Retrokits RK-008 is a robust MIDI sequencer disguised as a pocket calculator

If you’re a fan of Korg’s Volca lineup, then there’s a decent chance you’ve heard the name Retrokits before. The company builds a bunch of useful tools for making the most of your electronic music setup, but its specially designed MIDI cable that adds features like velocity control to the Volca FM have proven quite popular. The latest member of its lineup though, is quite a bit more ambitious.

The RK-008 is a full fledged MIDI control center. It’s an eight track MIDI sequencer and recorder, which allows it to be the glue that keeps your rig together. It also has a built-in metronome to help you stay in time with your instruments, which is important since all MIDI data is recorded unquantized. (Though you can quantize it after the fact, and then undo if you prefer to go back to your original sloppy playing.) 

Each track can record on multiple channels, so you can actually control multiple devices from a single track, leaving the other seven open for… even more devices? You can even record eight parts across the eight tracks, then consolidate them down to one, freeing up more room for sequencing. …read more