Back when I was a kid, we had a Casio SK-1. We’d spend all day making samples of burps and turning them into silly little songs, but that’s as far as it went. You couldn’t layer tracks or anything. Modern children, however, are about to get an actual full-featured groovebox, thanks to Playtime Engineering.
The Blipblox myTRACKS is a complete music production studio, according to Playtime. It features a built-in microphone for sampling (similar to the Casio SK-1) but also 50 instrument sounds and 25 pads to play them on. These sounds can be arranged into five tracks, resembling many grooveboxes intended for adults, and there are two FX processors and a range of effects. It may look like a toy and feel like a toy, but it’s not really just a toy. To that end, the announcement video shows an adult jamming out on the device once the kids are asleep.
You can transform sounds and add effects via two bright purple levers on the side, which function like typical mod wheels. You can buy sound packs online and upload them via USB-C. There’s even a MIDI port. It’s a groovebox, although not as high-tech as something like the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field or the Roland MC-707.
Downloading sound packs and modulating effects may be a bit too complex for younger kids, but the myTRACKS also includes hundreds of built-in melodies and drum loops to play around with and have fun. There’s also a randomization feature that the company says “instantly creates new songs for unlimited fun and inspiration.” These songs might annoy you as you go about your daily tasks, but it’s better than a child staring at a tablet all day, right?
Now the disappointing news. The kid-centric groovebox is currently just a Kickstarter project, with shipments expected to go out in November. However, this isn’t Playtime Engineering’s first foray into this type of gadget. The company has released numerous child-friendly synthesizers and music-making devices in its Blipblox line. There’s the original Blipblox synth and the more recent Blipblox After Dark. Both were praised for being suitable for children while still being enjoyable for adults. The myTRACKS Kickstarter will launch on April 9, and pricing will range from $250 to $300 for backers.
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