Heh, it makes sense as an audio routing hub but the integrated apps / DOS gaming is indeed weird. I guess they needed a reason to give it the Sound Blaster name instead of Hub Master or something haha.

As someone who isn't a big fan of headphones, I think it would've been cooler to see a nice pair of speakers with the Sound Blaster branding. I like the Pebbles for what they are.

I think that one of the main reasons this offering is what it is, is because the desktop market switch to mini-PCs - for gaming and pretty much everything else enthusiast - made it impossible to do "just another Sound Blaster card" and enthusiast audio changes with Windows have obviously long been moving away from internal soundcard offerings for the past 15 years or so and into external/USB DACs and "sound chips" in boxes and headsets. For me, I find nothing of interest here, though some things are still unclear and certainly, not enough clarity to make me want to consider buying it.

Imagine if it was a ISA-over-USB emulator (DOSBOX compat) with pluggable modules representing many of Creative's past sound cards including actual OPL chips.

It's live Sound Blaster Re:Imagine | Modular Audio Hub with AI. They've set an extremely low target, so they are basically selling it through Kickstarter. They don't even mention what audio related parts they are using.

After all the hype, it's mainly just an external audio interface with modular controls.

The built-in retrogaming and AI app stuff sound like gimmicks. And tying apps to AI means needing ongoing internet services to keep those running. If/when those services get discontinued, there goes that functionality.

Based on the limited inputs/outputs they show, this doesn't seem like it will function as a proper mixer or audio switcher. Definitely not what I would call an "ultimate audio hub". Also, the video showing the guy trying to plug in his speakers was just silly. Reminded me of those goofy infomercials where people are incapable of basic tasks.

The horizontal unit looks to be the standard option, with the vertical unit being a stretch goal requiring $500k (!). The video makes it sound like this is an initial option, but since it's a stretch goal we'll see if they even make it to that goal.

Still not sure what problems this thing is really intended to solve.

How about that eye watering price tag? $500 MSRP, with Kickstart pricing between $299 and $379.

The AI cloud stuff will definitely bellyflop after Creative will inevitably go bankrupt. And I doubt that Creative will be willing to share the source code.

I can't imagine any use for this over complicated device.

Except for the screen, which I don't really understand the purpose of and haven't seen on any other device, the rest can be had for much less money. I have a small box, 7 cm x 5 cm with a 3.5 jack input and two outputs, a button to select the output, another to mute, and a potentiometer for volume.
I use one output for headphones and the other for the Pioneer amplifier I've had since the 90s.
I think it cost me €5, and there are much more complete ones with many more inputs, outputs, and features.
I find this new device from Creative excessively expensive, even at £299.
Perhaps when it comes out and there are reviews, the price will be justified.

Well i wonder why it doesn't have Blockchain too
At least it got AI.

Also, there's little point in even mentioning 32bit 384Khz audiophile\studio grade DACs these days. DACs with those specs cost pennies now. I have bought several 32bit 384Khz USB-C to 3.5mm DAC+Amp dongles from Aliexpress for $4 over the past couple years and they work and sound great to my ears hooked up to some cheap IEMs. If you can buy this on Amazon for $6, those specs are no longer telling us why we should be spending $500 on this new Sound Blaster thing.

When I clicked the link in my email and started scrolling down the Kickstarter page, I thought to myself... "Okay... lets guess. It's going to be $129 for the starter set, with the add-on being like $79."

I was floored when I saw the kickstarter (investor\early-adopter) pricing was $300+ and actually laughed when I saw that the MSRP will be $500.

Now that it's officially "launched"... I'm sure it will find a niche audience, they've exceeded their funding goal by quite a bit.

However, I can confidently say I'm not in that audience. It brings nothing new to the table, nothing I'm interested in. I see it as a modern mixer with a few gimmicks, using a classic name to pander and ride the current wave of retro enthusiasm. I wish them the best with it, and I'm sure for what it is, it will probably work well. I just don't see the appeal.

Expensive. Ouch. And still no details on this "DOS emulator".

I don't understand all the complaints about the price?
This as the SoundBlaster name slapped on it, that alone increases it's value by at least $200!

(Never mind it has nothing in common with SoundBlaster products of the past)

It's got the parrot. Didn't you watch the promo vid? 😜

I missed the promo vid and am caught up now...

It only has line in, line out, SPDIF, and two USB-C ports in the back? I guess it's really only a mixer for devices connectable via Bluetooth and wifi then?

It runs linux. Guess it has dosbox or similar on board. It has AI on board after all. And that probably explains the "super user" references.

Also had a low funding target on kickstarter (£11650 shows for me) so kickstarter may be more about publicity - the required development funds must be far higher surely.

Agree it's possibly of interest to mini-PC users but at that price, not me. If I could plug my G4 mac mini into it as well, it would help (can't recall if that has usb-c though). But again, not for that price.

I'm equivocal about the AI - all the hype is annoying, but on the other hand - the future we foresaw back then (60s, 70s, probably before too) does seem to be finally arriving.

If the price came down I might be tempted.

sunkindly wrote on Yesterday, 00:08:

It only has line in, line out, SPDIF, and two USB-C ports in the back? I guess it's really only a mixer for devices connectable via Bluetooth and wifi then?

The lack of I/O is especially baffling when they claim it can, "Connect all your devices: PCs, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, gaming consoles. Plug in headphones, speakers, mics, instruments. "

Yet it lacks XLR for proper microphones and 1/4" ports for instrument cables. It's clearly not intended to compete with proper audio interfaces, yet they're still pitching it in a way that suggests it can.

it lacks analogic connexion for speakers

Shponglefan wrote on Yesterday, 16:47:

sunkindly wrote on Yesterday, 00:08:

It only has line in, line out, SPDIF, and two USB-C ports in the back? I guess it's really only a mixer for devices connectable via Bluetooth and wifi then?

The lack of I/O is especially baffling when they claim it can, "Connect all your devices: PCs, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, gaming consoles. Plug in headphones, speakers, mics, instruments. "

Yet it lacks XLR for proper microphones and 1/4" ports for instrument cables. It's clearly not intended to compete with proper audio interfaces, yet they're still pitching it in a way that suggests it can.

What makes this even more puzzling is that customization of something like this would normally be done to fit a specific workflow. If I have developed muscle-memory to do a certain task efficiently, it helps to have a replacement device that operates similarly so it is an easy transition. This thing... is just it's own thing, it isn't laid out like any existing device and it only comes with one of each component. Soooo... there is practically no reason for it to be modular. If it wasn't modular, people could just learn to use it however it was designed.

I don't think the modularity of it even matters at all unless you are intending to buy extra modules for it (leaving some of the ones you started with unused, despite the huge price tag), because the differences in using it with the buttons\knob in slightly different locations has to be very small.

So, if the cost is very high, the modularity is kind of pointless out of the box and it lacks connectivity that professionals may need, couldn't someone use something like this for $50 US? It even has an XLR mic input...
https://www.amazon.com/MAONO-USB-Audio-Interf … o/dp/B0D9P3Y22C

Or this if you need lots of sliders and buttons... for $30...
https://www.amazon.com/PUPGSIS-Interface-Podc … h/dp/B0DPMCV3Y7

Or any of these, depending on your needs...
https://www.amazon.com/MAONO-Pro-preamp-Podca … O/dp/B0CZDPKPX5
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Interface-Podcas … n/dp/B0B1DJP9KW
https://www.amazon.com/tenlamp-G10-Interface- … g/dp/B0DWSM9HXP

Or dozens of other options from established brands for $200 or less.

The issue isn't necessarily that this thing has no reason to exist... I'm sure someone would use it... it's just that it has a price tag that is two to ten times that of competing products that already exist.