Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.
Description
Embrace the retro charm of the Polyend Tracker, a compact standalone workstation set to redefine your music-making experience. Melding the classic tracker's functionality with modern features, this gear is perfect for creatives who love to break the mold.
The Polyend Tracker's vertical timeline, combined with a powerful sequencer and a mechanical keyboard, offers an intuitive way to create and perform. Its lightweight and portable design ensures you can make music wherever your inspiration strikes, be it in your studio, on the go, or at a gig.
The Tracker is furnished with a plethora of sound design tools, granting you the freedom to shape your art. Use your existing sample library, record new ones, or even tap into its built-in FM radio. You're not just playing samples; you're slicing, mashing, and synthesizing them into unique sounds.
Thanks to its bilateral MIDI implementation, the Polyend Tracker not only sequences and controls external gear but can also serve as a sound module controlled by any external MIDI software or hardware.
Key Features:
- Compact standalone workstation with classic tracker functionality
- Vertical timeline with a powerful sequencer and mechanical keyboard for intuitive music-making
- Lightweight and portable, perfect for music creation on the go
- Equipped with a variety of sound design tools, allowing for extensive sample manipulation
- Built-in FM radio for capturing unique samples
- Bilateral MIDI implementation for sequencing and controlling external gear
- Can serve as a sound module controlled by external MIDI software or hardware
- Energy-efficient, can be used with any USB power source
- Sturdy and compact form factor, great for easy portability.
Product specs
| Brand | Polyend |
| Model | Tracker Standalone Audio Workstation |
| Finish | Black, Silver |
| Year | 2020 - 2025 |
| Categories | Grooveboxes |
| Analog / Digital | Digital |
| MIDI I/O | MIDI Input, MIDI Output, USB MIDI |
| Number of Pads | 48 Pads |
FAQs
-
What is the Polyend Tracker primarily used for?
-
The Polyend Tracker is a standalone audio workstation designed for music production and performance, featuring a vertical timeline, powerful sequencer, and mechanical keyboard for intuitive music creation.
-
Does the Polyend Tracker support MIDI connectivity?
-
Yes, the Polyend Tracker offers MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and USB MIDI, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with other MIDI-compatible gear.
-
How many pads does the Polyend Tracker have?
-
The Polyend Tracker features 48 pads, providing extensive control and flexibility for sequencing and live performance.
-
Is the Polyend Tracker suitable for live performances?
-
Yes, the Polyend Tracker is designed for both music production and live performance, offering intuitive controls and a comprehensive sequencer for on-the-fly music creation.
-
Can the Polyend Tracker be used with external synthesizers?
-
The Polyend Tracker can be connected to external synthesizers via its MIDI I/O, allowing you to control and sequence external gear alongside its internal sound engine.
Videos
loopop
Polyend Tracker // Review and Full Tutorial from Sample to Song
Reviews
PROS
-
Intuitive and inspiring for different musical workflows
-
Well-built hardware with thoughtful button and control layout
-
Portable with USB power bank compatibility
-
Large, easy-to-read screen
-
Offers unique multi-part, per-step tweaking capabilities
-
Encourages creativity within limitations
-
Strong community support and regular updates
-
Responsive pads and user-friendly GUI
-
Solid design with durable aluminum casing
-
Acts as an excellent gateway into tracker-based music making
CONS
-
Small, less responsive grid pads
-
Mono samples only, mixing can be challenging
-
Jogwheel lubrication issue requires maintenance
-
Experiences software bugs and slow bug-fixing process
-
Limited granular and wavetable synthesis options
-
Requires workaround for certain features
-
Some users report crashes, especially in live settings
-
Learning curve for those new to trackers
-
Limited effect controls and desire for more instrument parameters
-
Inconsistent power grounding causes buzz when off
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Polyend Tracker.
Features and functionality
-
The Polyend Tracker+ includes audio over USB, simplifying track recording by removing the need to record each track individually.
Source -
The Tracker+ has added synth engines, though some users prefer sequencing external gear for a richer sound palette.
Source -
The OG Tracker received a firmware update allowing for 4 additional MIDI tracks, totaling 12 tracks, enhancing its capability to sequence external gear.
Source -
The Polyend Tracker requires working within a mono sampling environment, but the sequencer allows for some stereo processing, with stereo export available for finished tracks.
Source -
The big screen and tactile feedback, with clicky buttons, enhance the user interface, distinguishing it from touch-based systems like MPC One.
Source
User experience
-
Owners report frequent firmware updates from Polyend, although bug fixes can take several months to be resolved.
Source -
Users appreciate the Tracker's intuitive hardware interface, particularly for song tracking and recording notes and effects in real-time.
Source -
Some users note the faster load times on the Tracker+ as a significant improvement, making the upgrade worthwhile for those sensitive to performance speed.
Source -
Some owners find the learning curve steep, taking over a year to become comfortable, but creativity and inspiration can still flourish during the learning process.
Source
Comparisons
-
The Dirtywave M8 is highlighted for having more features, such as 8 tracks, assignable EQs, and a touchscreen, outclassing the Polyend Tracker in versatility.
Source -
Renoise software is suggested as an alternative for those unsure about the Tracker's workflow, providing a less restricted environment to explore tracker-style music production before committing to hardware.
Source -
The Tracker is praised for its simple, tactile interface and is preferred over more complex devices like the Elektron series, which are noted for hidden features and a steeper learning curve.
Source
Use cases and applications
-
The Polyend Tracker is noted for its portability, allowing users to compose music while traveling, powered by a standard USB powerbank.
Source -
The Tracker's sequencer is praised for its simplicity in triggering external gear like the SP-404mk2, offering improved workflow over its internal sequencer.
Source -
For those commuting or working outdoors, the Tracker's portability makes it ideal for music creation during camping trips or while relaxing in a hammock.
Source
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 0 Reviews and 5 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
Polyend produced a Legowelt special edition of their Tracker, featuring demo tracks and samples made by Legowelt.
Pete gives the Polyend Tracker a jungle run-through in this video. As a hardcore Amiga guy, he knows what he wants from tracker-based workflows.
per this video's title, Sam Barker gives us a demo of his first experiments on Polyend's Tracker
In an Instagram post captioned "cookin hard, or hardly cookin? Kanazawa" by goreshit, the artist is seen with Hitori Tori at a train station in Japan, where a Polyend Tracker is visible.
Polyend worked with Bogdan to produce an Artist Edition Tracker with samplers and demo tracks created by Raczynski. An exclusive 4-track EP on vinyl, presumably crafted using the Tracker, also ships with this Artist Edition unit.
In the article "Robert Lippok - The Electronic Pulse of Berlin" by Emanuele Battisti on K-Devices, a photograph from Robert Lippok's studio clearly shows the Polyend Tracker, and the article explicitly mentions the use of this unit.
In the video titled "C'est la key 5/22/2021" (originally from Instagram), a Polyend Tracker is seen on the floor of Devyn's studio.
Polyend tracker is in title + can be seen throughout this tiktok on their channel.
In this Twitter post from Jan 16, 2022, Polyend, maker of the Polyend Tracker, posted a link to promote Arcologies' hour long Polyend Tracker jungle mix on Youtube.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Polyend Tracker, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursSimilar
Add recommendation2 alternative and related items for Polyend Tracker, curated by the Equipboard community.
$665.89
More Polyend Production & Groove
Gear Guides
Most Popular Production & Groove
Most Popular Brands
-
Added to Equipboard on by
pkennethkGear IQ 26711
-