transport knob controls tape scrubbing, loop playback speed/direction and other features that are apparently waiting to be discovered.


As you can see, Chompi has no screen, but RGB LED indicators and endless switching encoders give you multi-page parameter control. The MX Cherry switches on the hot-swap enabled keyboard can be replaced and customised as you wish, and the Chompi is said to be built to last.

USB-C powering means that it is also portable – assuming you have a power bank – while other connectivity includes stereo aux I/O, a headphone socket and MIDI I/O (all on 3.5mm jacks). Your samples are stored on a micro SD card.

Features:

  • Flexible hardware platform
    • Built on the powerful Daisy platform (by Electro-Smith) unlocking easy firmware updates, and flexible programmability options.
    • Screenless workflow, w/ RGB LED indicators & endless switching encoders for multi-page parameter controls
    • Utilizes the widely popular MX Cherry switches for its Hot-Swap enabled, two octave keyboard (switches & keycaps are infinitely customizable)
    • Custom Panel Enclosure allows for limited edition colorways (artist series already in the works)
    • Custom made BOBO Keycaps
  • Quirky sampling Engine
    • Unique Sampling Workflow Encourages User Exploration
    • 7 Voice Polyphony
    • 14 Slots to Save/Recall Presets
    • Sample Playback Speed & Direction Controls
    • Sample Start & End Point Controls (w/ Additional Attack + Decay Envelope)
    • Single Knob Multi-FX Section (Multi-Mode Filter, Lo-Fi Saturation, Granular Delay-Reverb, & More)
  • Tape-Style Looper
    • Sound-on-sound stereo looping engine
    • Transport knob provides control over: Manual Tape Scrubbing, Loop Playback Speed / Direction, as well as other additional ‘easter eggs’ to be found by advanced users

Chompi is said to have been inspired by portable old-school keyboards such as the Casio SK-1.

The developers will be making CHOMPI available via a Kickstarter project launching later this month, priced at $499 for backers (normally $599). Find out more info on the CHOMPI website.

via Petros, Goudron

Das Keyboard 6 Professional - Begin to enjoy your modern workday.

Dr.Fone V13 One-Stop Complete Mobile Solution

Wondershare RecoveritData Recovery

Exclusive Education Savings for Wondershare

Sam Ash $50 Gift Certificate Offer

Save an Extra 12% Gear $499 & Up: Use Code TREE

Pro Desktop Microphone: Save 50% With Code CREATE

Sam Ash Deals Shop: Save Up to 60% on Musical Instruments and Pro Sound Equipment

Great deals on Live Sound and Lighting gear. Microphones, speakers, mixers and more. Fast, free shipping.

Great deals on Recording Gear. Interfaces, headphones, monitors and more. Fast, free shipping.

Great deals on DJ and Production Gear. Fast, free shipping.

Sam Ash Music Flash Deals: Special Discounts on Musical Instruments & Music Studio Gear

Shop Used Musical Instruments, Used Guitars, Used Drums, Used Pianos, Used Pro Audio Gear, Used DJ Equipment

Samson Recording Headphones: Save Up to 70%

ARC Studio - Make any studio monitors sound better

ARC 4 - Mix faster and more confidently than ever

MODO BOGO sale

T-RackS singles €/$29.99 sale

AmpliTube 5 €/$49.99 sale

€/$39.99 AmpliTube Collections

T-RackS 5 €/$49.99 - 22 mixing & mastering plugins

Up to 50% off Total Studio 4 MAX complete music production software bundle

TONEX ODS Legends Signature Collection

Pianoverse NY Grand S274

Pianoverse Black Diamond B280

Pianoverse Royal Upright Y5

Pianoverse Concert Grand YF3

Pianoverse piano virtual instrument

UNO Synth true analog synthesizer - ultra-portable and ultra-affordable

iRig HD X

iRig USB mobile audio interface for guitar & bass

UNO Synth Pro X Paraphonic dual filter analog synthesizer

 


Leave a comment

Name: (Required)

eMail: (Required)

Website:

Comment: