Koka’s Pocket Beatbox is a pocket-sized drum — a portable multisampler designed by Koka

 
 

Reserve Now for €10

he beatbox is said to cost no more than €555 + DHL. We were supposed to start shipping in September, but because of the pandemic, semiconductor companies are having a massive crisis that will affect the entire tech industry, including laptop and phone manufacturers. NXP Semiconductors promises to deliver the chips we need by April 2022 at the latest. Maybe they can deliver them sooner.

We will initially produce a limited edition in two batches. You can pay a deposit of €10 and get a waiting list place. Depending on the date of your order, we will serve you a Beatbox from the first or second batch. If at any time you wish to reclaim your deposit, we can refund it immediately, BUT you would lose your place on the waiting list. If we don't make you a Beatbox by September 2022, you can choose to have your €10 refunded to your account or receive a unique multisample bank (4096 samples) produced by Koka.

If you are interested in buying a Beatbox, please don't put it off and book it now. For Koka, it is crucial to know how much demand there is.

eatbox has a unique tap detection algorithm that allows for a high degree of dynamic accuracy . This means soft taps sound soft , hard taps sound loud! ..and everything in between. Beatbox features a calibration routine and lets you tune the response curve. The incredible dynamic range is made possible by 12-bit ADCs and ruthlessly fast sensor sampling.
ou can store and recall multiple kits. For each kit, you can load 16 multisample banks of mono audio samples, for example, recorded at different dynamics. Each of the multisample banks can contain up to 256 mono audio samples . You can choose to load fewer samples for one pad and more samples for another pad - for a total of 4096 samples per kit.
ll your kits and samples live on a micro SD card, Beatbox can stream audio directly from SD. With a small side encoder and display you can navigate the menu, design, save and load your kits. Alternatively, you can use your computer and modify your kits by editing JSON files stored on your SD card.
eatbox gives you 16-voice dynamic polyphony. 16 voices can overlap each other. The 17th voice steals the oldest voice. You need to play pretty fast or use long samples to notice the voice stealing. For longer samples, such as cymbals and bells, you can activate priority mode so that they always play to the end.
ou play the Beatbox with your fingers by striking individual pads or combinations of pads. You can disable and enable the combination mode with a side switch or a dual footswitch (not included with the Beatbox). When combination mode is disabled, you are limited to playing four pads (in two scenes), but you can trigger more than one sound at a time.
n addition to the 16 multisample banks, you can load 12 additional synthetic sounds for each kit. The internal synth engine can create sounds inspired by the 808 . The synth engine comes with pre-programmed sounds and built-in randomness. You turn the encoder and the engine generates variations of 808-inspired sounds for you to explore and choose from.

Inputs & Outputs

+ MIDI Input

TRS minijack, type A (MIDI 2.0 standard), such as used with Korg & Make Noise. Any pad/combo can learn MIDI. You can play an internal multisampler and synthesizer with a hardware sequencer. Beatbox can also route hardware MIDI to USB MIDI.

+ MIDI Output

TRS minijack, type A (MIDI 2.0 standard). You can assign MIDI note on/off, CC, or NRPN output to most pads/combos and use your Beatbox as a MIDI controller. The Beatbox can also route USB MIDI to hardware MIDI.

+I2C Or Dual Footswitch

I2C is an experimental feature. The Beatbox may be able to work with I2C-enabled devices with future firmware updates. In the meantime, you can use this port for a dual footswitch (not included) that mimics the functionality of two side buttons.

+ Expression Pedal Input

You can use an analog expression pedal, such as Dunlop DVP4, or common analog sensors. You can enjoy using a pedal with an internal multisampler and synthesizer, but the Beatbox can also pass analog readings to USB MIDI (7-bit or 12-bit via NRPN).

+Stereo Line Output

The stereo line-level output provides 16-bit CD-quality audio. If you need higher quality (24-bit, 32-bit, etc.), you can use your Beatbox as a controller. A special desktop app will mimic the functionality of the internal multisampler (experimental feature);

+Stereo Line Input

The stereo line-level input lets you connect various audio devices to your Beatbox. If you set the line in as an audio source for a pad/combo, you can envelope your source audio every time you hit that pad/combo. You can tune your envelope.

+Microphone Input

You can use lavalier microphones, such as Sennheiser ME2, ME4, etc. If you set your mic as a sound source for a pad/combo, you can envelope your mic input every time you hit that pad/combo. Onboard recording/sampling might come with firmware updates.

+Headphone Output

There is not much to write about the headphone output. Here you connect your headphones. By the way, Nathaniel Baldwin invented headphones, and he did it at his kitchen table in 1910. Steinway assembled his first piano in the kitchen. Inspiring.

+USB C Port

Beatbox only needs USB 2.0 to shine. Still, it has a USB C port. Type C ports are much more robust than other small types. At this moment, the Beatbox does NOT include a USB filter, so consider using a filter if your USB power is dirty.

+Micro SD Card Port

All your samples, 16-bit mono wave files live on your micro SD card, alongside JSON files that store your kits and settings. You can design your kits using a side encoder and a tiny display, but you can also do it by editing appropriate JSON files on your computer.

Hardware

+Stainless Steel

The frame of the Beatbox is made of 1mm stainless steel. Koka experimented with the finest types of birch plywood and aluminum, but stainless steel won the competition. The two-piece frame is laser cut and bent on a precision CNC bending machine.

+Bamboo

The cheeks of the Beatbox are made with machined Bamboo. Koka prototyped with walnut, oak, and mahogany, but MOSO bamboo turned out to be the most robust premium material. Useless fact - Bamboo is not wood. It's grass.

+Leather

The sensor plate must withstand up to a million taps. Koka experimented with several types of soft leather, including mushroom leather and premium synthetic leather. Koka will choose The material according to the results of his ongoing research.

+Fiberglass

The battery lid of is being designed right now. It will be made with ornamented etched fiberglass. Fiberglass is used more and more frequently as a structural element in hardware design. It can be made extremely beautiful & robust.

+Four Pressure-Sensitive Pads

Less is more A LOT! Beatbox has four pressure-sensitive pads with internal 12-bit resolution. In combination with a unique tap-detection algorithm, it enables excellent dynamic accuracy. You can tap individual pads and combinations of two, three, and four.

+Three Momentary Buttons

One button is coupled with the encoder and set out for the menu. The right button shifts the scene and instantaneously loads new sounds on all pads/combos. The left button disables combos so that you can trigger several sounds at the same time.

+Rotary Encoder

You adjust all your variable parameters and navigate the menu with a small side-encoder. You turn a custom-made knurled steel shaft that in turn steps the ALPS encoder, rated for 100K+ turns.

+Three-Digit Seven-Segment Display

The menu system is easy to learn and understand, and three letters/digits are enough to browse the menu. Seven-segment displays are incredibly robust and can withstand violence. Also, they consume very little power.

+Built-in Microphone Capsule

You can use an onboard mic capsule without connecting an external lavalier microphone to capture live audio and envelope it by tapping the pads. Onboard recording/sampling might come with firmware updates.

+Mechanical Power Switch

There is nothing more satisfying than clicking a mechanical switch. The switch is only for batteries. The Beatbox will stay on if you power it via USB from your computer or a USB power bank. Even if switched on, it won't drain the batteries if powered via USB.
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