By Koekepan
Sat Jun 11, 2022 3:45 pm
We've had a rash of complaints about what the Force isn't. It's not a looper in the same sense that a dedicated looper is. It's not a multi-track recorder in the same sense that a dedicated multi-track recorder is. It's not an MPC - well, go figure, otherwise Akai would have called it one.
It is a sophisticated sampler. At its core, that's what it is, and what it does. It will handle samples as drum-style kits, and it will handle samples as keygroups.
It also has the ability to trigger, instead of internal samples, either internal or external synths - the latter by way of MIDI.
It has a stable of effects to layer on sound, whether throughput or locally generated. You can mix things together, and you can render results. You can save results. You can attach additional controllers, and audio interfaces to drive more sounds in and out of it.
It's a sampler, and a sample player that expands that concept to be a studio master.
The Force isn't a DJ tool; it's a sampler that's happiest in the studio. Could you run a show on it? Of course! But if you're expecting it to hang with an MTR, a wall of eurorack, a looper and a laptop, you'll be disappointed.
On the other hand, none of the above can do what the Force does, unaided. The laptop can mangle audio six ways from Sunday but without a physical interface and audio interface it has no hope of keeping up with the Force in terms of user experience and workflow. An audio looper can layer loops and slap them around, but has no synthesis capability at all and generally not much arrangement or signal control capability either. An MTR will let you record a band, mix them, do comping and doubling of parts and deliver a whole track, but doesn't do much for live performance, synthesis or anything like it. And if you're trying to compose anything complex on your wall of eurorack - well, good luck with that one.
Perhaps we need a welcome-to-the-Force announcement that starts with what it is? Because it's amazing and powerful and delicious, but poorly presented and communicated?
It is a sophisticated sampler. At its core, that's what it is, and what it does. It will handle samples as drum-style kits, and it will handle samples as keygroups.
It also has the ability to trigger, instead of internal samples, either internal or external synths - the latter by way of MIDI.
It has a stable of effects to layer on sound, whether throughput or locally generated. You can mix things together, and you can render results. You can save results. You can attach additional controllers, and audio interfaces to drive more sounds in and out of it.
It's a sampler, and a sample player that expands that concept to be a studio master.
The Force isn't a DJ tool; it's a sampler that's happiest in the studio. Could you run a show on it? Of course! But if you're expecting it to hang with an MTR, a wall of eurorack, a looper and a laptop, you'll be disappointed.
On the other hand, none of the above can do what the Force does, unaided. The laptop can mangle audio six ways from Sunday but without a physical interface and audio interface it has no hope of keeping up with the Force in terms of user experience and workflow. An audio looper can layer loops and slap them around, but has no synthesis capability at all and generally not much arrangement or signal control capability either. An MTR will let you record a band, mix them, do comping and doubling of parts and deliver a whole track, but doesn't do much for live performance, synthesis or anything like it. And if you're trying to compose anything complex on your wall of eurorack - well, good luck with that one.
Perhaps we need a welcome-to-the-Force announcement that starts with what it is? Because it's amazing and powerful and delicious, but poorly presented and communicated?
Sex spreads disease, drugs poison the brain, but rock is still safe.