Superbooth 2026: Tasty Chips GR-2 is the next generation of its multi-layer hardware granular sampler with more power and features: now on Kickstarter.
Granular samplers or synthesizers are very popular these days, whether in hardware or software. Early on, even before this wave, the Dutch company Tasty Chips Electronics had its GR-1 granular sampler. Then came the flagship with the GR-Mega in 2025.
After many years on the market and specs that were pushing the limits, it’s time for a successor. Tasty Chips will be showcasing the GR-2 at Superbooth 2026, and it’s available for pre-order now on Kickstarter.
Tasty Chips GR-2
GR-2 is the next generation of its multi-layer granular sampler. The new Tasty Chips GR-2 has a slightly different format. It’s a bit smaller, now uses encoders instead of potentiometers, has a new color display, and has more power.
Yes, Tasty Chips GR-2 is again a multi-layer instrument. Again, four layers and this time with 16 voices of polyphony per layer. According to the developers, the GR-2 and GR-MEGA use the same firmware, with some differences.
Unlike the original, the new version comes with four distinct sampler engines: a traditional AKAI S-style sampler, a granular sampler, a tape sampler, and a spectral sampler.
Big improvement: you can now sample into the hardware (up to 5 minutes 49 seconds) or import stereo samples in WAV, AIFF, FLAC, or SFZ format in case you want to work with multi-samples.
Four Creative Engines
The granular engine offers up to 128 grains per voice and up to 4000 grains system-wide, allowing the creation of rich soundscapes.
Deeper features like two window types, slice mode, grain size, scan, pitch per grain or per voice, panning, and clock retriggering give you tons of sound design freedom.
Then, you have the spectral engine with a maximum of three-voice polyphony, designed for rich spectral manipulations of your audio. According to Tasty Chips, they have also implemented the lovely Paulstretch algorithm.
A window size up to 8192, chord mode to extend the polyphony up to 36 notes, and unique spectral effects give you a lot to play around with. The fourth and last engine is a sample engine that uses tape-like scratching.
Sound Design Machine
Alongside these four distinct sampler engines, the new Tasty Chips GR-2 also features a powerful polyphonic modulation engine powered by a modulation matrix.
On the mod menu table are four envelopes, four LFOs, two CVs, four random generators, MPE, MIDI, macros, and more.
There is also a creative option to draw and replay your own X/Y modulation. In the modulation matrix, you can map them to up to 120+ destinations with (uni/bi) polarity, curve control, and more.
To refine your sounds, the GR-2 also has a multi-FX processor onboard with a colorful plethora of algorithms: chorus, compressor, delays, distortions, flanger, reverb, ring mod, and more.
The entire OS was reworked in the GR-2 and is now based on the GR-Mega’s OS. This brings many workflow improvements over the predecessor: quick and easy saves,
Better I/O
Besides the new interface, better hardware in general, and numerous new features, there is also improved I/O.
The GR-1 had no audio inputs. That’s part of its history. The new Tasty Chips GR-2 features built-in 1/4″ stereo audio inputs for live sampling or live granulation, and it also has 1/4″ stereo output connectivity.
Further, you have full DIN MIDI (IN, OUT/THRU), 2x USB3.0A host ports, and one USB-C port for connecting to your DAW. Great, the USB-C port also works as an audio interface, giving you 8 channels in and 10 channels out of digital audio.
Finally, you have two CV inputs that you can assign to any destination you want in the modulation matrix.
Tasty Chips GR-2 First Impression
The GR-1 is getting old in terms of performance and features. This looks like a great upgrade. Stereo samples, more engines, live sampling, built-in effects, etc., are all features missing from the GR-1.
It’s great that these are now included, making the GR-2 a significantly more exciting granular sampler. I think it’s great that it uses the GR-MEGA’s firmware, so both units always benefit from the new features.
Tasty Chips GR-2 is available for pre-order/support on Kickstarter, starting at 849€ (early bird). Shipping starts in September 2026. Keep in mind that crowdfunding campaigns can involve risks. See for this, the project site for details.
More information here: Tasty Chips Electronics / Kickstarter
Pssst, Tasty Chips, make a new ECR eurorack module.
Yeah! Silly of them to not jump on the demand.
Granular is done to death by now.
lol. Oh internet.
It’s a convolver reverb…
I know. I want the ECR+. Not another granular.
I thought you were being sarcastic. My bad.
For that price the S4 seems like a better deal. And I’m not even sure about that one, given the possibilities of an iPad by now.
iPad vs hardware are still two different things. There are people who don’t want to use iPads at all.