Modal Electronics Intros CRAFTrhythm Drum + Percussion Sampler

Modal Electronics have introduced CRAFTrhythm – a new member of its Modal CRAFT family.

Modal CRAFTrhythm is an 8-track drum & percussion sampler device that features a range of sample sequencing and modification options. Like the earlier CRAFTsynth, the CRAFTrhythm is an inexpensive, but powerful, device that you assemble yourself. It can work standalone, but also works with the free CraftApp that lets you load custom samples and more.

Here’s the official intro video:

Each Modal CRAFTrhythm track features its own mixer section, low pass resonant filter, and pitch & time modes – all of which each have their own envelopes. The built-in 16 step sequencer allows for 16 recallable patterns and up to 16 part pattern chaining, with realtime and step input, and provides a groove control for creating unconventional rhythms.

Modal CRAFTrhythm can store onboard up to 64 x 16-bit mono audio samples with a sample rate of 44.1kHz, and, through the Modal CraftApp, users are able to upload their own samples into memory. The factory sound bank that comes installed as standard on the Modal CRAFTrhythm include several drum, percussion and rhythmic sounds and effects created on the CRAFTrhythm’s bigger brothers Modal 001, 002 and 008.

Up to 8 kits, combining chosen samples and parameter settings, can be created and stored on the Modal CRAFTrhythm, allowing for on-the-fly sample and parameter changes – great for live performance.

Modal CRAFTrhythm can be used standalone, and contains a large number of panel controls and LEDs for setting up and displaying parameters, as well as touch pads for playing samples in realtime. The device can also be used in conjunction with the Modal CraftApp, to provide easy access to all parameters, as well as sample, kit, and pattern management. CRAFTrhythm can connect to a computer, tablet or phone via class-compliant USB-MIDI, allowing compatibility with external MIDI software and devices.

Modal CRAFTrhythm Features:

  • 8 track drum/percussion sampler instrument kit with built in 16 step sequencer, requires no soldering, electronics skills or tools.
  • Can store up to 64 x 16-bit mono samples with a sample rate of 44.1kHz, and using CraftApp users can upload their own samples
  • Mixer stage per track with level and pan controls
  • Low pass resonant filter per track with a dedicated Attack-Hold-Decay envelope
  • Amplitude Attack-Hold-Decay envelope per track
  • Tune control with 3 different pitch modes – SPEED, STRETCH and SHIFT
  • SPEED alters the pitch by playing the sample faster or slower
  • STRETCH selects the number of steps the sample will be stretched to fit into, allowing for tempo matching for looped samples
  • SHIFT activates a pitch shifting algorithm that maintains the original sample length along with a dedicated Attack-Hold-Decay envelope, which works well with samples containing melodic content
  • 16 recallable patterns with up to 16 part pattern chaining
  • 8 recallable kits that store the per-track parameters for sonic changes on the fly
  • Global tempo and tap tempo with a step division for semi-quavers, quavers and quarter notes
  • Pattern groove control that up to half way increases the swing/shuffle amount and then provides 8 preset grooves that allow for triplets and other non-conventional rhythms
  • Live input mode allows steps to be played in while the sequencer is running
  • Class-compliant MIDI provided over USB connection to host computer, tablet, or smartphone
  • Headphone and line output
  • Powered by USB Mini B or optional AAA battery pack (Adafruit 727, 3 x AAA pack)

CraftApp Features:

  • All CRAFTrhythm track parameters accessible from a single interface
  • Sequencer grid page for editing sequences
  • Sample management page allows users to upload their own sounds via a drag and drop interface to replace the default samples
  • Many live options available including different pattern loading options and a sample grid to trigger any of the 64 samples at any time
  • Patterns and kits can be stored locally into the banks provided
  • 8 User configurable fills to temporarily replace the current pattern
  • Allows the user to edit the default groove presets

Price and availability to be announced soon. The CRAFTrhythm makes it public debut at Knobcon 6 in Chicago, USA, 8-10th September 2017.

18 thoughts on “Modal Electronics Intros CRAFTrhythm Drum + Percussion Sampler

      1. No? And I suppose there’s no such thing as Modal Craft App for ios?…..which as I pointed out could be manipulated direct on screen….. hence time between thought and action = fractions of seconds. Using hardware interface = minutes? hours? as much as days in my case.

    1. With all due respect to your ‘work’, this was out long before you announced your product. For much of what you claim, what you deliver is terribly underwhelming.

    2. How about you just complete something, instead of popping up in unrelated news and whining?

      This looks professional and completely thought through, something that you should strive for with your products.

      Back on topic – this looks cool and, if it’s anything like the CraftSynth, it will be a wold in sheeps clothing.

      1. wold /w?ld/
        noun: wold; plural noun: wolds
        (in Britain, often in place names) a piece of high, open, uncultivated land or moor.
        “the Lincolnshire Wolds”

        1. Here’s what’s interesting about wold.

          “”.join([chr(ord(‘a’) + ord(‘z’)-ord(c)) for c in “wold”][::-1])

          There’s only a handful of words that do that.

    3. I love the incomplete schematics on your “open source” offerings. Also love how rude you are to the DIY community. O you know the non experts of the group who are trying to learn more…. Go read any thread by this guy. I think he expects the community to feature complete his products but then fosters a toxic environment by being curt and the thread disappears. Dude cant start a thread without being flamed to death. maybe that is for good reason?

    4. Why? Because you think someone used your open source project as an open source project? You’re like a bicycle builder accusing Nissan of ripping off the GTR you designed. You’re not in the same league duder. Thats not an attack, thats the truth.

    5. I love your stuff and appreciate the hard work you do, but I fully understand why you are saying that. I took my own stuff down a few years ago and have since gone dark. The abuse and threats from trolls and haters weren’t worth it. Some of the threats were grotesquely explicit. So now I have the coolest stuff and people might see it in performance videos or live sets but they aren’t going to be seeing more than that. Their loss, not mine. Good luck to you in your endeavors and thanks for what you’ve done so far.

    6. LOL yes. The makers of some of the best sounding synths currently available were like “Hey, let’s rip off this guy who comes up with shitty ideas but never actually releases anything worth while.”

  1. Modal just announced price = £99 🙁
    Psychologically there is a huge difference between that and £79 for the craftsynth, for me anyway.

  2. £99? This is a no-brainer. The only downside is that (at the time I write this) no North American dealers appear to have it in stock.

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