Thoughtful Things Launches $675 Engram AI Sampler on Kickstarter, Targeting Experimental Sound Design
Updated
Updated · The Verge · Sep 27
Thoughtful Things Launches $675 Engram AI Sampler on Kickstarter, Targeting Experimental Sound Design
3 articles · Updated · The Verge · Sep 27
Summary
$675 early pledges opened for Engram, Thoughtful Things’ first instrument — a sampler and groovebox that mangles live audio and generates glitchy new sounds with onboard AI.
The device runs a custom-trained “tiny AI” locally rather than through the internet, positioning it as a tool for experimental sound design instead of one-click pop-song creation.
Thoughtful Things said its models were trained on commercially licensed open datasets only, and it plans to open the firmware so users can tweak the system or load custom models.
A limited Kickstarter run is now live, with the company implying a later retail price around $850 to $900 because the launch pledge is listed at a 30% discount.