Introducing Polyend Play+

Polyend is introducing Play+, Sample + Synth + MIDI groovebox.
3x Multitimbral Polyphonic Synth Engine
4 All New Synthesizer Engines with hundreds of presets combined with Play’s advanced sequencing capabilities
New Multi-Track Audio Over USB Integration and Stereo Sample Playback
Pick and Place - control the sequence
Instant playability - just turn on and PLAY!
Find out more on Play+ website
Available now

[@mrbrotherman]

I honestly thought it was a software upgrade GGGGRRRRRR

[@youtubeii434]

Polyend being polyend

[@diereken]

4 months into current Play ownership. Please offer a self upgrade kit for the technically inclined. $399 + shipping for the upgrade is a bit of a piss take if I do dare to say.

[@frednobel303]

i am pissed, i just bought the old one...

[@frednobel303]

@@CrusaderGeneral if you have to send it in it'll cost way too much... :(

[@Polyend]

If you just bought the unit email you aren't out of luck - email us [e-mail]

[@nickheadlee1027]

@@Polyend I just bought one and emailed but haven't received an email back, I can't return the play from where I bought it from.

[@strangersun7721]

I didn't buy Play because the Tracker firmware is a mess. When it deleted everything i made on the device after a random power failure, support told me, "Use a power adapter other than the one that came with the unit. Back up your work more often." This Play+ announcement barely a year after Play makes me even more glad i gave up on polyend.

[@Niko80s]

I won't support move with Play+ but had Tracker for 2 Years, and there was plenty of firmware updates during that span and none of it crashed the device or corrupt my projects, so for me Tracker is still pretty neat and affordable machine on the market

[@strangersun7721]

​@@Niko80sI very much wish I had your experience. I liked the tracker a lot before I lost everything I lovingly made on it.

[@TheBigLou13]

400€ to turn a play into a play+ and shipping has to be paid extra.. That feels very steep. The play wasn't cheap to begin with. I don't even know if it would be worth it before I pay - and then there's no going back or refund - only store credit (with nothing to invest it in). I don't even know if the audio of the play+ will be just as loudly crackling as the current play when turning knobs until I'd have received the play+. Why weren't these functions/chips in the play to begin with? Was the original play simply not ready when it got released? We supported you even though it was quite buggy (and sometimes still is). 400€ for a new CPU and RAM is really a lot - you can buy a Ryzen 9 with superb RAM for that money - or a whole small computer.. New capabilities are cool - but the expensive upgrade for existing users dampens it...

[@musicShji]

I bought my play half a year ago. I was counting on nice updates because it was new equipment. nothing could be further from the truth... how can you kill the equipment so quickly :( by doing this you show that play v1 was just an experiment, and the people who bought it were testers. What's more, thanks to this you destroyed the market for used Play v1. today Thomann is selling the Play for $430. it means that my six-month-old one is worth about 250-300. It's less than half the price of a new one. You didn't even release software 2.0. I'm disappointed. You've lost a customer, and probably more than one. I was honored to buy equipment with the inscription "made in Poland" on the bottom. The spell broke too quickly.

[@StaticSkyTV]

My Play isn't even a year old.... #rugyank

[@radfaraf]

399 to upgrade hmm!

[@santacious7045]

WTG Polyend, you’ve taught all potential buyers of future products a valuable lesson. Never buy a new Polyend product when it’s introduced or even shortly thereafter like us suckers did with the Play. A new improved version will be along soon!

[@svenmify]

What’s the difference with Apple releasing a new version of the iPhone every year?

[@toja16]

I completely understand your take on Apple's iPhone releases, and I initially drew that comparison myself to make sense of my thoughts about this release. The key difference is in Apple's incremental improvements, where I am okay with waiting for a significant change or when things start to fail (like battery, processing power). Polyend Play+, on the other hand, packs a punch with advertised power and additional features, making it more than a marginal improvement. Regarding trade-in programs, Apple's system is preferred by many, even over selling on eBay for a potentially better price - because of the convenience. Polyend's trade-in program seems to have room for improvement. Additionally, the gear industry typically involves companies investing in product development and leaving room for upgrades on released hardware for a longer period.

[@svenmify]

@@toja16 so the problem is that their upgrade innovates too much? So they should have made the improvements more minor / incremental? I just don’t understand everyone complaining about a company releasing products that are improvements on previous versions. Now, lack of support / updates for the current one, I get that people wouldn’t be happy about that. And if that’s the case, that’s something they need to fix. But everybody mad because they made a cool new upgraded version, that’s just lame.

[@svenmify]

People that bought this version wanted it. It’s a toy / tool, not a financial investment. Who cares about resale value. Just buy the new one if you want it, and use the old one as a backup or something.

[@toja16]

@@svenmify that is not what i am saying. I think that each release should be somewhat futureproof, with the current hardware being able to support future software upgrades as new ones. Hardware upgrade is part of the technological progress. Please have in mind the time frame that the release occured. If polyend releases an updated software for polyend play with all those new features ill be fine.

[@djPriDi]

399 euros for an upgrade, damn

[@lonebuzzard9466]

I bought may Play 13 months ago, if I was to upgrade it would mean that a Polyend Play + would cost around £1100 excluding the return shipping costs. Not sure this will sit well with early adopters of Polyend Products and will make people think twice because the Play was only launched in June 2022, meaning that Polyend product lifespan is roughly 17 months before they launch a new version. £150 upgrade price would be fairer, or a variable upgrade price based on proving the purchase price and whether it was bought new or used. Also if you upgrade and decide to return the Play + you won't get a Play back only £399 store credit - from Polyend - *Terms and conditions - refunds and returns are accepted. In the case of Play+ returns the original device will not be returned to the customer, and the upgrade credit of $399 will be issued as store credit. Monetary payment minus shipping fees will be returned via the payment method used at checkout.

[@ameeqalli4248]

Bad business

[@henkusdigitalis3794]

Great for new buyers, but horrendous for those who bought the original Play early - with the hope of getting meaningful patches for that hardware. Instead we get a payed upgrade adding 50% more to the cost and nothing to resale value. Yes, no. I’m selling mine for a bargain while I can.

[@omniomniomni]

Bought the Polyend Play last year, and despite its rocky start, I had faith the device would eventually blossom after enough firmware updates. I knew the device had a ton of potential. Well, I thought I knew. Now my resale value is toast and a better version is already here. What's more, if I did go for the "upgrade," my total cost for the device would be around $1,100. Just ridiculous. I'm done with Polyend.

[@svenmify]

mY rEsaLe vaLuE 😭 stop buying instruments as investments. If you did that, that’s a gamble you took, not their fault and not something they should take into account. This is why we can’t have nice things, as the old adage goes.

[@omniomniomni]

ThIS iS WHy wE cANt hAvE nIcE thINgS🤡 Perhaps reading comprehension and context are outside of your grasp. The idea behind "resale" value is that I could sell my unit for a respectable sum and then perhaps buy the newer version if I wished (I don't and won't support Polyend anymore). Unfortunately, without any hint of the PP+, the new version costs the same as my unit, and comes with better specs. I would be lucky to sell my Polyend Play for $400, which is the upgrade cost (if you send in your device). I have lots of gear, and I'm scratching my head on which gear has a 16 month life cycle. Further, the PP is now confirmed to be woefully underpowered and woefully underdeveloped. I would end up spending $1,100-$1,300 for the unit I thought the PP was. At the end of the day, the device is a mediocre sequencer and sample playback machine. Again, a 16 month life cycle. If you want to support this kind of behavior and product roadmapping, go for it. Lastly, while you're reading this reply and heavily breathing through your mouth, you should reflect on why so, so many people are displeased with this situation.

[@svenmify]

@@omniomniomni I know why many people are displeased. Because of entitlement. They bought something because they wanted it. Company does what companies do and makes a cooler thing, and now they’re sad. And I get that, I too would want the cooler thing and would be kicking myself that I hadn’t waited. However, I wouldn’t blame the company for that. If Polyend doesn’t make the cooler thing, someone else will and they’re left behind. Now, if people would calmly be saying “hey, can some of those new features make it into the old version?”, that’d be cool. But all the complaining and entitlement, people blaming them for the resale value (something they have almost zero stake in), when all they probably wanted to do was make a cool new toy, I dunno. I’ve been in a situation where I was working my ass off, trying to please everyone involved, and yet there were always people who complained no matter what, so I’m a little allergic to it.

[@hastyscorpion]

​​@@omniomniomniif you actually think the first one is woefully underpowered then why didn't you return it when you got it? No one made you keep it. You were happy with your purchase when you got it. It still works the exact same way as it did yesterday. Just pretend like you didn't see this video and go about your life. Or would you rather a companies not make better products for cheaper prices. Because that seems to be your argument and I have zero patience for you complaining that they didn't intentionally limit the market to protect your resale value.

[@omniomniomni]

@@hastyscorpion Hey dude, I've commented elsewhere in fuller detail about my opinions and thoughts. People purposefully (or perhaps lacking the intellectual fortitude) missing my points are boring me. I appreciate the advice about going on with my life as well as learning about your patience levels pertaining to KZbin comments. With that said, I'm bored by this Polyend stuff and no longer wish to engage. Cheers 🍻

[@nieuwdorp]

So I'm guessing the lesson is not to support Polyend by buying their new products when they're announced? Best to wait until the improved editions pop up about a year later. I have to admit you've fooled me (twice).

[@vor946]

Pretty sure that was the general consensus with Polyend for as far as I can remember.

[@J-Hz]

Lesson is to buy gear for what it is at the time, not what it might be in the future

[@John-e4p1x]

lot of companies move fast

[@nieuwdorp]

@@John-e4p1x Oh? Name three synth makers who have released a direct successor to their products in less than 1.5 years after launching the original.

[@amazingmono]

New Play version is alright but making the previous one 300USD cheaper seems unfair. Just discontinue it and make it have some unique features that only original has = everybody happy

[@johnchesters81]

Oh Polyend. I not mad, just disappointed.

[@MARTIN-ts5wq]

Being a Polyend customer for a long time, I want to say that this update (€400) It is an insult to the many recent owners of the devalued original Play.

[@mosfran]

While we were waiting for a serious update, you people at Polyend were spending time creating a new one. Results: my play value is divided on second hand market and I still have buggy machine with lots of limitations. Well done lads Edit: And super well done for creating the backstage site to know what people expects and put it in a new machine. Champions

[@svenmify]

A company shouldn’t care about the value of their products on the second hand market. That’s a you problem. Also, all this bitching deters new buyers from buying these products, which in turn devaluates the old ones even more. I was legit interested in this product until I saw a bunch of crybabies who can’t handle a company releasing a minor update. Y’all are goofy

[@psymatical]

Dude, just for balance, I returned the original Play because it was super buggy and would crash just when the fun hit. It took 6 months of roundabout discussions til I got most of my cash back (minus some due to irrelevant minor scratches). I was tempted at times to give up, despite their tech support receiving multiple videos of it crashing during routine use. Now, I'm going to get the play+ through Thomann, because they're big enough to honour their warranties without messing around. So, folk have every right to be annoyed that an imperfect product is now abandoned. Sure, they could have returned it like me, presumably with the same crap journey to do so, but that doesn't subtract from the fact that Polyend made enough money out of a product that they KNEW was inferior, to shelve the product and treat their customers as paying beta testers. Hope their business model improves, but that speaks of good ideas, poor business implementation/funding. R&D costs should be covered up-front by investment, not users. @@svenmify

[@The.Sky.Driver]

If you bought a an electronic product concerned with its resale value, you already fucked up. I know this frustration (because it's common in almost any sector that needs chipsets), but taking it out on the people that even made the product possible is totally not the move. Unless your Play is malfunctioning or is in some way not working for your flow (which would beg the question why you got it in the first place), then just return it or soak up the loss like every other first-generation buyer and sell it off to someone that would benefit from it.

[@vr_ros]

Remind me when the last version of the Play was released? Polyend goes straight into a blacklist for me, not going to support behaviour like this with another cent

[@developurr]

polyend punching air rn

[@lonebuzzard9466]

The OG was released June 2022, 17 month lifespan.

[@miamha]

Nah bruh, I bought a play a few months ago during summer for about £700 and now it's obsolete. I can't afford a £400 upgrade. What a con.

[@RenoFriends]

Loved the Polyend Play idea but for me, not being able to multi track record on the PC was a red line, now I can have it and with even some synths! Glad you released this new product because the first one felt like limited to me. Just bought it and awaiting the shipping

[@MARTIN-ts5wq]

Very annoying. My Play has lost value and it takes too much money to update. it is a pity.

[@ehehbirdman]

I join the chorus of all the other users who have already expressed their dissent. I would have expected this low blow from a soulless company, not a boutique one. What a way to treat their user base who have expressed their trust in Polyend by buying the original version. On one hand I appreciate the honesty, at least now we are all sure that we are being treated as beta testers, and that we are paying no small amount to be so. Now that the functionality has been expanded so much, the hardware interface is no longer suited to the interactions you have with the machine. Editing the synthesis engines is the least intuitive and slowest thing, scrolling through an endless menu. Also, the fact that encoders have labels referring to other functionality is a usability nightmare. As we laugh and joke, the Play X comes out in 12 months, which will solve these problems as well. The screen will be larger and will adopt an Elektron-style interface, where the encoders have no labels, but their function will be displayed on the screen. What a joke of a company.

[@radfaraf]

It's very strange they didn't come up with a synth programming mode where all the knobs switch to tweaking synth settings so you'd have to do very minimal menu diving. It's not like they don't have that knobs there already to make use of.

[@ehehbirdman]

Again, that's coming to you in a future firmware update! When exactly nobody knows, but "trust me bro it's coming". @@radfaraf

[@yodabe882]

So fucking pissed.

[@Polyend]

Why are you pissed? Lets solve it - email [e-mail]

[@ElectronisoundsAudio]

You know damn well why EVERYONE is pissed..... Come on..... Just READ the other comments here.... @@Polyend

[@patgarner]

Wow. Are you f'ing kidding me? Super bummed. Who releases revs on music hardware on a schedule like this? Great way to punish people for investing in your products.

[@mokujinsan9946]

Lordy, I was just about to pull the trigger on a OG Play. I'm balls deep in the OG Tracker at the mo having a great time. I guess I will wait a year and get the Play ++ and then a Tracker + and a Mini +. 🤔

[@johncarter2741]

Very disappointed. FB and KZbin are awash with disgruntled OG play owners. I’ve emailed Cezary.

[@ChrisJones-ht9zn]

The jury seems to be out and the verdict is Polyend suck. Like many others, i recently bought the Play and although a fun product with potential, it did feel like a product that was somewhat unfinished. Hear this loud and clear Polyend, the decision to cut prices of the original Play and release a new version of the product is the decision that will ultimately end your company. Customer trust and loyalty has been shattered by this move. You need to act fast and release a statement to your customers. We want to know, are you a company that can be trusted to support your products (look at line 6's support for helix as an example of how to do this well) or are you not. If you're not, then you have no future.

[@radfaraf]

The @loopop channel on their video had a comment that they were originally going to do $199 upgrade, had they gone with that the amount of angry people would have been way way lower. Would be extremely hard to be mad in that scenario.

[@whoadog8725]

What an absolute joke of a company. I will never purchase another product from Polyend.

[@briannhinton]

I’m disappointed that it still doesn’t have a waveform view or any sampling. I didn’t buy the OG for either, but with an upgrade I hoped it would include both. Especially if it can stream tracks over USB-C. Why can’t we then sample into it over USB-C? It’s annoying when you hear something and are inspired, but have to stop the moment of inspiration to clip externally and copy it over to the gear you want to use it on. I don’t want a sample first device, but maybe bring over the basic sampling bits from the Tracker? Please consider adding sampling and fix the quirks with performance mode for MIDI and synths, and this device would be gold. I’m personally not that upset about the release. You all are trying to compromise by providing an upgrade path. I understand that this was a hardware upgrade needed to push the device farther, and I appreciate that you considered users.

[@detrechter5416]

So Polyend…..I feel a little bit disappointed to be honest. I have the Play for less then a year and I’ve been waiting for more updates (like midi effects). And now there’s a new edition already. I don’t have the original box and plugs for different countries anymore, so I don’t know if I will be allowed to use your upgrade plan. But all of this should have been in the original Play or in an update of the original imo.

[@HiLoMusic]

Why would you release this so shortly after the original? it feels a bit insulting to the people who spent 800 bucks on the original. Actually you guys make pretty bad products in retrospect, the tracker sucked, the medusa sucked. Bye.

[@XanderEwald]

Great update! Multitrack USB audio is the missing link to integrate Play with the rest of the studio.

[@samprock]

Polyend team, could you make a mode to fix one sound (sample and synth preset) for all notes and all patterns, please? I like to have “empty” notes but have all sounds ready to play. Also when I change a track sound I want it to affect whole project not just pattern. It will be a perfect mode for me (it can be on/off depending on preference). Thanks!

[@superdisco101]

I bought a mc 303 1997. 3 month later, roland anounced the 505. i was pissed. Then i bought the 505. Still have the 303. i still love roland. I have the polyend play without the plus. I still love polyend. The advantage they give to my workflow is still unmatched. The music i came across is still unmatched to my earlyer productions. Thank you Polyend. Maybe i upgrade. Maybe not. I love The Play.

[@superdisco101]

Just make music and dont see the units as investments. Make music, not war. Why is the plus a failure!? Look at it as an advantage. If you realy care that much, upgrade your instrument to the plus. If you dont, make music on the non plus.

[@TeddyBaas]

Damn based on the comments you guys really dropped the ball 😂.

[@Happyyz]

Thats casting a rare shadow now. I understand that it cost a serious amount of time and process to develop for this stage, but i cannot afford it now - i guess its some kind of chip limitation on the old one so it could not be upgreat and upload for the older device, kind of understand that chip is hard to replicate, still having some emotional imbalance. Love the original Play - who knows maybe one day.

[@dvnc-music]

I bought a polyend play for 959$ just a few hours before i saw this video and i haven't even received it yet :(

[@nickheadlee1027]

Damn dude… I bought mine 5 days ago, so heated right now. Hopefully polyend will do something about it with all its PO customers.

[@frednobel303]

why is the upgrade path unclear here? if there is an upgrade option for us that bough the old play, you should start with that

[@Polyend]

Upgrade path is $399, but you just bought the play email us - [e-mail]

[@patgarner]

@Polyend ​$399 + taxes and shipping costs on top of what I already paid in July? Wow, great for you guys. You really know how to show your customers you appreciate them

[@publika6883]

Thank god I didn't buy the first one LOL

[@samprock]

Please, please fix USB to DAW issues on M1. All glitching and stammering Mac Ultra. Any solution or updates coming?

[@marvomd]

What a beauty❤

[@80slover85]

Thank you guys for this! I've just got a BRAND NEW og play for 460 usd because of your sh*tty marketing (releasing products too soon...) You should think twice about your ongoing product release schedlue next year... This is a lesson for you guys, I really love the brand and innovation behind your products, can't wait for new releases 😉

[@JansKanaal]

Dear Polyend, this is a nice update. But does it mean the original Play will not receive any firmware updates anymore? I just got one!

Nope, it does not mean we are not working on the free updates for all our current devices. In fact, the update for the original Play is coming soon(ish).

[@CuriousPassenger]

Me too. Bought one a couple days ago.

[@CuriousPassenger]

​@that's good news actually. If the original play gets a cool fw upgrade with unique features, customers won't feel 'betrayed'.

[@tomaszsiejko6562]

​@why there is no official communication on this? Many people are hating because they think Play effectively becomes abandonware while this doesn't seem to be the case based on your comment.

[@gluepet2074]

I would gladly pay for these upgrades as firmware or synth “packs”, but the mail in for $400 is laughable - not to mention instant devaluation of reg plays by $300-$400. Done with this

[@Polyend]

It is a hardware upgrade, not just a firmware update.

[@TheProducerNetwork]

Will it connect via USB to class compliant USB audio interfaces & mixers? Will I be able to send out multi-channel audio to a Behringer X32?

[@MD-jz7xx]

Glad I waited! Awesome!

[@ChildOfSaturnMusic]

Really excited about the Play+. It'll take me a few months to save up for it but I'm looking forward to how much it will enhance my setup.

[@AD-Dom]

I appreciate polyend for their work and amazing products, but a paid upgrade seems like a bit of a skeezy thing. Make the base one better/ more polished, more updates, firmware that doesn’t feel lacklustre. 🎉

[@ndguardian]

I don’t suppose the new synth engines could make their way to the Tracker Mini…?

[@CuriousPassenger]

Well, the play+ doesn't get sample looping/wavetable/granular either.

[@uoailewa]

Nice 🎉

[@jimmygray3452]

Beautiful!

[@SixteenVoice]

You only sent to Loopop? I can't watch that clown. Please have other gear review channels get access so I can properly preview these features.

[@harveytherobot]

Clown? He’s the most thorough reviewer on KZbin. Let’s see your reviews.

[@jeremjerem]

Omg YES !!!!

[@chemicaldialect]

Looks amazing. Would this allow to use a USB interface/mixer like the Tascam Model 12 to separate tracks and mix them live?

[@alexiwiedemann]

Magnificent synths and the upgrade option is pure customer focus. Kudos. I was waiting to have in this version a real improvement on the sample editing. Someting like on the tracker and minintracker. You know how to do it and the screen support that. There are smaller screens doing it like sampltrk or even op1 and field. Why not including this in the plus version even on the classic?

[@ICodeMonkey]

Stoked! Also, I need the full version of that track! Is it available anywhere?

[@krazywabbit]

man, lots of rage by many over this. 1. "ragers" most likely have toys that can make music 2. You don't have to upgrade. 3. No music was made in raging.

[@vr_ros]

How much music is being made while defending the actions of greedy companies?