Hey team at Polyend, congrats on the upcoming Polyend Drum, looks rad!
Just poking to see what’s in store for the next Play+ firmware update, if there’s a tentative date etc.
Also in general, is it possible to get update/announcement posts once every month or two months for each of the Polyend products? Even a single post with headings for each product would do.
The overwhelming look on Backstage is that new products get all the attention with older products feeling like they are on life support. I’m sure this isn’t the case, but the comms are sorely lacking. Regular announcements (even if there’s not much to say) show that Polyend is being proactive instead of reactive and would go a long way toward reassuring us that the products aren’t abandoned.
My personal view on it as a user is that the Play+ has possibly reached it’s limit on what can be done with it (but what do I know!) RAM is still fixed at 32MB, same as OG Play.
The cpu also sounds like it may be at it’s limit in regards to what additional features and sample engines can be added, as I did enquire about the DWA engine as the Play+ is missing polyphonic sample playback and without an audio in or recording capabilities, we cannot record external polyphonic gear into it.
I was informed that the DWA engine is doubtful to reach the Play+ as the cpu would probably not be able to handle it, I reckon a new Play device would be need to be designed for any substantial features?
As I mentioned on another thread, it’s still a great and super quick device to play with and it just has to be used within it’s limitations or with some other gear to make up for what it’s missing.
Is there something specific you are looking for with Play+? I have to agree with troxx that the device is pretty maxed out. Might be worth doing a feature request.
Perhaps some of the functions of the sample side, I could see having reached their peaks, I don’t quite get where the idea that the Play+ has reached some level of design that it can’t upgraded without hardware to match it. The midi/synth side has plenty of potential for new features. They even made Dirt specifically for the Play+ before dropping it onto the Synth and there’s no reason to believe they won’t design more like it. Mitch has mentioned in posts within the last year that there’s no plan abandon anything, which is proof enough to me that theyre working on something, even if it’s just bugs. I know he’s also mentioned not dropping hints after some poor reactions to it in the past idk, maybe i’m just being optimistic, but the last firmware was quite the wonderful surprise, imo. I wouldn’t put it past them to do it again. I just wouldn’t expect to hear about it til it’s primed, packaged, and left on our doorsteps.
Hey guys, thanks for responding (even if responses from Polyend are still notably absent)
My issues aren’t with the product or its features, my issue is with communication. If the last firmware release was the last release ever for the Play+, then come out and say so! If Polyend is working on another update, tell us that too! They can’t even answer a simple question like the one I originally asked.
Being a Polyend customer is incredibly frustrating in this regard, and it’s not the first time I’ve felt ignored.
As far as features go, I don’t really need new synth engines, but more quality of life updates would be great. I’ve outlined some in past feature requests, and don’t really have anything new to add. A chorus effect would be nice though, interchangeable with the overdrive effect
I disagree that the device is maxed out, processor power only governs the amount of things that can run at once (I’m guessing this is why there’s a cap to the total number of synth voices and synth engines). Code itself typically takes up very little space, and available RAM would most likely determine the amount of samples you can load in more than anything else.
Anyway I’m not going to carry on, I’ve given my feedback, it’s up to Polyend to respond and up to me to decide if lack of comms makes me want to keep recommending or purchasing Polyend products.
I think so too - there’s plenty of room for tightening up of existing features as well as adding new ones.
In the last firmware, my favourite features were actually the ability to turn the Play+ into a mass storage device, and the updated synth parameter editing. Nothing groundbreaking, just addresses pain points in the original design (which I think is great, if a little flawed in execution).
I’d much rather new firmwares be communicated in advance than just have them “drop” randomly. I’m not saying that because I bought a product off them they have to provide infinite lifetime software updates or anything, I just want to know if they are actually working on something or if software support has stopped. I find it odd that they seem to want to avoid this kind of communication.
I’m definitely not knocking the product, I think it’s pretty darn great. The RAM limitation is a bit puzzling to me though compared to the original, and makes me wonder how much an extra 32MB of RAM would have increased costs by.
I bought one a couple of weeks ago and just returned it. Had updated to 1.3 but I found it too glitchy. Changing parameters the display wouldn’t show the relevant parameter I was adjusting. Also found selecting a midi channel to sequence a midi channel in my daw kept randomly changing on the play+ which was a nightmare.
I feel you! A simple “we are working on something” or “we’ve decided to put our focus on newer devices for now” would be cool.
Potentially something like how Microsoft will give far out timelines for when software and applications will be sunset or EOL’d.
Transitioning into lato season, so maybe after the Superbooth dust settles, they will have a more clear and defined roadmap that addresses as many feature requests for the largest amount of end users. but I just be out here making beats, bleeps and bloops.
