NAMM 2018: Blipblox – If Fisher Price made synthesizers…
Debuting at NAMM is the Blipblox from Playtime Engineering. Insisting that it’s not “your typical music toy” (whatever one of those is) this has professional features and a nearly endless ability to create new sounds.
Blipblox
Of course we will scoff – just look at it. It looks like any number of neglected plastic, battery operated toys I have cluttering up my house in the wake of three kids. But you have to give these things a chance. It’s always the musical toys that get the most attention at any given creché, so why not have something a bit more intentional?
It’s designed to be useful, fun and engaging to all ages and capabilities. No keyboard or boring piano sounds, instead it uses a “proprietary algorithm that synthesizes completely unique waveforms”. Instead of just playing notes you are actually designing sounds.
The synthesizer specs are actually pretty interesting. 8 unique oscillator modulation schemes, a low pass filter, 2 envelope generators, 2 LFOs and a 3×3 modulation matrix. The built-in sequencer and drum machine comes with a load of melodies and rhythms ready to go. There’s a MIDI input, a whole load of buttons and knobs that are all wipe-clean so you don’t have to worry about your dribbles. And check out the LEDs and the speaker.
There are two videos which are a little bit of a letdown. The sounds and features are interesting, it’s just the presentation isn’t very, urm… fun? He needs to give it to some kids to play with.
Priced at $159 it’s pretty steep for toy synth let alone a kids plaything. It is half the price of the Data Duo, but the Blipblox should be 50 bucks I think.
More information
- Playtime Engineering Blipblox webpage
Video
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2 responses to “NAMM 2018: Blipblox – If Fisher Price made synthesizers…”
“Should be 50 bucks, I think”
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Glad you got blog points, but fuck you. When was the last time you let a kid near your modular? $150 is a STEAL. Have you even bothered to check the specs or did you just look at a picture?
I’m not a hater. I think if you re-read the article you’ll see that I give it a lot plus points and positivity. I think it’s great, like the Duo, but I feel both are overpriced. And for something that they say themselves is a musical toy aimed at children. There are so many less toy-ish musical boxes out there for that kind of money that I would happily let my kids spill their drinks on.