Yeah. I’m not too keen on the idea of them splitting resources to work on two OS’s at the same time either. But I haven’t bought any Akai gear in years; they might have changed, and I’m unaware.
The Eclipse and the Live. That’s a valid point, I suppose.
Though I imagine most of the leg work has already been implemented, with the Live anyway. I believe it would just be taking the DAW of the Touch and put it IN the hardware.
The Eclipse, I don’t know. I haven’t yet been sold on the MPC workflow so my expectations are low for that, considering it’s estimated to be 2k. I couldn’t image it being more alluring than the Toraiz(outside of filling in the functional shortcomings of the Toraiz)
Toraiz Firmware update just dropped
Nice to see it taking shape a lot better now 
Think I’d prob be happy with it after this update. Price still seems ridiculous tho… Maybe it’ll drop after the mpc arrives.
Spotted a Toraiz in the SOS Ads, nothing to do with me though, just mentioning it…
http://www.soundonsound.com/readersads/drum-machinespads
Anyways…
As I posted on another forum earlier, I’ve been using it for a few hours this morning. It really brings a lot more to the table, great fun! New FX are great, very impressed with the LoFi and Distortion (all p-lockable). Compressor is pretty useful too (can be used as a master FX).
Custom slicing really gives it a lift - much more flexbile now, and very fast and easy to use - I prefer it to slicing using Push 2 actually!
LFO’s rock, I want another now!
Finally, the midi side of things is very good - up there with the octatrack sequencing side of things (though has no arp, that would be nice)
I found one bug, which I posted on the Toraiz forum.
The only bummer is that you have to choose whether a pad is a sample, midi or thru track, so you can only have 16 in total (like the octatrack I guess).
All in all, when live sampling comes in the next OS early next year, it will be a serious performance sampler to contend with the best of them.
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Just copped a Toraiz…
Sound is superb
- Crisp highs and clearly defined deep lows swimming in subs
- Filter is creamy goodness
- Overdrive works on even harmonics and is excellent
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my plan is to think which one I will pick : New MPC or TORAIZ… I will see that when have more informations…
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I am still very pleased with my toraiz! The soundquality is great and the fx are very nice.
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I really like mine so far. I feel consistently inspired writing patterns on it. Great sound quality and I really like the sequencer. Totally reminds me of tracking from the 90s Can’t wait to see what their next patches bring to the table. The hardware is super solid, so it’s just a matter of improving the software from here on out.
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anyone using the individual outputs? I’m directing the drums out of output 3+4 and plug it back in in the inputs via the analog heat for the drums, its great! But the rest is just going thru the main outs. I want to use a reverb send but I am not hearing it… If I don’t use individual outs the reverb is there as a send, but when I use individual out I’m not hearing it… weird… Anyone with a toraiz can confirm that?
Anyone brave enough to hop to version 1.3? If so are all your projects safe? Any crashes?
-Rich
Wow, all the boxes are checked now on their roadmap. Well on time. Is the Toraiz all mature now? Anyone tried the last version?
1.3 is stable for now. All projects and samples are OK.
It still can not be said that SP-16 is fully mature,
it makes progress considerably from 1.0.
Although it is unacceptable that there is no undo.
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That is rough. Each output can have its own filter now though
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This (and the copy scenes) is the only thing at the moment that makes this update allright.
They really need to fix things, like undo. And when you do something with a sample the ability to overwrite the old one, now you have to save him apart from the old one. And I have got a whole list of fixes…
Also I find it dissapointed the looper is not there yet. It was promissed in this update, now it comes in april…
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And when you do something with a sample the ability to overwrite the old one, now you have to save him apart from the old one. And I have got a whole list of fixes…
This is really annoying me.
It’s complete mystery and weird there is no overwrite.
In addition,SP-16 can not erase sample without connect PC.
This is very very weird too.
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I have a friend who have the Toraiz and I have the chance to borrow him for few days. I would like to post what I think about it. The Firmware is 1.30
Overall Quality : Yeah it’s very well built, Form Factor is not very suitable for Live Rig unless you use only Toraiz or Toraiz + 1 Elektron. For instance in the GIG Bag you can put 1 AR and the Toraiz take 2 Elektron spaces. (it’s a bit too tall for the BAG but you can shut down) The Workflow and Operating System is super nice, honestly a Kid could use it. Pads are very nice, Filter knob in the Pioneer Mixer style. Other knobs are ok but there’s Notched !!! That’s the first BAD THING because you will need to assign the Touch Fader controller each time you want smooth automation or p-lock. Touch Fader controller is nice but you will have to setup on a largest value (6 bipolar or 12 bipolar). The small feet below seems to make a little suction cup. If you shake it you hear things wandering inside (strange) maybe it’s up to the unit I have tested. Touch screen + Scroll knob is very accurate, a pleasure to deal with that.
The SOUND : That’s the most impressive quality point of the TORAIZ. I never heard something sounding nice as the TORAIZ it’s definitively PRISTINE sounding. You have a lot of Gain, if your headphones is at max level on the TORAIZ : go check a Hearing Specialist 
You can go to +3db on the Master. LPF and HPF Filter from Dave Smith is incredible when you play LIVE of course you must don’t abuse or overdo it, it’s easy to fall in the DJ Downside effects but it’s very effective, the Drive is gorgeous. Downside of all of that points is it can saturate very fast… so keep headroom on the 16 tracks.
Effects : 1 on Master, 1 Send, 1 FX1. Regarding reviews I see there’s a lot more effects to come, +FX2 slot so don’t worry about it. The compressor, ducker, filter, EQ is awesome you can really mixing with it, shame there’s no spectrum. No ping pong delay. Reverb is ok but not the best I’ve heard. (some more reverb algorithm should be nice ! Reverb is really important.) Effects pair well with the Sound of the TORAIZ, the GEAR rocks seriously in that territory.
Sampling : Nothing to say, it’s sampling quality I really like it. 32 secondes of sample limit but hey it’s already 4 x 4 bars at 120BPM. The most disturbing with that limit is pop-up when you scroll your library because you will get a message if your sample if more longer than that. SO forget about long evolving texture, voice speech etc… Drums chain if longer… you will have to cut and prepare everything according to that limit. That is a bit annoying.
Memory and Live capabilities : I find it pleasant to work with, memory is fast, amount is ok (8gb)… and you can plug external SSD or USB Stick to search for and load in the context of a live/song. that’s fine. Scene Manager is cool it’s popup and touchable so in Live context it’s nice ! 16 pads X 16 pattern X 16 song with no audio interruption, all is loaded in memory no LAG it’s perfect. 8 STEREO outputs is just so NICE for mixing then.
Studio Capabilities : Mounting the Toraiz or using external device working nicely. No over bridge or something similar of course. One of the advantage of the TORAIZ is a SUPER NICE RENDER functionality you can Render Tracks / Full Arrangement (song mode) by separate file, separate outputs… it’s more or less FAST I think (like Ableton) and it’s very accurate for then polishing your Song on a Daw after. They did great with that.
Workflow, Sample, Editing & Sound Shaping : That’s the PART where they need to make it better. it’s too simple !!! in a way it’s fine when it’s simple because the workflow is smooth and pleasant. But on the TORAIZ forget Copy, Paste, Cut, Trim, Fade, Silence, Delete, Volume changing on part of the sample etc… you can edit slices, Start point, End point, Loop point (that’s cool option you can make pads, workaround for the 32secondes limit but not always easy to done it’s depend of your sound design and how the tail of your sound is loop able or not…) ONLY AMP Envelope and AHR model : that ! I really dislike that ! you forced to use the LFO for every modulation and sometimes a USER envelope is needed (Filter Env, Pitch Env… and go on and go on) Only 1 envelope and only one LFO. No multiplier, so you can’t go really crazy with it. But as a workaround you can assign the touch strip but meh, honestly that the BAD Side of the TORAIZ… I really hope they do better in that territory. Slice style sampler is ok, but sometimes I need program (the old school way) no Chords, no polyphony with pad… Timestrech is fine but only 1 model you can’t choose Beat, Melodic etc… You can play chromatically but mmm +/- 3-4 semi-tones maximum after it sound crap to my hears. Better to make chain of the note you want to use in your melody and play the slices instead. (Then the AMP Envelope should be ok but I notice it’s not every time accurate with the PAD triggering)
Firmware and Features to come : No doubt with Digitakt and MPC Live / X they will have to put a lot of efforts to keep their user satisfied it seems like firmware updates is every 6 months. They done a lot with 1.20 and 1.30 version… But user seem to be disappointed, because there’s a lot to do to ! But it’s perfectly usable in this state. a bit annoying on some point (and crucial one !) But still the SOUND is brilliant. (No color or identity you like or do not like BUT very Pristine)
I advise people to wait and try MPC Live before ! PAIRS with an ANALOG HEAT you should get a more or less close to the Toraiz and probably don’t miss anything on the MPC Live in every scenario. MPC Live is a bit smaller too. Ground on the inputs so you can sample records without a mixer. Outputs is ok. Edition is nice. A lot of of Effects which will probably not to be as nice as the Toraiz I’m practically sure of that part. More features, more power, more storage… I hope the touch screen will be as nice as the TORAIZ.
BUT, probably the UI will not be as fine as the TORAIZ, all is perfectly clear, mixer and vue meter is very nice, TR sequencer style is super cool, 4 bars as Elektron. No polyrhythms thoughtfor now…
for now…
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You have to use a SP-16 to get the workflow. The 6 parameter knobs do a wide range of p-lock duties because there are different parameters to lock on the waveform, amp env, FX and step sequencer pages. There are also Full, Half and Parameter step locks. A Full step triggers the sample, amp env and step p-locks. A Half step lock retriggers only the amp env and step p-locks. The Parameter step lock only fires off the p-locks parameters.
Then you have midi tracks which send notes, chords and several (fixed) CC values as p-locks.
Is any of this sounding familiar?
I’m hoping the MPC has a similar thing. The Toraiz looks great, but I want out of 4/4