street priceThe Polyend Tracker Mini is a portable, battery-powered sequencer and sampler that reimagines the company's 2020 desktop Tracker in a compact, handheld form factor. This first revision transforms the tracker concept into a go-anywhere music production tool while significantly expanding its capabilities.
Measuring 170x130x21mm and weighing 350g, the Tracker Mini is designed for two-handed operation, similar to handheld gaming devices. The textured plastic case provides a non-slip grip, though it readily attracts fingerprints. Most operations are performed with thumb-based button presses, featuring curved plastic buttons that require moderate pressure to activate.
The device centers around a 5-inch LCD display that, while slightly smaller than the original's 7-inch screen, remains comfortably readable without eye strain. The screen is non-touch enabled, despite its smartphone-like appearance. Navigation has been redesigned from the original's data wheel and button grid to a D-pad with Enter button, four +/- buttons, and four programmable shortcut buttons that provide fast access to frequently used pages.
At its core, the Tracker Mini runs an eight-track monophonic sequencer capable of loading up to 128 samples into its 32MB of RAM — four times the capacity of the original 8MB. Each track supports up to 128 steps per pattern, with songs constructed from playlists of these patterns. The sequencer offers extensive per-step manipulation through two effect slots per step, enabling volume automation, probability functions, ratchets, repeats, LFO manipulation, sample slicing, pitch glides, and effect sends.
The sampling capabilities have been thoroughly modernized. Stereo sample support — absent from the original — is now fully implemented. The built-in microphone replaces the original's FM radio, enabling field recording applications. The onboard sample editor includes essential functions like normalization, trimming, and fades, alongside more complex processing such as reverse, overdrive, time-stretch, chorus, flange, EQ, bit crush, compression, and limiting.
Instruments can utilize samples or wavetables with multiple playback modes including slicing, looping, and basic granular synthesis. Each instrument features filtering with LFO and envelope control over pitch and cutoff, plus sends to global reverb, chorus, and delay effects. The master section includes global EQ, side-chain limiting, and two single-parameter effects called Bass Boost and Space.
Performance mode enables real-time composition remixing through 12 selectable performance effects chosen from a pool of 21 options. These include effect sends, volume, panning, sample start/end points, step repeats, pattern playback direction, and LFO speeds. Each effect offers four switchable values, accessed by selecting columns with the left hand and values with the right hand using the master volume buttons.
The battery delivers approximately eight hours of continuous playback on a full charge, with recharging taking around three hours via USB-C. The USB-C connection also provides a 12-channel stereo audio interface: one channel for master output, eight for individual tracks, and dedicated channels for reverb and delay effects. The device includes comprehensive MIDI functionality with both sequencing capabilities and external sync options.
Connectivity is split between the top and bottom of the unit. The USB-C port for charging and audio interface sits on top alongside the micro-SD card slot for sample storage, projects, and firmware updates. All audio and MIDI input/output jacks are positioned on the bottom edge—a design choice that can complicate handheld use when cables are connected, as the unit can no longer rest comfortably against a lap or table without stressing the mini-jack sockets.
The package includes a protective zip-up carrying case. The Tracker Mini is priced similarly to or slightly higher than the original desktop Tracker, varying by region.
Country of origin / production: Poland
Recommend product to a friend| Usage area | |
|---|---|
| Groovebox/ MPC | |
| Usage Design/ Form Factor | |
| Without Keys, Desktop | |
| Archetype | |
| Digital (D) | |
| Color | |
| Black | |
| Production start | 2023 |
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