Blipblox myTRACKS, initially a NAMM 2022 news, is a sampling groovebox for kids and beyond from Playtime Engineering, the devs of the Blipblox synths—soonish on Kickstarter.
Playtime Engineering does one thing differently than all other synthesizer companies. They focus entirely on the youngest members of the world, the children, an area that very few synth companies have tackled with products so far.
At NAMM 2022, the US-based company announced a groovebox for kids called myTRACKS. The project became quiet—until today! Development is in the home stretch, and you can support the project on Kickstarter in April. Playtime also shared the details today.
Blipblox myTRACKS
Visually, the myTRACKS looks like it comes from the third shelf in the toy store where you find Fisher Price, etc. Large buttons, colorful levers that you can pull, etc. However, the layout resembles a classic groove box with buttons, a 5×4 pad, etc. It’s like an MPC for kids.
The engine also has little to do with a toy. Blipblox MyTracks has five tracks that can be filled with numerous drums and instruments using the 25 pads. As the title suggests, this is a sampling groove box.
Yes, Playtime Engineerings’s new groovebox can also sample itself using the integrated microphone. So, you can also use your own sounds. However, sampling via an external input is missing. Maybe too specific for a child.
The developers promise more sound packs to expand the factory content in the future. Then, it hosts two effects processors to manipulate sounds on the fly. The eye-catching two purple levers are for real-time modulation.
Connectivity
On the back, it offers connections that are familiar to the pro section. This allows adult children, i.e., dad or mom, to use it in the studio with other music gear. It has a MIDI output for controlling external devices, a stereo audio output on mini jack, and a USB-C port.
First Impression
I’ve almost forgotten about the project. Nice to see that it’s almost finished. It’s not a product for me as I still miss the children, but it’s certainly fun for children. But also for adult children, although they use bigger feature-richer grooveboxes.
Blipblox myTRACKS by Playtime Engineering will be available in November 2024. The Kickstarter campaign will start on April 9th, 2024, where you can support the project for a special price. The official retail price is TBA.
More information here: Playtime Engineering
Bring it!
reminds me of those Car Dashboard toys with the steering wheel and horn we had in the 20 century.