With its OS 2.0 update, the Torso S-4 unlocks a powerful set of new tools including macro controls, scene snapshots, varispeed recording, dynamic modulation, and more. In the in-depth guide above, we walk through everything you need to know to get started with the sampler\u2014watch along to hear it in action, and read highlights below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First things first, to create a new project with the Torso S-4, simply hit the “project” button located on the top left of the device, and then hit “CREATE NEW PROJECT” on the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have four buttons underneath the screen that you can use to select on-screen menu options. The eight encoders on the top right of the device are also dynamically linked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Torso S4 allows for four tracks, and on the screen, you can review the default flow of the five modules for each track: (1) the Material device goes into (2) the Granular engine, which goes into (3) the Filter module, which goes into (4) the Color module, which lastly goes into (5) the Space module.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s dive into each of these modules in more detail below, starting with the Material device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Material device is the Torso S-4’s sound engine that allows you to load samples as tracks. The options you can choose from include DISC, TAPE, POLY, and BYPASS. The default is DISC, which streams directly off of memory, whereas TAPE loads up to a buffer and features some unique parameters. Meanwhile, POLY is great for plugging in a MIDI keyboard<\/a> via USB or MIDI In.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At 1:39 in the tutorial above, we showcase how you can load and manipulate samples from Splice<\/a> using the DISC mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Torso S-4 also supports granular synthesis<\/a> via its Granular engine, which is a technique that allows you to adjust and reorder small segments (“grains”) of a longer sample to produce a unique output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. The Granular engine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n