Stylophone Beat is a new super affordable, battery-powered pocket drum machine with 8 sounds, a looper, and more.
Many electronic sound explorers like to make music with small, space-saving instruments. Outside, in the studio, or wherever there is space. Korg Volcas, the new Roland AIRA Compact (codename Rolca)… there are many small synths.
Among the most popular in this range is the British Stylophone, a lo-fi Synthesizer playable with a pen. The GEN X-1, for example, is one of their latest releases that can do a lot for the money and can even be an FX processor. Just before the weekend, the introduced a new family member.
Stylophone Beat
Simply “Beat” is the name of the new instrument. It’s a super-affordable, battery-powered drum machine. The look is very familiar and is on Stylophone. It is also operated with a cabled stylus, as with the other instruments.
Unlike the classic Stylophone, as the name Beat suggests, it’s about creating beats. Yes, it’s a redesign of their original Beatbox.
The engine consists of 4 drum kits and four bass drums featuring classic sounds to “real” beatbox samples. Of course, with a lo-fi sound quality. These are spread out on a silver metal plate that you can play using the Stylophone.
The Stylophone Beat allows you to mix and match all 8 sounds and creates unique rhythmic grooves. A drum sequencer is not onboard but it has a looper allowing you to capture them in drum loops. There is also an automatic tempo lock for staying in time, and the option to record multiple layers.
Further, it features a built-in speaker on the left top side of the unit for crunchy, lo-fi playback. Alternatively, there is an audio output giving you a better quality of your drum loops. It also offers a volume slider.
All of this is housed in a very nice small case that also has a battery compartment. With these, you can power your device and create beats on the go.
First Impression
A very simple instrument to have fun with. For the asking price, you can’t ask too much. The fact that you can loop the sounds and that there are different sounds is very welcome.
Stylophone Beat will be available in September 2023 for £29,95/34,95€/$39,95. You can sign up now for pre-order with no upfront payment required.
More information here: Stylophone
I am impressed! But I don’t understand the Stylus controlling here. Why not normal buttons? Is there kind of performing expression possible with the Stylus?
that’s the Stylophone 😉
The stylus is the brand and it’s probably much cheaper to produce something with this sort of mechanism rather than a bunch of individual buttons.
I wonder if there is an ability to sync in/out… I suspect not for that price, but you could have a ton of fun improvising with this if other gear could also be added easily…
not on this version but like every Stylophone, you can probably modify it and add a sync in/out to it