Chompi (stylised as CHOMPI) is a sampler released in 2023 by Chelsea and Tobias Hendrickson. Designed to be accessible and screenless, the sampler uses LEDs and physical labels to show the status of various filters and effects.
Chompi was created by Chelsea and Tobias Hendrickson, a couple from Spokane, Washington.[1] They previously ran a community synth program focused on Spokane and the Pacific Northwest[2][3] which offered modular synth classes for around a decade.[4][5] Chompi was announced on 12 March 2023, via a YouTube video on the Chompi Club channel; the video showcased the basic features of the sampler and looper, as well as the effects unit.[6]
Funding
The Kickstarter campaign for Chompi's funding launched on March 28, 2023[4] with a goal of Шаблон:Currency, and raised over $900,000 in one day.[7] By the end of the campaign it had raised over $1,000,000,[8]Шаблон:Efn making it one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns of 2023.[9] Chompi units were offered for $499 as part of the campaign, with a limited-edition pink version offered for $599.[10][11]
Production and design
Chompi is manufactured by Electro-Distro and uses the Daisy Seed, a microchip by Electro-Smith designed to create unique musical instruments.[7][12] It was designed to be accessible[4] and screenless,[8] as Tobias has vision loss;[3][2] the creators also state that the screenless design invites users to explore.[7] LEDs and physical labels are used to differentiate and show the status of various effects,[8] such as a filter,[10]tape saturation,[9][4] and the "magic wand" - a combination of reverb and delay.[6] Buttons on the device are "toy-like" and oversized.[7]
Chompi units ordered by Kickstarter supporters began shipping on 13 December 2023; Шаблон:Update after[13] with the price starting at $599.[14][4]
