What we know
Engram is a new sampler and groovebox developed by the music startup Thoughtful Things. It uses artificial intelligence to manipulate incoming audio and generate what are described as "hallucinated" sounds—novel and unexpected audio outputs created by the AI. The product has recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund its development and release. An excerpt from the source states: "Music startup Thoughtful Things has just launched the Kickstarter campaign for its first instrument, Engram. It's a sampler and groovebox that uses AI to mangle incoming audio and even hallucinate new sounds."
Why it matters
Engram represents an innovative application of AI technology in music production, combining sampling and groovebox functionality with AI-driven audio manipulation. The concept of AI "hallucinations" refers to the generation of novel and sometimes unpredictable outputs by AI models, which Engram repurposes for musical creativity. The launch of Engram’s Kickstarter campaign marks the first public step for Thoughtful Things as a startup entering the music technology market. This information is based on a single source, and no independent verification has been conducted.
What is still unknown
Additional information about the device’s performance, reliability, and user experience remains unknown.