Parents have big dreams for their children. Some aspire for their toddlers to become doctors or lawyers; others hope their kids will grow up to be MVP athletes.
But now, parents can help their children prepare for an eventual headline slot at Tomorrowland thanks to a new, fully functional MIDI controller built for children.
During the 2023 holiday season, Fisher-Price’s “Laugh & Learn, Mix & Learn DJ Table” grabbed headlines around the country. But today, Playtime Engineering, a musical instrument company that designs synths for kids, is shifting the focus to electronic music production.
The San Francisco-based company has just launched a new crowdfunded product on Kickstarter called Blipblox MyTracks, a colorful device modeled after an MPC (Midi Production Center). The kit features 16 pads, 48 built-in sounds, FX like reverb and delay, and two kid-sized levers to control filters and pitch bend, allowing your little tyke to layer, arrange, record and save complete songs.
The Blipblox MyTracks also comes with a built-in microphone, so kids and their musically inclined parents can record their own samples before sequencing and playing with them, just like Fred again.. on tour. A further five sturdy control control knobs allow for more elaborate tweaks.
Playtime Engineering points out on their website that the device is “not just for kids.” Though it may look like a toy, the Blipblox MyTracks is an actual performance instrument, with a five-pin MIDI connection port that can connect the device to the company’s Blipblox Synthesizer, or any other hardware kit you may have in your bedroom studio. Built-in speakers, battery power, and USB-C charging allow for living room jam sessions.
Though it hasn’t officially hit the market yet, the Blipblox MyTracks is currently being produced in small quantities and will soon be available for early-bird pricing via Kickstarter. Playtime Engineering’s crowdfunding campaign will officially launch on April 9.
For more information, or to sign up for first access to the Blipblox MyTracks, visit Playtime Engineering’s official website.
Featured image from Playtime Engineering.
