A New Look at the Polyend Play as a DAWless Centrepiece

[@littlehelix]

I have one, ....this is an amazing machine. So much fun. I love how it comes up with unexpected results. No writer's block with this device

[@e-conrecords4665]

That banger around 15mins in has a New Beat feel to it. Reminded me a bit of Front 242’s ‘First In First Out’.

[@electrosonicnebula]

Ah man that US TV commercial ad voice is too funny. Great review of this cool box. Definitely an option for serious Dawless composition-

[@alexkourelis]

This is exactly the video I've been looking for. I got the Play and have been performing with it as the master clock with the 1010Blackbox as a phrase sample playback looper. Last gig I did I used the Play to control the Dreadbox Typhon and it was insane...so much power in such a little device! What you don't touch on is the auto-generation of notes. You can have the notes stay within a scale using the scales menu and then with a track selected fill the steps using one of the note methods (Euclidean, etc) to have random notes in scale. Just keep hitting fill until you have something fun! Great for weird basslines.

[@StarskyCarr]

Thanks… yeah scales are not something I ever use on anything. Maybe I should!

[@tommayo3212]

Thank you for this video! Helped me rethink my set up.

[@barrywhite7741]

Using a Polyend play as a sample player and midi controller (Erica synths Bassline, Roland MC-707) as the centerpiece to a dawless rig. Midi clock and sync to Aeros Loop Studio for guitar loops. All this goes to a Tascam mixer. It’s a great setup, almost too many options, but the workflow is great and quite fluid.

[@RaquelFoster]

I just got a used Play. It's awesome that USB MIDI and TRS Jack MIDI are different busses. You can use all 32 channels on a Proteus 2000 or XV-5080! I wish Roland would make a TR-8Play with eight rows of pads.

[@GirlfightClub]

Needed this MIDI explanation 🙏🏻💯

[@simonc8265]

Really looking forward to where this goes. Have got one and its great to get you up and running. Melodics take a bit more thought. MIDI is really useful but needs a bit more grunt but great review and thankyou for concentrating on MIDI side of things. I love the minimal portability usb C and the depth rather than width user interface.... yup its not MC707 so no sampling or (ahem) arp....but as you showed there a lot of cool combos that really get you up and running. have bought a roland sh-4d....so hoping the two will be work well together.

[@jeffryarchambeau5441]

Several times I almost pulled the trigger on a Blofeld for this very purpose, but then I'd have to set up so many patches on the Blofeld!

[@cornishwavesmusic]

Bit of a beast,great stuff Starsky

[@ikarugamoo]

Ahhhh you’re the voice over fella from many 80s radio & tv adverts. Pleased to meet you 😂 Good to see the Blowy get an airing when you have so much choice in ya studio mate.

[@StarskyCarr]

;). The blowy is perfect for stuff like this. And for me - setting up a demo, fitting everything on the table, wiring it up, finding levels, recording etc the Blofeld simplifies things massively, while still giving access to loads of tones and simultaneous tracks. Almost like it was designed for this before this was a thing.

[@ikarugamoo]

@@StarskyCarr really great point. While multi mode can be limited with voices, there’s still so much flexibility available to you in a lovely little box of blow. 😉

[@FiveHundredYearsAgo]

Really great video. What so you recommend for a minimal mixer for this kind of setup? Using a microfreak instead of Blofeld.

[@StarskyCarr]

I've no idea tbh. I've not used any. When recording videos I go straight through my interface (Focusrite Scarlett or Arturia AudioRig) and in the studio I use a UAD Apollo Neve 8816. You can even use them live without a computer (although you can't adjust levels on all but the Arturia)

[@samueljosephkim-]

How do you work with program changes with the connected synths if you wanted to do multiple songs in a set with the Polyend?

[@stefanherzog]

@Starsky: can't remember, but: have you ever tried a Deluge? Can do similar things, although less generative things.

[@StarskyCarr]

No unfortunately not. :(

[@ApexCypher_]

That looks like a raver’s beanie hat in that photo 😀 Great content again.

[@StarskyCarr]

erm...

[@ruscular]

I have the polyend tracker, and I love it, now I have 2 of them. But I am still on the fence of selling one and getting the polyend play. Even after watching this, I am still on the fence. I guess I like to see how well the 2 unit play with each other.

[@herberdth]

how do you feel now there is Play+? A few Internal sound engines, stereo samples, audio via usb, faster CPU, more bugs. I for one would have loved the audio via usb for the Play as it makes everything much easier to get out of the box.

[@garyhendrie4001]

Ive just ordered one of the new play+, just wondering if this can control vst's as well as hardware and if yes how? Any answers, much appreciated.

[@Goettel]

Puttin' On The Ritz, Sir!

[@bernieeller2276]

Can the poly end act as a clock master via usb to say a Roland T-8 etc?

[@helius981]

Hey :) loved the video! I am trying to use it as a drum machine in my life set and would love to control the different levels of the channels. Do you know if there is a way to map those? I know it has cc in but I a a bit lost. Maybe you have an idea. Thanks in advance.

[@ToastedGhost]

Some people say there is a problem connected midi to ipad via lightening cable. If I used a yamaha bluetooth midi would that work? Cheers

[@StarskyCarr]

I’ve never tried that. You’re better off asking Polyend as they’re likely to have tried everything.

[@djwhelan4283]

pukka great video mate ;)

[@DankePlace]

Hey Starsky, I got a non plus yesterday as only want MIDI, not interested in samples. It's a bonus but not a requirement ergo not getting the + as the synth engines share MIDI channels. Got it $600 off og price so could not be happier. Re-watching your vid and have asked on the official forum and elsewhere. I have already managed to chance my panning cunningly for my Nord 3P Drum, issue is can you only CC assign 1 per step or can you do more? No one has yet to answer. Also is this the Polyend Play and the Blofeld?

[@StarskyCarr]

pretty sure you can send more than 1 CC per note - I can't remember trying it but each step contains all the info from the knobs (filter, reso, effects etc) . That info also contains the MIDI CCs where you're using it. and I think it may have been the Play and the Blofeld

[@DankePlace]

@@StarskyCarr Thx Starsky, much appreciated.

[@Bluelagoonstudios]

Should I ditch my APC40? Or buy it to use both? I always bring a DAW with me anyway, just to have more oversight. Old man's eyes are deteriorating here 😉

[@akagerhard]

How long does it take someone to learn this? And does the time significantly reduce once you've used one or two of such things? I'm pretty certain I'd get frustrated out of my mind trying to get something done and thus stop using it before I ever get to a level where it's handy to have.

[@StarskyCarr]

It doesn’t take long at all tbh. When making these videos I always think it’s a balance between showing what it can do (lots in there and versatility can look complex) and making something ‘inspirational’ or showing the workflow. A bit like reading a manual. Read the whole thing and it’s overwhelming but do a bit at a time and the steps become obvious from page to page. But overall it’s really quite easy to get to grips with, 3 main pages (performance, pattern and sequence) and the same options for every step etc. the main challenge is because it’s different to most I found I had to train myself to slow down when looking at individual steps …. Hold it for a second to edit it - if you just press it you delete it. That was annoying! … because you’ve now deleted the sound and the note - (most things you’d delete the note only) But you soon learn to control the urge to press not hold.

[@feintcircles]

I have by no means mastered the Play, but they did a really great job of making a device that is fairly easy to get the hang of, while also having complex backend should you want dive that deep. I highly suggest reading the manual, it's written very well and let's you see all the options and power at your fingertips. I was able to start putting together some cool patterns within only a few minutes of working with the Play. The Fill function makes it easy to lay down a beat and then you just build off of that. It's not a perfect device and has its limitations. Mono-output only, no color coding midi-devices/samples, no built-in synth, no live sampling, but for my little set-up it's great and it plays well with the rest of my gear. They've also already released a couple very useful Firmware updates and they are working on more features. Hope this was useful.

[@akagerhard]

@@StarskyCarr Thanks for your answer. I'm rather on the slow and cautious side of things. Not that I'm stupid, it's just how I approach things. Deleting one tone I spent much time creating would probably give me PTSD haha. Guess I will keep watching these videos, until one day there's this one thing that speaks to me differently and stay in the box until then.

[@akagerhard]

@@feintcircles Thanks for your answer! Reading manuals is admitting defeat, but yes, I've started appreciating manuals more and more too. I don't really have any gear besides a guitar and a keyboard (and interface and speakers) - I'm completely in the box. Sometimes when I watch these videos I feel like I'd have fun with an additional toy, but I also don't want to a) overwhelm myself and not end up learning it, b) learning it but getting frustrated by it's limitations too fast. Thanks again for your comment, it's always useful to read personal experiences!

[@rorz999]

This is one of the most intuitive grooveboxes. Easy to learn, and lots of happy accidents which you don't really get with DAWs. It lends itself to experimentation

[@djjuno106]

whatever happened to mylo?he was massive for a year or so then vanished..he did some brilliant tracks.

[@StarskyCarr]

yeah loved that first album - ingenious use of some tacky 80s samples. Very clever.

[@DankePlace]

There's this, the Hapax (which I believe can record MPE) and the Oxi One. All great devices, and very hands on.

[@StarskyCarr]

cool... never tried those but yeah, there's v useful stuff around.

[@NoyaD9]

Tempted by the hapax but it's almost twice as the Play

[@DankePlace]

@@NoyaD9 yeah 2K here, 1K too expensive.

[@jadisperdu9412]

torso T1 also

[@quimbas]

Can someone tell me the make/model of that mixer? Thanks!

[@RaquelFoster]

I just looked up the price of used Oto Biscuits... 🤯

[@StarskyCarr]

Whether anyone’s actually bought one for those prices is doubtful. Softube do a great emulation.

[@HelicopterRidesForCommunists]

I find the bit redux lacking. Not all that pleasant sounding. It needs sample redux in addition.

[@realestatecult3105]

If only Brentford Nylons still existed. You'd be the perfect voiceover artist....

[@StarskyCarr]

Oh no.. I missed my calling!

[@adamcrawford6060]

THere's a high pitched wine throughout this video and its driving me insane. Good video otherwise

[@StarskyCarr]

That’s my voice 😂😂

[@magicseadog8674]

Needs LFOs for midi. No reason why they cant make a LFO menu for midi control.

[@StarskyCarr]

Nice idea

[@MUNRO13]

700 quid is a bit rich for this. 250 quid I’d be tempted.

[@StarskyCarr]

250 quid probably wouldn't pay for the tooling for the case. Smaller scale is always more expensive. I met the guys in Superbooth last year. Passionate and trying to keep a great little business afloat. Things cost what they cost to make, but what people are willing to pay is a different ball game.

[@aardvarkmindshank]

Deluge is better 😉

[@StarskyCarr]

Never tried one. I’ll have to see if I can get hold of one!

[@seanluke3052]

The Play has only 64 steps per track, very limited tracks, poor polyphony, and no linear arranger. How do you record long melodies, intertwined counterpoint, or basically anything outside of EDM and rap? Just song mode. Was hoping it'd be a Deluge but with a decent interface. Such a disappointment. Hard pass.

[@systemfan8]

Deluge is almost 4 times more expensive, so no competitors at this price point, I believe🤷‍♂️

[@jukkauh]

@@systemfan8 At the time of my posting, the Deluge was rather less than twice the price. The Play+ has since been introduced, so the Play is now on fire sale; and the Deluge has since increased in price. But I think the price difference cannot be explained by the difference in *sequencing* capabilities, which are pretty trivial to implement in software, but rather the difference in sampling and synthesis capabilities, which are not in discussion here. At 2 bytes per step, a massive step size and track count can be had for less than one megabyte.

[@JohnMcSmith]

Deluge is still the GOAT centrepiece. It just does so much such a deep instrument

[@RaquelFoster]

This is a great summary of why the Play is awesome for putting together beats and lead/basslines, because it gives you 8 rows of a VERY good 16-step x0x sequencer, and it's not cluttered up with whatever they would need to add to satisfy a guy who thinks he needs a groovebox that does a better job of polyphonic intertwined counterpoint.

[@Farold_Haltermeyer]

@@RaquelFosterperfectly put!