Engram: Sampler Turns AI Hallucinations into Experimental Music

Music startup Thoughtful Things has officially launched the Kickstarter campaign for its innovative first instrument, Engram. This unique sampler and groovebox leverages artificial intelligence to manipulate incoming audio and even generate entirely new, "hallucinated" sounds. Unlike popular AI music generators such as Suno, Engram is not designed as a "push-button, get-song" device aimed at producing radio-ready tracks. Instead, its core purpose is to facilitate the creation of experimental, uncanny sounds, pushing the boundaries of what AI audio models can achieve. A key feature of Engram is its independence from internet connectivity. The device operates a "tiny AI" locally, running an in-house designed and custom-trained model. This local processing ensures privacy and allows for a distinct approach to AI-driven sound manipulation, focusing on unique sonic textures rather than mainstream appeal. The Kickstarter campaign marks the public debut of this intriguing new tool for musicians and sound designers seeking to explore the unconventional side of AI-powered audio.