Polyend

FM VERDICT
9.3
Play is outgunned by rivals
in some of its sample
capabilities, but the unique,
slick and inspiring workfl ow
shines through above all else
PAD GRID: Play’s responsive pads
handle most of the workfl ow, including
sequencing and playing sounds live.
ROTARIES: All rotaries are touch-
sensitive, immediately bringing up the
appropriate display on the screen.
AUDIO/MIDI: Pressing shift and
hitting Patterns jumps between audio
sequencing and external MIDI tracks.
FILL : Fill can auto-generate patterns,
based on randomisation, Euclidean
sequences or pre-defi ned beat temp .
quick-fi re performance tool.
There’s a lot of fl exibility from
these rotary-controlled parameters
alone, but Play adds several more
layers of capabilities on top of these
still. Foremost is the polyphonic
external MIDI sequencing
capabilities. Play features an
additional and largely independent
sequencer layered over the sample
sequencer, including a handy chord
mode and CC outputting from the
rotaries. This means it’s possible to
create multi-track external patterns at
the same time as sequencing the
internal audio engine. In all, Play can
store and chain up to 128 patterns,
each containing sample and MIDI
sequences of up to 64 steps plus
multiple variations. It’s an impressive
amount of functionality and really
makes Play appealing as a potential
hub for a live setup.
Alongside its step sequencing
workfl ow, Play can also be played and
sequenced live, including the ability
to live record rotary movements into
each sequence. The grid can be
played as a pad keyboard, or samples
can be played chromatically from an
external device. Play has a Scale
function too, which allows audio and
MIDI sequences to be locked to a
preset selection of notes.
It’s also worth giving a mention to
Play’s interesting Fill mode. This is
similar to Tracker’s auto-fi ll tool,
whereby the device can automatically
populate selected sequencer steps
based on user-input parameters. Here
these come in three forms – Random,
which is based on a user-set density,
Euclidean, which will evenly divide
triggers across the selected steps, and
Beat modes, which apply stock,
genre-inspired drum grooves, either
for a full beat or selected drum types.
The fi nal element of Play is a
wonderfully fun Perform mode. In this
view, the pad grid switches to control
eight colour-coded banks of punch-in
effects, ranging from stutters, rolls
and repeats to pitch shifts, delay and
reverb effects, and overdrive/bitcrush.
These effects are applied to selected
tracks, and deactivate the moment
the user leaves the Perform screen. In
this view, users can also make
adjustments to the rotary parameters
that will reset once Perform is closed.
There’s no denying that Play is an
exceptionally powerful tool. That said,
there are some weak points – the lack
of onboard sampling puts it behind
many similarly-priced competitors,
and some of the sample-shaping tools
are a little basic, such as the simple
A/D amp envelopes and lack of LFOs.
The lack of fl exibility in the delay and
reverb is also a little limiting, and the
fact that it’s impossible to transfer
samples or fi rmware directly over
USB – as opposed to removing the
SD card – is a slightly baffl ing
annoyance. That said, a few of these
points are compensated for by the
fact that Play comes stocked with a
generous, quality library of sounds.
For me though, any weaknesses
are offset by the open and inspiring
sequencing workfl ow. Particularly
when it comes to combining sample
sequencing and external gear, Play is
potentially unrivalled.
With its slightly unusual workfl ow,
Play will likely click more for some
users than others, although I suspect
as with Tracker it will also in time
inspire an enthusiastic community of
evangelists to its cause.
What’s becoming increasingly
clear is that Polyend are a brand with
a genuine understanding of what
makes an instrument inspiring and,
crucially, creatively useful. Kudos.
PAD GRID:
Play’s responsive pads
ROTARIES:
All rotaries are touch-
AUDIO/MIDI:
Pressing shift and
FILL :
Fill can auto-generate patterns,
Polyend Play | Reviews
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FMU384.rev_polyend.indd 75FMU384.rev_polyend.indd 75 16/05/2022 19:0516/05/2022 19:05