PGB-1 Compact Open-Source Groovebox (Metal)

Wee Noise Makers PGB-1

This metal version of the PGB-1 from Wee Noise Makers is a super portable, open-source groovebox with eight individual channels of sounds, a deep sequencer and an on-board sampler for sampling and resampling directly into the unit. The PGB-1 may look simple at first glance, but underneath its cute exterior is an open-ended and deep song crafting machine. Its sequencer contains sixteen individual tracks which can accommodate up to sixteen patterns, which themselves can hold sixteen steps each. Not only can the PGB-1 use those sixteen tracks to sequence its internal sound generators, but also up to sixteen different MIDI-compatible instruments via its MIDI output.

The PGB-1 provides six Synthesis channels, each of which can produce vastly different sounds simultaneously. These six channels are broken down into six different types of sounds: Kick, Snare, Hihat, Bass, Lead and Chords. These Synthesis channels contain a ton of different presets and sounds, all of which can be edited and interacted with via the Touch Strip on the front of the unit. There are also an additional two Sampler channels, each of which can be used to add percussion, one-shot samples, or anything else you can imagine to your tracks. The PGB-1 comes with a ton of samples out of the box, but of course, you can add your own samples with the web interface on Wee Noise Makers' website. Moreover, you can record samples directly into the unit with the on-board mic, or via the audio input jack.

While it's a groovebox at heart, the PGB-1 also provides a ton of features that make it an excellent on-the-go song writing machine. Its dedicated Chord Sequencer makes composing new progressions simple and intuitive. Alternatively, there's also an onboard random Chord Generator, perfect for jump-starting ideas that can be developed as you go. PGB-1 also includes a number of sound design tools to spice things up even further, such as per-channel LFOs that can modulate and evolve your sounds alongside the sequencer. There's also four different types of essential audio effects for emphasizing the emotion of your sounds, including Reverb, Overdrive, Bitcrush and Filters.

The open-source nature of the PGB-1 means that while its stock firmware is certainly powerful, it will inevitably become a hub for user-made firmware and features down the road. The PGB-1 from Wee Noise Makers offers a ton of beat making and song writing potentially right out of the box, but it looks poised to become a fully-fledged platform of its own as time goes on.

PGB-1 Features

• Portable open-source pocket groovebox
• Sturdy metal build
• 128x64 OLED screen
• 6 synth channels, 2 sampler channels
• Variety of sound engines
• 8 LFOs (one per channel)
• Deep sequencer
• Chord sequencer and generator
• Built-in effects
• Sample directly into unit with on-board mic or audio input
• 3.5mm Audio input and output
• Import samples via the web interface
• MIDI input/output