PlayFader is a colourful two-channel CV and gate performance looperPlayFader, a new two-channel CV performance looper built by Play All Day, was unveiled for the first time on Saturday at Machina Bristonica 2023, a popular synth exhibition in Bristol.

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Set to start shipping in 2024, PlayFader is a portable looper designed for real-time manipulation and looping of CV signals. It’s the first product set to be launched by the brand, which usually specialises in providing social music tech events, holidays and ‘sound walks’.
PlayFader’s colourful interface features eight colour-coded buttons and two sliders for a stripped-back, simplified operation. Each channel comes equipped with CV and Gate outputs, manipulated using the accompanying faders and buttons. The looper enables synchronised signal looping, accommodating unquantised gates and synced ratchets. It also offers a latch function for dynamic CV adjustments alongside ongoing gate patterns.
Credit: Andrew Hadjiantoni
The PlayFader offers customisation through user scales, including voltage ranges of 2, 3, 5, and 8 volts, with potential accelerometer integration in the future, says the brand. PlayFader boasts an array of connectivity options, such as CV/Gate outs and clock in/out via CV and MIDI.
The Latch feature lets you override the recorded CV in the buffer and generate a CV value based on the live Fader position while the gate pattern continues. This enables dynamic manipulation of CV signals, opening up cool creative options. Users can easily switch between the live Fader-generated CV and the previously recorded pattern by toggling Latch on and off.
The ability to loop sounds on the fly has always been a beneficial feature for performers of an electronic ilk. More tools today are providing more experimental features for loopers, however. Recently, musician and developer Jonatan Krogh launched Cantor, a free software tool described as a “complete self-contained Looping, Sampling and Sound design software”. It’s for musicians who “don’t like computers”, says Krogh.
Play All Day’s PlayFader will be available for pre-order for $420/£345/€399, with shipping beginning in early 2024. Find out more at goplayallday.com.
Sadly, Machina Bristronica has come to an end. However, keep an eye on machinabris.wpengine.com to find out information about next year’s edition.
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