Phonicbloom Loopstyler squeezes multiple synth engines, samples, and effects into a multi-track pocket format groovebox.
Making music on the go without a computer DAW has become increasingly popular in recent years. The market responded to this demand with small, portable synths, drum machines, and samplers. Pocket Operators, Volcas, Kastles, Circuits… Behringer is now also trying it out with its mini synths.
There are also tiny fascinating synths (Gecho Loopsynth, Polyphonic Whale…) from Phonicbloom. The developers have taken a clearly more experimental path with their mini synths. With the Loopstyler, the company has now introduced another small, exciting pocket synth.
Phonicbloom Loopstyler
Loopstyler is small, card-sized, colorful instrument that includes more creative features than you might think. It’s a full Synthesizer but also a complete multi-track groovebox.
At its core, Loopstyler uses various engines. It includes synthesis-based engines, including FM, Karplus-Strong, granular, and classic subtractive for leads, bass, and drums.
On top of that, you can use mono or stereo samples that stream from the micro SD card. The developers promise it can handle many samples on the SD card, limited only by the card capacity. You can play them back with at least 32-voice polyphony supported by smooth time-stretching and pitch-shifting algorithms.
Besides these, it also hosts an audio input and microphone for capturing sounds from other devices or the environment. So, sampling is onboard. Once done, you can store them on the microSD card for use in your tracks.
To refine or polish your sounds, it also features sound effects and modulation driven by pre-programmed rules or cues from the environment, says Phonicbloom. The sonic features sound very promising.
Play Modes
The different play modes are just as exciting, allowing you to flip Loopstyler into the workflow that perfectly fits your workflow.
Easy Play gives you a mode inspired by the classic Stylophone. Select a sound, choose a scale, take the stylus and you are ready to play. Then, the second mode offers a multi-track polyphonic sequencer. You can work with pre-defined patterns or generate your own sequences.
Tape Loop is inspired by the workflow of classic tape recordings and gives you an endless tape that you can fill with ideas. There is an option for tape speed control over the accelerometer and to add glitches using a light sensor. You can also mix your voice into the loop, says the developers.
If you want total freedom and want to immerse yourself super deeply, go to the expert programming mode. Here you can customize anything, including the patterns, sequences, arpeggios… Even you can modify the rules for behavior of the effects, LFOs, and modulators.
Compositions can be easily recorded on the internal microSD or output via an audio socket
Connectivity
On the MIDI side, you get a one-direction selectable TRS MIDI input. With a switch, you can select which direction the MIDI goes. So you can control Loopstyler with your MIDI keyboard or use it as a MIDI controller for other devices. It’s a bit of a shame that there aren’t two MIDI sockets.
You can also connect Loopstyler to your computer for importing samples via the lovely, innovative microUSB port. Why microUSB in the 2023 USB-C area?
Audio side, you get a mono audio input and a stereo audio output that outputs your content in 48kHz with 16-bit resolution. But it supports a hi-fi codec capable of playing 32-bit samples at 192kHz.
Loopstyler can be played using the included Stylus in the form of a 6.3mm audio plug. Alternatively via MIDI with a MIDI keyboard.
First Impression
Looopstyler looks cute and very colorful. Fits perfectly into the look of the other Phonicbloom instrument family. It offers a surprisingly large feature set for its pocket format. Multiple engines, effects, sequencing, and more in such a small format. Exciting.
I’m very curious to see how well the little pocket synth plays in its final version. From the design and features alone, a very interesting announcement. The asking price is also very fair.
Phonicbloom Loopstyler is available now for pre-order for 175€ + VAT. Shipping will start in 2-3 months.
More information here: Phonicbloom
I’ve owned a few of their products but I need to see more of the functionality. I’m skeptical about synths with no screen when they have lots of functionality attached, it’s just too tedious most of the time. Ill probably purchase one eventually just not the first batch.