Sampling production lab. Is this what Polyend’s lineup is missing?

General
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Hey friends!

Recently, Bento launched a really exciting new production workstation and I couldn’t help but notice how much it reminds me of Polyend’s design aesthetic.

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As someone who owns the entire Polyend lineup, I think many of us would agree: while Polyend makes amazing, innovative instruments, there’s still a noticeable gap when it comes to working with samples and loops in a truly complete way. Even today, proper slicing and flexible loop options are missing and that feels like a missed opportunity.

But honestly, it’s both frustrating and exciting at the same time.

Frustrating because we know what’s missing but exciting because we know what Polyend is capable of. Their track record is incredible: they’ve built instruments that are not only beautiful, but also creative and deeply inspiring. Every device has a strong identity, focused on a clear purpose and that’s a strength. But it’s also why we still don’t have that one ultimate all-in-one Polyend production machine.

What I dream of is a Pro desktop Polyend workstation a portable studio that brings together the best of what Polyend has already created. I want proper audio inputs and outputs, full sampling capabilities, all of the synth engines, a powerful processor, big internal memory maybe even a version with a built-in speaker for true portability.

To me, that would be the next evolution - the ultimate expression of everything Polyend stands for .

It’s time not just for another sequencer, tracker, groovebox, or synth - but for a truly legendary, all-in-one music machine. (Although let’s be honest: the Tracker already is legendary in its own right!)

There aren’t many truly complete portable studios out there - maybe MPC, Maschine+, or the MC-707 - but a Polyend version would be something really special.

What do you think?

P.S.
At least working towards supporting samples and loops would be an excellent decision for the company’s development.

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P.S.

Honestly, the biggest fail with Bento in my opinion is the screen bezels. They look pretty bad.

One thing I truly admire about Polyend is their commitment to design quality. They don’t cut corners and it shows. Clean lines, elegant interfaces, beautiful displays. I’m really glad Polyend keeps pushing for that high design standard.

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I made a feature request for something similar a while back. It’d be great to see anything bridge that gap between the device and the computer for editing purposes. Especially for the play/+, imo.

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That’s a great idea; I’m sure it’ll be a natural evolution of Polyend’s ecosystem. Full-featured apps, desktop PRO versions - it’s simply a dream.

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I bought the Bento and it’s on its way back I’m afraid, they released it way too early, I can’t use it to record cos of the double triggering issue on the pads.

Honestly the Polyend Play is almost a perfect groove box in terms of creating quickly, I think where Polyend dropped the ball slightly was releasing the Play+ without increasing the project memory to cater for the stereo samples or working with longer samples and still not releasing a slicing feature, even the OG Digitakt still has a larger project memory of 64mb while the Play+ has a limit of a ridiculously low 30mb.

Here’s my wish list for Polyend Play improvements:

  • At least 100mb Project memory

  • Sample streaming from sd card, thus the meta data of the project would reference the sample location on the card without affecting the limited Project memory, allowing for longer samples to be used

  • Sample slicing!!

  • Be able to set note lengths on the audio tracks like the midi tracks

  • Polyend Synth style display for easier synth editing, scrolling a list of parameters ain’t fun!

  • Option to restrict pick and place to individual tracks, so I don’t accidentally have different synth parts on multiple tracks

  • Increase synth multitimbral tracks to 6 instead of 3

  • Increase synth polyphony to 16 for the extra tracks

  • A dedicated drum kit track which uses maybes 8? oneshot samples but only uses a single audio track similar to how the Perc uses one synth voice for all 5 drum parts

  • I’d also like to see polyphonic sounds on single tracks rather than having to select multiple tracks to create a simple chord, it would make melodic tracks which use chords much easier to navigate and edit.

Forgot a couple other things…

  • a stereo line input to record hardware directly into the Play and be able to create perfect 4/8 bar loops on a audio track

  • Timestretch algo for an imported loop to an audio track

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Thank you for your feedback about Bento. I’ve been eyeing it for a long time but felt that it was clearly unfinished, and the large screen bezels disappointed me. This is definitely not something I expect from products released in 2025 or to wait for a new version with “thin bezels.”

I fully support your ideas. I sold all my Elektron gear because creating even a simple beat takes ten times longer than on my Polyend Play. However, I must give credit to Digitakt, as it alone covers all functional nees. That’s exactly why, like many others, I’m asking for a Pro version of Polyend.

I haven’t encountered better UI/UX in digital equipment. But it really lacks full realization of its potential and needs to be put on steroids.

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Most of that is absolutely fantastic. I would buy immediately a groovebox like that.
A polyend play with sample streaming from SD and much more memory is a dream.

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As long as any new Play device didn’t get rid of the sample pack, smart beatfill or randomise/action functions any improvements and additional features would be awesomely welcome

I love creating my own sample packs and creating random loops with the algorithms, it’s some of the Plays best features (in my opinion :grin:)

btw.. enjoying your tracks and sets you’ve been creating with Polyend gear, I need to be more proactive and get some recorded and uploaded

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Yeah, if your interested in the Bento and no doubt it will be a cool device to hook up with the Play, I’d say give it a good few months until they get the bugs and features sorted, then see what folks are saying about it, I might take another look in the new year, but I’m more than happy with the Play+ and Tracker Mini, such great damn instruments!

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Power heavy bulletins in this topic.

Play
sequencer is very close, I would love a song mode that can sequence mute/solo and variation states . And ability to jump between song steps instantly (vital for workspeed when trying out pattern combos). Instant fluid copy/paste speeds. apply Color to Pattern also plays a huge role. I would get a play just as an >> great visual hands on arranger << if it did this

  • Modular like routing and modulation interconnecting OSCs and samples between tracks would be next level. That means being able to route ‘‘samples/folders’’ inside synth plugins as OSC, using the synth engine to modulate.

In addition to this a Complex OSC engine where you can trigger and sequence each factor independently would really bring this to creative modular level sampler/synthesizer

  • I would love an upgraded output/sound fidelity, the MPCs, Pioneers and Rolands all seam bigger in sound. I really like the airy sound of the Polyends but for heavy 909s kicks or strong synth tones the sonic differences are often quite audible.

  • Tailor like arp rolls, or basically a complete section dedicated to ARP rolls (melodic rolls) that can be adjusted by rate, range, offset/grid /strum and or occupy/ amount of notes or just many multiple versions of arp patterns that can have basic adjustments.

  • An online editor/file manager,..
    would be very ‘‘2008 esque’’ :face_blowing_a_kiss:

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That all being said I will say my NR#1 choice of super groove box atm by far is the PolyPulse

Cons:

  • Its big, heavy, only mono samples, low on poly when pushed and It’s not exactly a: MPC sampling power
  • It offers only pulse like sequencing no real-time or xox record modes.

But on the

Pro side:

  • It sounds gorgeous !!
    Incredible fidelity. The Digital synths sound like great digital euro racks modules. So organic and independent. Full of character and soul. Flutating and edgy, no idea how Lambada was able to get this fidelity, it’s superb! That goes for the samples as well, they sound amazing. Deep low end, punchy minds and clear highs on a jomox like level. It’s impressive.

  • Superb selection of Synthesis engines /methods that can be treat samples and or have sample list (folders in Polyene terms) play through them.

  • Superb Live playabilty

  • Engines can have external modulation from another track
    Pulse sequences is exotic, wild and impressive range set.

  • Gets updates almost every month

many more reasons both pro and con, that I dont have the time to go into it, hope the mentioning invokes the Polyends fire :phoenix: …
but I’ll say this: if it was realistic on the go option, or if I was in a studio setting this would groovbox would be instant buy for me :star_struck:

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I was just recently looking into it and considering buying one. Have you already tested it in person? Or is your opinion based on reviews? I have a few doubts about it myself, but your feedback is definitely making me think twice about the purchase.

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Been following it since release,
last two updates included pattern-chain mode where ‘‘slots’’ in pattern chain ‘‘may play random patterns’’ (or from a selected ‘‘pool’’ of selected pattern)

The motion-pads can also be cued ‘‘so new sound’’ per pattern, motion-pad automation can also be cued and recorded ..so all sorts of fills or audio travel/morphing are possible now … this is a huge upgrade!

Additionally they added triggering envelopes from external pulses: > super cool, specially as you can have note list (loaded folder of samples) play through an alternative synth engine envelope ‘‘that may be triggered by alternative source/pulse’’ … it is very rhythmic modular like and a fascinating world to explore, specially with the sound quality on hand ..

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But you have not used it in person?

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I believe its bought by order, its hand assembled and assemblies are by sessional bulk orders. I dont have any way to test it.

Yet Ive read the manual, Im on the forums, I’ve listened, viewed every on-line media about it, spoken to users and the designer.

Im very passionate about getting an instrument that fits my needs, so I do tonn of research beforehand ..

I love almost everything about it, and what touches me most besides the rhythmic modular like features is the impressive sound. You can read and hear and even watch how all these actions sum.

I can’t talk about the workflow and the affectability of certain features that have not been displayed yet .. I can’t express my opinion on fluidity of hands on workflow, its eccentric sequencing nor the sweet or week spots within its synthesis .. I would likely have one if I could fit it in my traveling means although the new MPCs are always 15 minutes away and I have a lot of work in MPC4k format so Im trying to remain patient.

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Something like this one

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What does the bento do that the tracker + or mini doesn’t though?

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samples loop supporting / wrap, pitch, slice & low memory for samples

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It’s not what they don’t do, they’re just different, but the Bento does stream samples directly from sd card, has a 16 oneshot drumkit, which is great for importing NI Maschine kit samples into the slots, also has the lemon drop granular synth integrated, it also can be used as a looper as it can create perfect loops from external gear

But from what I experienced it needs some time to mature, too many bugs for a release product.

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Tru, I forgot about the multi-sample stuff, but the tracker slices / repitches / does granular samples with the best of them. IMO when I looked at the Bento there wasn’t much that appealed to me coming from the tracker, except for the multiI sample capabilities. I considered / still have an alert out for a cheap lemondrop for that reason.