Phonicbloom introduces Loopstyler, A Powerful Pocket Synthesizer
Phonicbloom Loopstyler is a pocket synthesizer, sampler and looper that you can play like a Stylophone. And, you can play it with a headphone jack…
Phonicbloom makes some creative looking music gear, including a ‘tuneable electronic tongue drum’ (called Wing Drum) and Glo, the Polyphonic Whale, which is an ambient music producer that utilises environmental sounds around you. The company’s latest device is Loopstyler, which you can play like a classic Stylophone.
Loopstyler is a powerful pocket synth and sampler with 32 notes of polyphony, sampling, multitrack sequencing and looping. It fits in your pocket, plays like a Stylophone. It is capable of running multiple sound engines and effects at once. You can use it as a tape looper, or program with a multitrack sequencer.
Phonicbloom even claims it is also an audio interface and MIDI controller, making it pretty much everything we can imagine in one pocket-sized unit. What more could we want?
Loopstyler manages to cram in several sound engines including FM, Karplus‑Strong, granular and subtractive synthesis. But if these are not enough, just sample in your own sounds and max out the supplied SD card. It also includes effects, and these can be added per voice or globally.
There are four play modes (Easy Play, Tape Loop, Multitrack Sequencer, Expert Programming) on Loopstyler. Easy Play enables you select a sound from the ‘vast’ library, choose a scale and play the device like a Stylophone. Tape Loop sounds very interesting as you can loop recorded samples, and control playback using an accelerometer and a light sensor.
The third mode is the multitrack sequencer where you build a track note by note and across multiple tracks using internal sounds or sampled sources. And, finally, you probably have to be an advanced user to fully exploit ‘Expert Programming’, where you can sequence, arpeggiate, modulate, and more. The extensive manual is recommended for this one.
Loopstyler is available to preorders now price at €175 plus tax, likely to be ready in two to three months.
More info on Phonicbloom website.
