Torso Electronics S-4 already looked compelling – hard-core granular sampler hardware just when that genre needed a boost. But we were waiting on the 2.0 OS to deliver on that promise. Now it’s here, with macros, scenes, varispeed recording, unlimited sample length, dynamic modulation, and more.
It’s been a while since we had a new, full-featured sampler–not just a groovebox that happens to sample, not just a simplified sampler, but a standalone instrument. And the challenge has grown steeper, just because, well, computers happened. So hardware has to be really good. It has to make you want to use the box and not just your usual sampler and granular plug-ins.
The S-4 looked the part from the beginning, with a refined design from Copenhagen’s Torso Electronics. And at launch, it already offered a ton of power as a stereo granular sampler and performance, with extensive signal routing and modulation options. It’s also not expensive given the depth of the feature set – US$899 for the full package.
That performance aspect, I think, is important. If you’re going to stay in the studio and make some tracks in front of a screen, then yeah, your software setup is probably fine. But if you want to jam with it, if you want a box onstage with you, then it needs to be up to live improvisation. It needs to be an instrument. And that’s widely expanded here.
What’s new in 2.0
2.0 is a complete OS rewrite that delivers some major new features:
Perform: global macros. S-4’s eight performance knobs can now be matched to eight performance knob acros, with multiple parameters per knob, as well as punch-in effects, the fingertip equivalent of mashing a stomp pedal. It’s simple, it’s powerful, it’s perfect for improv.
Scene gives you instant save/load capability for sample snapshots and parameters, with 128 scenes per project and MIDI Program Change control.
Temp is perfect for those “mess this up, go back to normal” moments as you jam. The S-4 saves the initial state, lets you wail on any parameters for a while, and then snap back as you release the control.
Disc is a sample playback that streams audio from the S-4 internal storage. Now this is obviously essential for longer field recordings, stems, and backing tracks, but even just creatively being able to work with long loops matters. Basically, we’re all spoiled by computers and SSDs and this is something we miss when hardware doesn’t do it. (Yes, devices in my studio, I’m giving you the side-eye right now.)
Follow is an envelope follower that can be routed to the onboard inputs or any of the four track outputs.
Tape now supports varispeed recording – ideal for live looping.
They’ve also done a lot of work in this rewrite with duplicating devices, tracks, scenes, the lot. I’d held off a review of the S-4 waiting for this, and honestly, I think having the finished version is what we need to give this a proper test. It follows MIDI and analog sync and other additions in 1.1, but this is the big one. And yeah, you can even just dump your sounds on here and go wild. I can’t wait.
A note on upgrading: I just tried this, and the documentation is a little confusing. Let me just run it down:
- Enter Mass Storage Mode. Connect to your computer via USB. Press CONFIG and choose SYSTEM > USB MASS STORAGE.
- Add the firmware update file. Download the 2.0 zip file from the support site. Do not unzip it. Drag the zip to the root level of the drive.
- Install the update. Press CONFIG and choose SYSTEM > INSTALL UPDATE. The device will reset. Keep connected to USB.
- Remove everything from storage. You have to actually delete everything from storage. After the reboot, you’ll be prompted to do so, and the device will automatically enter USB Mass Storage mode. You can then move everything off your drive. That includes any samples or projects you may want to backup locally on your computer. But you do really have to delete everything at this step or you can’t proceed. So delete the zip you just added, the folder structure, everything. Then and only then can you eject from USB Mass Storage Mode on your computer and the update will proceed.
Then it’s done! It’s fast, actually; it took me longer to type that than it took to perform, but the instructions weren’t as explicit as I was.
In action in videos
Mordio has done a deep dive of the new functionality:
Sarah Belle Reid did a nice walkthrough of this earlier, talking about the sound aspect:
For more sounds/features in action, here’s a no-talking look from Synth Aesthetic:
More:
In stock now at Perfect Circuit.
If you buy something from a CDM link, we may earn a commission.
Kyiv-born techno maestro Yan Cook brought Torso’s T-1 sequencer into his studio, too – the sequencing sibling of the S-4:
T-1 Algorithmic Desktop Sequencer
T-1 Algorithmic Desktop Sequencer (Limited Edition White)