Dirtywave M8: Handheld synthesizer, sampler and tracker open for preorders
5,0 / 5,0 | 
Dirtywave M8 · Source: Dirtywave
Dirtywave M8 · Source: Dirtywave
Dirtywave M8 · Source: Dirtywave
The Dirtywave M8 Tracker is an exciting looking handheld music-making machine that’s ready to go. Preorders are open now!
M8
Designed by Timothy Lamb (AKA Trash80), powered by the Teensy micro-controller and inspired by the Gameboy tracker Little Sound DJ the M8 features 8 tracks of built-in synth or samples and a MIDI output to reach external gear.
Dirtywave M8 · Source: Dirtywave
The sound engine is quite comprehensive with Wavsynth console sounds, Macrosynth based on Mutable Instruments Braids and a 4-operator FM synth. The Sampler can playback mono and stereo files up to 24bit. You can sample directly into the M8 and you can render out tracks and songs to waveforms. For effects you have reverb, chorus and a master bus limiter.
The Tracker/Sequencer offers 8 monophonic tracks with 255 patterns, song arranger and advanced modulation.
Since we last saw an update on the M8 it has acquired song rendering, the FM synth, direct sampling and editing and they’ve added multiple unit linked playback support. One stroke of genius is making the MIDI in/out TRS ports both Type A and Typer B compatible – thank you! The dimensions have changed a little bit with an upgrade milled aluminium frame which also means you won’t be able to mount it in Eurorack without some modification.
It is still completely stunning to look at.
Dirtywave M8 · Source: Dirtywave
The cost is $450 and shipping will start in July. They are limiting it to 2 per customer which is nicely optimistic. It comes with a MIDI adapter and a 32GB SD card full of demos and samples.
Simple demos are in short supply but you’ll find some along with interesting discussion in amongst the long Discord Meetup videos on the youtube channel.
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4 responses to “Dirtywave M8: Handheld synthesizer, sampler and tracker open for preorders”
If it works the same as computer trackers, you have 8 tracks but you can put more than 1 instrument on each track, for example a hat sample between 2 kick samples. With skill you should be able to make quite complex stuff with 8 tracks. With a MIDI out, this looks like a pretty good little device to leave on your sofa, keep adding bits to a tune, then send the MIDI to the computer (or render the tracks) to add more stuff after you’ve filled the 8 tracks up.
I am super hyped on this! I love trackers and love LSDJ …but I feel like $450 is a little too steep for this one, I’m sure it costs a bit to make and maybe it’s a fair price point from that perspective but $450 is too much from the perspective of this being an extra piece of gear that I take around with me for fun. Which is unfortunate because I would absolutely love to write with it
It is insanely deep. The internal 4-op FM synth and the synth engine from Mutable Instruments Braids are fantastic. Add to that that it’s streaming the data from SD instead of loading it into limited RAM makes it even more fantastic. Battery powered, audio out over USB possible, so is audio in for sampling. A very solid firmware and the 450$ don’t just pay for the device and the R&D costs, but also future firmware development. With all of that, 450$ is a steal!
Pre-ordered.
I was converted to trackers by Polyend but this little guy has UX pedigree and enough synth power to be my home studio for a while. Very excited to try it out!