I’m starting to collect these trackers now, I have the Original and a Mini and now I’ve placed my order for the Plus. I might be a little obsessed with them perhaps 🤔 Big thanks to Polyend I love these trackers immensely 😊
I love how full-circle the development of this is. We've gone from turning the Gameboy into a music machine, to putting a Gameboy into the music machine. There's something really satisfying about that, and I can't quite explain it 😀
I'm so happy there's been this resurgence of hardware that just doesn't need a full PC daw. I love making digital music without having to turn on my PC.
Soooo... I wrote literally thousands of songs using modedit etc back in the day..... and this video made me realize why I like using spreadsheets so much now 😊 greetings from Maelcum of KFMF!
OG PE Tracker user here. I really like how they evolve the Tracker. Man, 8 tracks PLUS 8 MIDI tracks is amazing. Chords easiliy eat up 4-5 tracks, so thats a more than welcome expansion...
@@neiel1 each note will have to be in a separate column, so a three note chord will take up three columns but only in that specific step. You can have as many instruments as you want/ that can fit into a column but only one note in each step per column. Hope that makes sense. As an example you could have three columns playing chords together but also have something like percussion or drums or bass living in those same three columns as long as they are placed in open steps. Also, the tracker makes it very easy to resample ( or Render, as they call it) any group off steps cross multiple columns. meaning you could program in your chords, resample them and place that sampled chord into a single note event/step on a single column. its not nearly as confusing as my explanation sounds. The Tracker is perhaps the easiest, most intuitive groovebox I've used.
@@iiaaiiaannaaiiaaiithank you! That was a very helpful explanation. I believe I understand. Moreover, I am further inspired to explore making music in this way! Cheers!
@@neiel1 Great! I was suprised by how easy, intuitive, and expressive using the Tracker is after having read fearful reports to the contrary. maybe it just clicks with me but i think it's so logically laid out with very few shortcuts to remember .
Love discovering new about music from your videos, they are so cozy like a blanket in autumn. Also they are one of the few things on the internet I look forward to ❤
Great video David. Thank you for using my FM Swell patch in your composition at 3:19 . I worked on a load of the patches for the Polyend Play+ and these have been brought across as the synths are the same. So nice to hear one of my patches being used in your tune. 🙌🏻
I'm so glad this video exists as someone who is (very) new to making music and who didn't know about trackers. now i have so much to learn and discover! thanks David, great video as always :)
This tool seems so cool! I'll need to consider buying stuff like that in the future when I'll have the money for it Your channel is genuinely one more source of motivation for me to start produce music on digital hardware, keep up with the good work!
Hi, I always appreciate your videos, even if this one really looks like a commercial ;-). I think it is worth knowing that the last available units of the Polyend Tracker (OG) can be found for about 390€ in European stores and online, and that 2nd hand units now go for 300€ and less, making it a fantastic value for the price (they lack the synths though). Also I was wondering if you had ever been curious about the Dirtywave M8 tracker, which is IMHO the best option for a pocket sized groovebox available. Has way more sonic and sequencing power than the Polyend too, and is an incredible little machine. It does ' types of synthesis, and is a fantastic sampler too. Check it out.
I really appreciate you digging into the early trackers; I haven't seen many reviews of the hardware trackers from the perspective of someone who used those back in the day. FastTracker 2 started everything for me, so I've been curious what I would think of returning to that workflow in the new, hardware environments. Thanks for lending your perspectives!
The more I watch David the more I get in trouble at work for trying new things on my pocket operator. Your videos are amazing and never seize to inspire
This is a great overview, thanks! I still love my OG Tracker but it would be nice to have more tracks and built-in synths, of course. Only Version 2 of this hardware and it's really an all in-one box already! Pretty great.
I have the OG tracker and the tracker mini, Was thinking about the tracker+ but instead I got a Synthstrom Deluge(oled version) for a bit less money(£750 as opposed to £799). I decided I was happy with the Polyend trackers that I have, and I have wanted a Deluge since they first came out but could never afford one until now. If I find I don't get on with the Deluge I know I can easily sell it because they are always in demand, and the tracker+ will be available for at least the next few years and by then most of the bugs(Polyend gear always has bugs) will be sorted. Also I'm fed up of being a beta tester!
wow if these features come to mini thats amazing. I didn't expect it to have the horsepower to support it so i was watching the video pretty bummed about what i would be missing out on. Great news, and it makes sense now there was a steep discount on the regular tracker
This is inspiring to watch. I recently got back into using the Nintendo DS to make synth music (16th notes on a grid with patterns rather than a tracker) so the concept is similar. I'd highly recommend Korg DS-10 and also DSN-12 if you have a 3DS, the former is two monophonic synths and four drum voices, the latter a more versatile 8 monophonic synths that can be anything. The limitations and framework of these things can lead to very different music than picking up a guitar, and I like that. EDM is super fun to make.
There is a fantastic video by Ahoy here on CZcams that is a history of tracker music and the demo scene. Well worth a watch for anyone interested in tracker music.
My goodness! I shouldn’t have watched this video haha. I’ve been interested in trying out a tracker and though I figured I’d go with the M8, the Polyend Tracker got me a bit more interested. The UI of the knob and pads seem to bridge a bit of the creation if you’re new to trackers and allow for playing things in on a chromatic keyboard. So good! The reason I shouldn’t have watched this one is I was going to get the OG but this with the synth engines has me very very interested. I’m coming from a modular synth background that’s more generative in nature. I’d be stoked to be able to do some very finely articulated drum patterns in this though as a completely different workflow as to what I work with in modular. Then again, maybe the OG will help me get a bit more competent working with samples, especially as there’s a lot on offer for processing internally. Given I think I can get an OG used for less than half the plus, my wallet may dictate my decision. Thanks for the thoughtful video as always. What’s next?
Thanks for your video inspiring! Questions: can we play samples on 16 tracks (or only 8 tracks + 8 synths/midi tracks)? Can I transfer tracks from/to Tracker+ and old DAW trackers like FastTracker2? Suggestion: I would be interested in a video focusing on synth engine capacities! Thanks
I've always wanted someone to make a high quality video on the history of trackers and tracker music. The only two I knew about where Fast Tracker II (was there ever a 'I'?) and ModPlug Tracker, but I lost touch with that whole world when ModPlug stopped working
Considering I used trackers as both my introduction to music production and as my first MIDI sequencer, I have a very soft spot for these hardware trackers and the thoughtful additions made that would have blown my day back in the early 90s. I honestly prefer the workflow to any of the modern DAWs. If PolyEnd wants to send me one, I promise to make you a really nice video 😉
I second the appreciation of your integrity with the sponsored content deal. Huge integrity as usual and you are so damn awesome besides. Thanks for another outstanding video, David!
Polyend and David. QQ - Does the Tracker Plus finally support multi-timbral external MIDI control of voices in MIDI Synth mode? The usefulness of the mode on the original was kind of limited because I could only control a single voice (polyphonically) at a time from Ableton. It would be significantly more useful as a synth-sampler module if I could program playback of 16 separate monophonic instruments from Ableton.
So cool, like a timewarp back to 1988, where I started making tracker music with my Amiga 500 😊. Can this tracker also make these legendary chords by fast playing single notes ? - Thanx . Really like your Videos … Greetings from Vienna😀😎
I feel like this could be used as a super powerful step sequencer tool. I was thinking abt getting a key step pro or smt of the sort but maybeeeeee. I have a new excuse to get something unique.
Thankyou for a great demo. About to get a mini. I might have missed it but is the mini 2.0 going to be a firmware update or an uodated piece of hardware. A mini plus if you will.
Just got mine like "Oh, no PERC yet". Kinda why I bought it and I knew it was in the works but its pretty loose on the timeline and details and after seeing it a few times, kinda assumed it would be a day 1 firmware update. Either way, initial reaction is good, but dam, really wanting "PERC".
It would be cool if it had an Emulator for running old trackers (just for nostalgia's sake), but its cool to see nevertheless. I lived through most tracker era's myself, from Protracker, OctaMED on Commodore Amiga, to Impulse, Scream, Fasttracker II etc on MS-DOS PC, to Renoise on Windows 11 :)
This type of music creation is so fascinating. There's a great artist that I listen to that makes music entirely through this type of software. His name is FearOfDark, I would highly recommend checking him out. Love your videos, this is super interesting!
Tracker based composing is the only way that makes sense to me. I even use renoise to control my animatronics😅. Even Keith303 was impressed! (king of tracker).
The only "missing piece" for me is that I wish there were chord inputs on a single track. I know that's not how traditional trackers work, but there's really no reason to hold onto old software limitations.
First fix the bugs on the OG. Later release a new version. Latest firmware update introduced even more bugs. This thing can´t be used professionally because it hangs all the time.
@@RonCavagnaro Yes...I know that...thanks anyway. I am still trying to decide what would suit me better. Telling me they are similar but different, does nothing.
Thank you for making this video Dave, we love it!
Hey Polyend, cheeky I know but if I gotta at least try. How about you send me one of these for free?
I’m starting to collect these trackers now, I have the Original and a Mini and now I’ve placed my order for the Plus. I might be a little obsessed with them perhaps 🤔 Big thanks to Polyend I love these trackers immensely 😊
Need upgrade path for original units
@@vishnudh1216 Different scenario don't you think ? Tracker is on the market like couple of years whereas Play+ was released soon after Play.
Can you add usb mass storage mode to the original? Not being able to copy files directly in 2024 is actually awful.
I love how full-circle the development of this is.
We've gone from turning the Gameboy into a music machine, to putting a Gameboy into the music machine. There's something really satisfying about that, and I can't quite explain it 😀
Same.
I'm so happy there's been this resurgence of hardware that just doesn't need a full PC daw. I love making digital music without having to turn on my PC.
Which is why I have finally just got a Deluge!(difficult choice though)
I applaud you for putting clicking the magical sponsored video checkbox. So many people don't and it's refreshing to see your integrity 😀
Soooo... I wrote literally thousands of songs using modedit etc back in the day..... and this video made me realize why I like using spreadsheets so much now 😊 greetings from Maelcum of KFMF!
Good job on your video! That was one of the patches I made Bucephalus. I was thrilled when you picked that!
So great!
Digiphex, just who I wanted to see. You may have said in one of your videos, but since you've used both, do you prefer the Tracker or the Play?
Bouncing ball?
OG PE Tracker user here. I really like how they evolve the Tracker. Man, 8 tracks PLUS 8 MIDI tracks is amazing. Chords easiliy eat up 4-5 tracks, so thats a more than welcome expansion...
So, that was going to be my question, not having worked with trackers how chords are displayed. So each note on input splits into a new column?
Update: I just watched a (almost unlistenable) video by Stazma on Trackers chord function. So, 3 note chords should only take up one column each?
@@neiel1 each note will have to be in a separate column, so a three note chord will take up three columns but only in that specific step. You can have as many instruments as you want/ that can fit into a column but only one note in each step per column. Hope that makes sense. As an example you could have three columns playing chords together but also have something like percussion or drums or bass living in those same three columns as long as they are placed in open steps. Also, the tracker makes it very easy to resample ( or Render, as they call it) any group off steps cross multiple columns. meaning you could program in your chords, resample them and place that sampled chord into a single note event/step on a single column. its not nearly as confusing as my explanation sounds. The Tracker is perhaps the easiest, most intuitive groovebox I've used.
@@iiaaiiaannaaiiaaiithank you! That was a very helpful explanation. I believe I understand. Moreover, I am further inspired to explore making music in this way! Cheers!
@@neiel1 Great! I was suprised by how easy, intuitive, and expressive using the Tracker is after having read fearful reports to the contrary. maybe it just clicks with me but i think it's so logically laid out with very few shortcuts to remember .
Love discovering new about music from your videos, they are so cozy like a blanket in autumn. Also they are one of the few things on the internet I look forward to ❤
Great video David. Thank you for using my FM Swell patch in your composition at 3:19 . I worked on a load of the patches for the Polyend Play+ and these have been brought across as the synths are the same. So nice to hear one of my patches being used in your tune. 🙌🏻
This is amazing! it's giving a mix between Album Leaf, Lena Raine, and The Postal Service. but it still sound like a David Hilowitz original.
I'm so glad this video exists as someone who is (very) new to making music and who didn't know about trackers. now i have so much to learn and discover! thanks David, great video as always :)
This tool seems so cool! I'll need to consider buying stuff like that in the future when I'll have the money for it
Your channel is genuinely one more source of motivation for me to start produce music on digital hardware, keep up with the good work!
You’re such a cool artist and I always use your samples
Fantastic video! I've been wanting one for years and I think I'll end up sending it on the +. I can't wait!
This channel has such quality videos. Always excited when I see a new one pop up!
It's interesting what types of hardware for music production there are. I'm glad you always cover something new
Hi, I always appreciate your videos, even if this one really looks like a commercial ;-). I think it is worth knowing that the last available units of the Polyend Tracker (OG) can be found for about 390€ in European stores and online, and that 2nd hand units now go for 300€ and less, making it a fantastic value for the price (they lack the synths though). Also I was wondering if you had ever been curious about the Dirtywave M8 tracker, which is IMHO the best option for a pocket sized groovebox available. Has way more sonic and sequencing power than the Polyend too, and is an incredible little machine. It does ' types of synthesis, and is a fantastic sampler too. Check it out.
This brings back memories, as my music journey started with OctaMed on the Amiga
No manual soldering of audio out jack on this one 😢
Still a pleasure to watch as always.❤
Stay safe and inspired.💪
I really appreciate you digging into the early trackers; I haven't seen many reviews of the hardware trackers from the perspective of someone who used those back in the day. FastTracker 2 started everything for me, so I've been curious what I would think of returning to that workflow in the new, hardware environments. Thanks for lending your perspectives!
Great video David. man tracker+ looks incredible. bravo polyend ❤
The more I watch David the more I get in trouble at work for trying new things on my pocket operator. Your videos are amazing and never seize to inspire
I was an Octamed kid. Thanks Commodore User and Amiga Format!
Your content is like the cherry on top of a great day! 😁
Been a while since I've tuned in, this is dope
Love to see you re-entering your tracker era 💪
I'm obsessed! Have you tried PlayerPro? I had to install MacOS 9.2 in a VM to get it running. Not sure it was worth it. haha :)
This is a great overview, thanks! I still love my OG Tracker but it would be nice to have more tracks and built-in synths, of course. Only Version 2 of this hardware and it's really an all in-one box already! Pretty great.
Thank you Dave! Love the video!
Great beat and intro to the new tracker
Big fan of the old one and this video has me very interested in the new one
Bro, are used to love making music in impulse tracker and scream tracker. This is so cool.
Such a nice instrument, I looked a bit about Trackers, and now I'm more and more intersted in that :o
I am so excited for this!!!
This made old ScreamTracker and ImpulseTracker me very happy!
Great job on this one!
Come for the gear, stay for the beautiful music.
Great demo! 🎉
I don't what it is but this video finally made trackers make sense to me. Maybe it's all the spreadsheets I use...
Enjoyed... and wishlisted :)
1:11 Brings back memories of my tracker days.
I have the OG tracker and the tracker mini, Was thinking about the tracker+ but instead I got a Synthstrom Deluge(oled version) for a bit less money(£750 as opposed to £799). I decided I was happy with the Polyend trackers that I have, and I have wanted a Deluge since they first came out but could never afford one until now. If I find I don't get on with the Deluge I know I can easily sell it because they are always in demand, and the tracker+ will be available for at least the next few years and by then most of the bugs(Polyend gear always has bugs) will be sorted. Also I'm fed up of being a beta tester!
wow if these features come to mini thats amazing. I didn't expect it to have the horsepower to support it so i was watching the video pretty bummed about what i would be missing out on. Great news, and it makes sense now there was a steep discount on the regular tracker
Amazing 👏
Wooo! Looks awesome and just what users wanted. Would be great to have some chiptune friendly oscilators!
You can load in single cycle waves for this!! :)
This is inspiring to watch. I recently got back into using the Nintendo DS to make synth music (16th notes on a grid with patterns rather than a tracker) so the concept is similar. I'd highly recommend Korg DS-10 and also DSN-12 if you have a 3DS, the former is two monophonic synths and four drum voices, the latter a more versatile 8 monophonic synths that can be anything. The limitations and framework of these things can lead to very different music than picking up a guitar, and I like that. EDM is super fun to make.
have you tried nitro tracker for the DS? it’s also great!
I have to admit to being cynical about needing an upgrade to my beloved OG Tracker but this is kinda a wishlist win! Thanks :)
There is a fantastic video by Ahoy here on CZcams that is a history of tracker music and the demo scene. Well worth a watch for anyone interested in tracker music.
Hey thanks for the video, just wondering, can you change the new synth parameters with the efx change commands?
My goodness! I shouldn’t have watched this video haha. I’ve been interested in trying out a tracker and though I figured I’d go with the M8, the Polyend Tracker got me a bit more interested. The UI of the knob and pads seem to bridge a bit of the creation if you’re new to trackers and allow for playing things in on a chromatic keyboard. So good! The reason I shouldn’t have watched this one is I was going to get the OG but this with the synth engines has me very very interested. I’m coming from a modular synth background that’s more generative in nature. I’d be stoked to be able to do some very finely articulated drum patterns in this though as a completely different workflow as to what I work with in modular. Then again, maybe the OG will help me get a bit more competent working with samples, especially as there’s a lot on offer for processing internally. Given I think I can get an OG used for less than half the plus, my wallet may dictate my decision. Thanks for the thoughtful video as always. What’s next?
Thanks for your video inspiring! Questions:
can we play samples on 16 tracks (or only 8 tracks + 8 synths/midi tracks)?
Can I transfer tracks from/to Tracker+ and old DAW trackers like FastTracker2?
Suggestion: I would be interested in a video focusing on synth engine capacities!
Thanks
i need this!
Protracker on my Amiga 1200. Ah good times!
Octamed!
Isn't there a limit to how long all samples can be together in one song (independent of disk space)?
I've always wanted someone to make a high quality video on the history of trackers and tracker music. The only two I knew about where Fast Tracker II (was there ever a 'I'?) and ModPlug Tracker, but I lost touch with that whole world when ModPlug stopped working
Ah, I remember trying to learn trackers to make chiptune music, this is tempting.
Considering I used trackers as both my introduction to music production and as my first MIDI sequencer, I have a very soft spot for these hardware trackers and the thoughtful additions made that would have blown my day back in the early 90s.
I honestly prefer the workflow to any of the modern DAWs. If PolyEnd wants to send me one, I promise to make you a really nice video 😉
When will this be available at retailers in the US?
It's not for me, but it's cool that it exists!
I second the appreciation of your integrity with the sponsored content deal. Huge integrity as usual and you are so damn awesome besides. Thanks for another outstanding video, David!
Jeez…it’s sponsored, the gushing praise is needlessly excessive.
@@X22GJP don’t be jealous. I’m sure someone loves you, too.
bruh chill the bootlicking isn't a good look, we get it, y'all are paid to leave positive comments on this guys channel or whatever
You poor thing
Polyend and David. QQ - Does the Tracker Plus finally support multi-timbral external MIDI control of voices in MIDI Synth mode? The usefulness of the mode on the original was kind of limited because I could only control a single voice (polyphonically) at a time from Ableton. It would be significantly more useful as a synth-sampler module if I could program playback of 16 separate monophonic instruments from Ableton.
i really hope that over time we get more engines with future updates past the 2 that are coming up
Me, too. I would personally love to see Emilie Gillet's gorgeous Plaits oscillators.
You said some features will be coming to the Tracker Mini, will that include the onboard synths by chance?
So cool, like a timewarp back to 1988, where I started making tracker music with my Amiga 500 😊. Can this tracker also make these legendary chords by fast playing single notes ? - Thanx . Really like your Videos … Greetings from Vienna😀😎
How does ot handle polyphony? Can you play samples polyphonixally?
I am pret-tyyyy jazzed about thiiiis....!!
I feel like this could be used as a super powerful step sequencer tool. I was thinking abt getting a key step pro or smt of the sort but maybeeeeee. I have a new excuse to get something unique.
Thankyou for a great demo. About to get a mini. I might have missed it but is the mini 2.0 going to be a firmware update or an uodated piece of hardware. A mini plus if you will.
Firmware update
Just got mine like "Oh, no PERC yet". Kinda why I bought it and I knew it was in the works but its pretty loose on the timeline and details and after seeing it a few times, kinda assumed it would be a day 1 firmware update. Either way, initial reaction is good, but dam, really wanting "PERC".
Very cool stuff. David do you not get overwhelmed by the shear amount of things devices like this can do?
I really, really do. I feel like I touched on about 20% of what it can do :)
Im sold!
It would be cool if it had an Emulator for running old trackers (just for nostalgia's sake), but its cool to see nevertheless.
I lived through most tracker era's myself, from Protracker, OctaMED on Commodore Amiga, to Impulse, Scream, Fasttracker II etc on MS-DOS PC, to Renoise on Windows 11 :)
I love you!!!
This looks really fun. I'm a little embarrassed by how much I like spreadsheets.
Can you upload samples into the tracker and play them cromaticaly across an external keyboard in polyphony?
Will the audio over usb work with ios
This type of music creation is so fascinating. There's a great artist that I listen to that makes music entirely through this type of software. His name is FearOfDark, I would highly recommend checking him out.
Love your videos, this is super interesting!
Thanks, I'll give him a listen right now :)
Are the synth tracks coming to the Tracker Mini? If have both the OG and the Mini.
yes!
Tracker based composing is the only way that makes sense to me. I even use renoise to control my animatronics😅. Even Keith303 was impressed! (king of tracker).
Will they be doing the same trade-in deal this time;)
i'm so glad i didn't get any polyend trackers a few months ago.
can you randomize synth parameters?
Elektron and polyend are threatening to destroy my bank balance.
I wish they would do a trade in . I purchased the tracker 1 not too long ago
It's rare but they have no plans for doing that at the moment. I've got the 2nd gen Tracker which will do.
Alright time to wait for this firmware to land on the mini
Can this be locked to a scale ? Thanks
2:55 What I heard at first: “I feel like I'm always writing things in the KFC”
The only "missing piece" for me is that I wish there were chord inputs on a single track. I know that's not how traditional trackers work, but there's really no reason to hold onto old software limitations.
Make a sample be a chord lel
@@pyra9345 I mean, that’s what I currently do to save space on the OG Tracker.
@@MassacreVegan Yea
Whaaaat I am getting syntsh for my tracker mini?? awesoooooooooooome:)
Curious what we don’t get lol. Considering it was stated that almost all of the features will be passed on. That almost part makes me curious 😂.
First fix the bugs on the OG. Later release a new version. Latest firmware update introduced even more bugs. This thing can´t be used professionally because it hangs all the time.
So the Synths are coming to the tracker mini ?
yep
@@DavidHilowitzMusic that’s awesome !!!!!!!!!!
No wonder the old ones were on sale for under $400US. Hopefully no drama this time
Nice upgrade, but disappointed there are still only two fx slots.
I love my OG Tracker not upgrading to another one for awhile. Rad AF though!
Damn and I just spent may spare cash on a digitakt 2 🤣
synth models coming to tracker mini?
yep
🦕
Finally they did it! Time to sell sp404mk2 and Seqtrak.
Does it play Doom?
I was just about to buy a Circuit Rhythm, now I am wondering if this might be a better option.... :(
@@RonCavagnaro Yes...I know that...thanks anyway. I am still trying to decide what would suit me better. Telling me they are similar but different, does nothing.
can you transfer fast tracker XM songs on polyend tracker?
No
Hold up, 8 midi tracks and synth engines are coming to my Tracker Mini??
yes :)