We only recommend products that we use and believe in. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Creatively capturing the sonic texture of the classic Commodore Amiga home computer and combining it with modern Iive sequencing is easier said than done, however — hence Pink Parrot Studio creating Quadtrack in the Scorpion Engine game development platform for Amiga to then run on modern Mac, PC, and Linux systems using the free Universal Amiga Emulator (UAE). Ultimately, the resurgence of retro computing and retro sample playback shows no sign of slowing with Quadtrack taking that evolution to a new level entirely.
Electronic groovebox. Ask anyone to define the term and chances are they will almost always associate it with dedicated music hardware products. Pink Parrot Studio’s Quadtrack reintroduces the computer as a groovebox. Indeed, its low cost and minimal system requirements mean that anyone can explore the world of electronic groove creation, truly democratising musical creativity. Cue intuitive interface combined with dedicated keyboard shortcuts, offering a fast and accessible way to achieve unique musical results that would otherwise require complex and expensive setups.
So with that very thought in mind, Quadtrack comes complete with several sample sets — namely, ARCADE, DANK, FUTURE/RETRO, JUNGLIST, KLUBNACHT, MAGIC POCKETS, MSX CX5M, POWERHANDLE, RAVE, and TRONBERG. These sets each include 64 unique samples, providing ample inspiration for extended creative sessions. Furthermore, four tracks each feature a familiar 16-step sequencer, together with a variety of modulation options ranging from subtle playback nuances to full-on rhythmic mayhem.
Meanwhile, Quadtrack is distributed with a free runtime version of UAE, allowing it to operate as a standalone application on modern systems. Saying that, though, it can also run on an original Commodore Amiga with 2 MB of chip RAM (Random Access Memory) and a minimum Motorola 68040 processor — albeit with limited sample playback memory. And anyone wishing to route audio into their preferred DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) can turn to several existing third-party options. Above and beyond that, UAE users also benefit from save-state functionality, enabling creations to be stored, recalled, and shared with ease.
It is fair to say, then, that in an age of terabyte-scale sample libraries and endless emulations of classic synthesizers, Quadtrackoffers a fresh perspective by bringing the fun back into music creation. Created by Dataline, a former Elektron product specialist known for showcasing the magic of hardware-based electronic music through a lens of late-night gaming sessions where creativity emerges at the intersection of synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, retro gaming consoles, and vintage computers, Quadtracktruly takes electronic groove exploration back to the future.
Priced at €25.00 EUR (or, optionally, more), Quadtrack is available to purchase via Pink Parrot Studio here: https://pinkparrotstudio.itch.io/quadtrack
For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated Quadtrack webpage here: https://pinkparrot.studio/quadtrack
Become better acquainted with the uniquely innovative computer-based groovebox that is Quadtrack while watching an illuminatingintroductory video featuring Pink Parrot Studio’s Cenk Sayinli (a.k.a. Dataline) himself here: https://youtu.be/HzHg-dnCEGM
Take a deep dive into Quadtrack with Cenk Sayinli (a.k.a. Dataline) here: https://youtu.be/FOQ8SIEc-_s
See and hear Quadtrack in action as Cenk Sayinli (a.k.a. Dataline) takes it for a spin here: https://youtu.be/qYs6BpoKQO0
Interested in hearing what can be musically achieved when working with Quadtrack? Quad X Quad is also available as a 16-trackcompilation accompanying Quadtrack’s release — readily showcasing a range of artists who used Quadtrack as their sole creative tool — via Bandcamp as a name your price digital album here: https://dataline.bandcamp.com/album/quad-x-quad
About The Author
