2026 playlist(s)

[oldangelmidnight]

There's no reason AI should be involved. If they wanted to make something accessible, they could make a simple GUI and let people pick and choose how they want to customize it. The alternative being programming in C++ just feels like a dick move.

[dubkitty]

on my pedals with multiple hidden functions—including the EHX Canyon, Empress Nebulus, and CB/Cooper Gen Loss v2—i have to save presets. i can’t be fucking around with secondary knob functions in real time.

i think the Poly thing is that way because they can retain maximum control over the pedals/software/designs. hard to extract money from end users if it’s easier to use.

[Gone Fission]

That pricing model and control setup on the Polyend just brings to mind the word so many other things do in our current hellscape: “enshitification.”

Casio is also throwing down on the fun portable sampler game. No real details or pricing: https://www.instagram.com/p/DT00o1uksT8 ... Z0cWlhZ2pn

[echorec]

i think the Poly thing is that way because they can retain maximum control over the pedals/software/designs. hard to extract money from end users if it’s easier to use.

As for Polyend, I can't help but wonder if 3 knobs is just a cost-cutting move, rather than an artificial ceiling to stimy would-be opportunists. This may be planned obsolescene after all. They can learn from this launch and release a larger pedal with expanded functionality in the near future.

I can definitely see a scenario, where someone is conceptualizing oddball and niche exotic effects and then selling $5 algos, which could then be downloaded to various platforms---just like a software builder selling to Mac desktop, Android, Linux, iOS.

One of the biggest things holding back innovation is $$$ and resources. If someone has a lot of quirky ideas, but no money to get things off the ground, I could see a certain amount of exploratory effects gaining traction. In an open-doors world, you wouldn't have to worry about commercial rent/warehouse fees/unused or obsolete parts/risks to your business if a design flops. With no overhead and little fear of a failed launch, there'd be a lot more freedom to take risks with more exotic and challenging designs.

[echorec]

This really sums up the pedal world---

On one hand, you've got companies trying to incorporate AI into open-source, crowd-driven pedals. On the other hand, T-Rex is unveiling a stereo update to wire delay. That's right, cold war tech is still not dead, folks.

presenting the T-Rex Binson Stereophonica ($3,000 for those of you decadent enough for such an indulgence)

Here's a couple product pages:

https://www.perfectcircuit.com/t-rex-bi ... onica.html
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... drum-delay



It's even got MIDI, peeps, because that's what your 1940s technology needs---modern, digital precision.



Also, from T-Rex comes the Roommate D'lux Stereo Reverb. (8 algos for $299 USD)

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... verb-pedal

[Seance]

Which part do I stomp on in order to get my must-have, non-negotiable tap-tempto?

Are people in this day and age expected to figure out tapped-temptos on their own without smashing things underfoot?

That's why they're injecting AI into pedals—to further grind musicians under the heel of our digital overlords.

[echorec]

Red Panda is still teasing out their stripped-down Raster evolution. (they're now saying March is the target with a tag of about $229)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1O7UGo_2Mc (Delicious Audio)

Are people in this day and age expected to figure out tapped-temptos on their own without smashing things underfoot?

That's why they're injecting AI into pedals—to further grind musicians under the heel of our digital overlords.

While you could always use the two expression ports or MIDI, why would you want do any stomping? That's kids stuff. What you'll want is a neural implant, so you can just blink your tempos like Morse code.

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[echorec]

Early pick for coolest booth at NAMM?

https://www.instagram.com/gearnerdinami ... mg_index=3



https://www.novoguitars.com/collections ... ble?page=1

[echorec]

With Bananana not releasing anything in five years, you may have forgotten about them. I was wondering if they were slowing to a close, but it looks like they're resurfacing with their most-advanced offering thus far. (no price or product page yet)

[Quimera is] a powerful polyphonic synth and sampler pedal designed for guitarists and experimental musicians.

Available in March 2026[...]

All audio in the video is created using only a guitar and QUIMERA — no other instruments or plugins are used.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AG_rqEXxSo
https://banananaeffects.com/blogs/news

Some highlights: many wavetables to choose from, you can use it as a standalone synth, import user samples, activate multiple effects at once.

[le lambin]

I have a soft spot for Bananana. I wanted to order a Mandala way back when and reached out directly since they’d been out of stock forever- they were cool enough to let me know they were working on the v2 and they even sent me one of the first ones when they were finished.

I probably won’t get this since I prefer actual synths, but I’m really glad they’re still doing their own weird thing. Huge leap forward from something like the v1 tararira- fucking awesome they have found a way to work on what they’re interested in all these years and not be forced to throw in the towel.

[echorec]

I have a soft spot for Bananana. I wanted to order a Mandala way back when and reached out directly since they’d been out of stock forever- they were cool enough to let me know they were working on the v2 and they even sent me one of the first ones when they were finished.

I probably won’t get this since I prefer actual synths, but I’m really glad they’re still doing their own weird thing. Huge leap forward from something like the v1 tararira- fucking awesome they have found a way to work on what they’re interested in all these years and not be forced to throw in the towel.

My only Bananana experience was the Tararira V2, which was fairly unuseable with no blend control. It just dominated my synths, and I didn't like that. I find a lot of the synth pedals (BOSS, EHX) embarrassingly sad---they don't sound like actual synths---they sound so harsh and unpleasant. (didn't love the original Enzo, but I haven't used the deluxe)

I'm hopeful for more synth modelers, because I want to use them with drone synths and drum machines. I don't need them for something like an OB-6 or a Sub-37. I'm in agreement on B's progression/longevity. It's nice to see them sustaining their pursuits. If the Quimera produces some intriguing textures, I might run it in the FX loop of an analog delay. That might be interesting for unexpected background textures.

[dubkitty]

i like it much more than the Enzo, which i thought was good. it raises the same question, though: do i really want my guitar to sound like a synthesizer? my aesthetic for loops has always been “everything was done with only guitars and effects,” and i’m hesitant to cross that boundary.