New releases last two weeks: Studio Equipment

Notes: The latest in 1010's innovative range of compact devices, the Bento is a fresh take on sampling and sequencing, offering an alternative to conventional options such as Akai's MPC series. Pure standalone creative flow.

Supplier's notes:
Sample Every Flavour

Bento is a portable, all-in-one sampling production lab that brings together flexible sequencing, expressive performance tools, and pro-level connectivity-perfect as the centrepiece of your desktop or mobile rig. Whether you're looping on the go, launching clips live, or sequencing your entire synth setup, Bento gives you the tools to shape your sound from idea to performance.

With pristine 24-bit sound quality, a bright 7" touchscreen, 16 responsive pads, and deep control over samples, MIDI, and effects, Bento offers a fast, fluid workflow in a compact and portable form. Sequence one-shots, build multi-sample instruments, and chop loops using Bento's flexible tracks, scene-based sequencing, and expansive modulation and FX engine.

Designed to replace laptops, simplify cabling, and integrate seamlessly with your gear, Bento features multiple stereo inputs and outputs, USB-C host and device ports, dual TRS MIDI I/O, and a built-in battery for up to 3 hours of mobile creativity.

Recording Capabilities

Capture loops quickly with the option to synchronize the start and stop times to the clock
Trigger recording via audio level threshold
Create perfectly sized loops by setting the recording length
Enable immediate playback after recording for live looping capabilities
Make recordings up to 4 hours in length
Resample the master output without patching
Store recorded samples as WAV files on the micro SD card

What's included

bento - sampling production lab
MicroSD card with over 160 patches and over 200 wav files
USB C power cord
USB C power and data splitter
Type B TRS MIDI To MIDI 5 Pin DIN adapter
QR Code with link to the Quick Start Guide

Technical Specs

8 tracks with multiple patch types-sample banks, multisamples, slicers, granular, loops, and external MIDI
16 pressure- and velocity-sensitive pads
7" diagonal touch screen
8 context-sensitive endless encoders
3 stereo inputs, 3 stereo outputs, 1 stereo headphone out
2 TRS MIDI inputs & 2 TRS MIDI outputs (Type A & B)
USB-C host and device ports
Internal battery with 3 hours in low power mode
Includes 155 Patches and over 5000 sample files
Expandable via microSD card
24-bit ADC/DAC
MIDI sequencing, modulation, and CC control support
Compatible with 100 x 100 VESA mounts
Product dimensions: 8" x 8.5" x 2", 2 lb (20.4 x 21.8 x 5.1 cm, 936 grams)
Package dimensions: 10.25" x 8.5" x 2.75", 2.7 lb. ( 26 x 21.6 x 7 cm, 1.2 kg)

Notes: Control Forge's core functionality is drawn from the E-mu Morpheus's insanely powerful (but hard to program on a two-line display) Function Generators. But now expanded into a supremely flexible modulation source encompassing elaborate one-shot contours, evolving cyclical patterns and sequences of arbitrary length and complexity.

At its most basic, it's an 8-segment function generator with variable time and target voltage level for each segment. Each segment's level can be defined either absolutely or relative to the ending level of the previous stage and can optionally be quantized to the nearest 1/12 volt, additionally, each segment's level may have a user defined range of randomness of either linear or gaussian distribution.

'Tempo Mode' lets you specify each segment's length in musical note values relative to a tempo set in BPM. The time scale may be modulated under CV control or manually via the encoder during runtime.

There are 67 different transition shapes between segments (indicated graphically on the display during selection), from linear and exponential shapes to various flavours of random, chaotic, and many more that don't lend themselves to one-word descriptions, including the ability to pass CVs directly through to the output for individual segments. Also included are 'DC' shapes that allow the module to be used as a sequencer with all of the module's available programmability. When combined with the Preset Sequencer described below, sequences can be hundreds of steps long and modified in real time manually or by CVs.

Each segment may optionally have a conditional jump mode that results in a jump to another selected stage if a particular condition is met. e.g. a CV being above or below the selected conditional value, the presence or lack of a gate or logic high at their respective inputs, rising or falling edges at the inputs, etc. So, in addition to one-shot shapes, extremely elaborate cyclical patterns can be programmed that evolve based on the various conditional inputs.

Control Forge's AutoChain functionality allows the creation of two very specific kinds of multi-preset patterns: A multi-preset retriggerable pattern (like a long syncable LFO), and a multi-preset 'envelope-like' pattern with retriggerability, an optional sustain section, and a 'release' section that's jumped to on gate fall. Two independent triggers can be programmed to fire in response to a variety of events and can be used to affect either CONTROL FORGE itself or external modules.

500 presets can be saved and recalled. a preset sequencer allows stepping through up to 200 user-defined series of presets under trigger, clock or manual control. This allows contours and sequences of almost unlimited length and complexity. All presets and sequences can be transferred to any number of Satellite modules, which can then operate as stand-alone modulation sources, completely independent of the Control Forge.