● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Thoughtful Things Launches Engram, an AI-Powered Sampler for Experimental Music
Key points
- Engram is a sampler and groovebox from Thoughtful Things.
- It uses a local, custom-trained AI model to generate audio.
- The device focuses on experimental sound design and AI "hallucinations."
- Firmware will be open for user customization and model loading.
New AI Sampler Launched
Thoughtful Things, a music startup, has initiated a Kickstarter campaign for its first product, Engram. This device functions as a sampler and groovebox, incorporating artificial intelligence to manipulate incoming audio and generate new sounds. The company emphasizes that Engram is not intended for producing conventional, radio-ready music.
Focus on Experimental Sound
Engram's design prioritizes experimental and "uncanny" sound creation, pushing the boundaries of AI audio models. Thoughtful Things describes it as a "field recorder for latent space" and likens its operation to circuit-bending tiny AI models. The device operates offline, utilizing a small, in-house developed and custom-trained AI model.
Ethical AI Training and Open Firmware
The company states that its audio models are trained exclusively on open datasets with commercial licenses, avoiding non-commercial or pirated data. Thoughtful Things also plans to open Engram's firmware, allowing users to modify the device or load their own custom AI models. This approach encourages exploration and customization within the experimental sound design community.
Pricing and Availability
Engram is available through a limited Kickstarter run, with initial units priced at $675. This represents a 30 percent discount from the anticipated retail price, which is expected to be between $850 and $900.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
Reporting from
Music startup Thoughtful Things launched a Kickstarter campaign for Engram, a sampler and groovebox that uses local AI to generate experimental and "hallucinated" audio. The device is designed for sound designers to explore AI audio models and create unique sounds, rather than producing mainstream music.