I decided to buy the Tracker+ as the original 2020 Tracker has been my favourite bit of gear for more than 4 years. These are some early thoughts on the Tracker+, which is mostly about the general build and feel of it compared to the original.
So I’m comparing the Tracker+ with the very first model (the one with the squarer, shallower buttons). This means that some of the things I’m noticing on the Tracker+ are possibly also on the later Trackers.
Synth Engines: Well this was my reason for upgrading. I’m enjoying these a lot, but I don’t find the presets very useable yet. At the moment I tend to start with a the ‘Init’ sound and then tweak it and play with how the LFOs can modulate the sound. (I guess I’m trying to get things to sound a little bit modular sounding right now.)
Exterior: I really dislike the 90s-hifi-equipment type look of the Tracker+ “brushed metal” look. Why anyone thought this is better than a smooth matt black finish really surprises me, but I guess taste/style is a very subjective thing and someone must think this brushed metal look is good? If the buttons on my OG Tracker weren’t a different shape I’d seriously consider swapping out the innards just to not have to look at black brushed metal. Maybe in time I could get some kinda skin to put on it.
I like the plastic bottom of the exterior on the Tracker+. It feels a fair bit lighter than the OG Tracker, which has an entirely metal exterior.
Buttons: I like the feel of the taller, rounder clacky buttons on the Tracker+, but they squeak like crazy when I press them, especially my down arrow button, which is the squeakiest of them. Hopefully this will improve with time. Some of the clacky buttons also seem to get stuck down briefly, especially the yellow Instrument button. Again, hopefully they’ll stop doing this in time.
Jog wheel: It’s much harder to turn on the Tracker+. I have to apply a lot more pressure/be a lot more deliberate about it. At this point I’m missing the jog wheel on the original Tracker, which I could turn just with the outside of a finger. I’d kinda roll it from the side without having to apply any real pressure. Maybe the Tracker+ one will soften up with time.
Dust cover cloth: A bit random, but I’m disappointed that the Tracker+ didn’t come with the dust cover cloth that the original did. It’s the best glasses cloth I have!