The Nanoboxes from 1010music are minuscule gadgets that pack a real punch when it comes to both output and originality. The Razzmatazz drum machine serves up beats and sounds perfect for any track that needs a bit of grit and edge. Don't be fooled by the cute pink casing – it might look sweet, but with it's FM oscillators, a bitcrusher, and distortion function, it can get pretty rough. That said, with its clear layout – a 2" touchscreen, two endless encoders, and four buttons – even new users won't be fighting their way through the software's various layers. The Nanobox Razzmatazz also comes with all the ports needed to slot it into a portable tabletop setup. And for beatmakers on the go, it can be run off a USB power bank anytime, anywhere — so those spur-of-the-moment beats can be brought to life the moment inspiration strikes.
Each Razzmatazz drum kit is made up of eight sounds, and each sound can be composed and modulated using the two FM oscillators and a sample. Musicians can import their own .wav files via a microSD card, or record sounds live straight into the Nanobox, then slice them up as required. Every sound can be tweaked with filters, envelopes, distortion, and a resonator to give it a personal touch. Plus, there’s a bitcrusher and a whole host of effects to further spice things up. The resulting sounds can be played using the eight pads right on the touchscreen; the more musically inclined can control the Razzamatazz via MIDI. The built-in sequencer gives producers eight tracks to play with, and each pattern can stretch up to 64 steps. Whenever users need a clearer view of what’s going on, the screen can display up to eight tracks at once. And if MIDI’s not on the cards, Razzmatazz can be synced up with a modular setup or other groove gear using an analogue clock .
The 1010music Nanobox Razzmatazz has got a bold, crunchy sound perfect for unconventional music that's rough around the edges. As a specialist for distorted drums, ghost notes, and offbeat sounds of all kinds, this little box is perhaps more of a support act for an existing groove setup than the main event. It can certainly be slotted right into the main rig easily, via MIDI and clock, where its sound palette can be further tweaked and tailored by importing samples. With the touchscreen as the main control hub, the Nanobox is ideal for users who know their way around compact gear and unorthodox workflows. Anyone who feels they need more sampling features or just a bigger interface to play with might find that the 1010music Blackbox is a better fit.
1010music was founded in Los Angeles in 2016 and focuses on digital solutions for musical applications. Prior to creating their own products, the developers at 1010music had all worked for renowned companies on large software projects such as Native Instrument's Traktor DJ. 1010Music's creative modules – designed for Eurorack modular systems such as samplers, loopers, sequencers, synthesizers and effects – combine digital technology with analogue control and are all operated via multifunctional touch displays.
Beatmakers with somewhere to be can take the 1010music Nanobox Razzmatazz with them all day every day. Hook it up to a power bank and plug in some headphones, and the music can flow wherever the Razzmatazz goes. It couldn't be easier to edit new sounds and beats right on the device itself, and for freestyle live performances, the pads on the touchscreen can be used to tap out unscripted rhythms and fills. And audio creatives who get inspired by outside sounds can record them straight through the audio input and work them into samples for the current beat. Finally, when all those on the fly sessions finally get into the studio, the DAW can take over, automating the internal parameters and mixer settings on the Razzmatazz via easy MIDI mapping, allowing professional producers to add even more depth and atmosphere to their tracks.