Polyend has introduced Tracker Mini Firmware 2.0, a major update that offers many new features that transform the Tracker Mini workflow.
The firmware update is Polyend’s most extensive to date. The company says that “Firmware 2.0 elevates the Tracker Mini to new creative heights, addressing user feedback, granting the most popular wishes on the Polyend voter forum, and expanding Mini’s capabilities.”
New in Tracker Mini 2.0:
Four Exclusive Synth Engines: ACD, FAT, VAP, and WTFM engines provide an exceptional sound experience.
PERC Drum Synth Engine: Customize seven unique drums per kit.
Ahead of Superbooth 2024, Polyend has introduced the Tracker+, a Stereo Sampler, 16-track Sequencer, Synthesizer and Drum Machine.
We were big fans of Polyend’s Tracker when it arrived in 2020. Although it draws its inspiration from the somewhat niche world of software trackers, beyond those retro leanings lies a well-equipped and surprisingly approachable sample-based sketchpad.
They say that the Tracker+ improves on the original Tracker in almost every way, adding USB audio, Stereo sampling and playback, Synthesizer and drum machine engines, 8 extra tracks of MIDI and synth engine sequencing, increased sample memory and more.
One of the most significant improvements here is fully stereo sampling and sample playback. On the synthesis, Tracker+ now comes with four different synthesis engines: ACD is a single oscillator virtual analogue monosynth, FAT is a three-oscillator virtual analogue with drift and detune controls, VAP is a virtual analogue polysynth with flexible modulation matrix, while WTFM combines wavetable and FM synthesis. Each Tracker project can be loaded with up-to three synth instances making use of a total of eight voices.
Alongside these synth engines, Tracker+ adds a new drum machine engine, named Perc. This uses up one of the eight available synth voices, but can produce five drum sounds simultaneously, including a range of kick, snare, hat, tom and perc tones.
The distinctive vertical tracker-style sequencer has been expanded here, for a total of 16 tracks. Of these, the first eight are universal and can sequence synths, stereo samples or MIDI, while the latter eight are restricted to sequencing external MIDI or the internal synths or drum machines. Tracker’s song mode has been updated and expanded as well.
The hardware also adds USB audio capabilities, making it easier to get your creations into a DAW environment. To cope with the new functionality, Tracker+ is upgraded with additional processing power and sampling memory.
Tracker+ is available to order now priced at $/€799.
