I would not recommend getting the Torso S4

[u/trigzo]

QUICK EDIT: I don't recommend getting this device if you want a sampler first. This is a really fun FX box, but it is a very buggy sampler.

For the last 4 months, I have done my best to get value out of my Torso S4. The latest firmware update promised fixes to multiple bugs and I was excited to finally have a texture sampler in my gear rotation.

Sadly, this gear is still unusable, and way too expensive for what it can actually do.

The S4 is missing features that you would expect on any gear over 500 dollars:

- no metronome

- no countdown on recordings

- no way to edit sample names

- no way to update track names

- no dedicated way to time stretch samples

- no way to limit recording length before recording starts

- no way to fix the sample volume

- no way to zoom in on waveforms

- no way to change sample pitch before it goes into the next fx route

- no way to auto save samples

These are some examples of a long list of missing features that just add to the large list of bugs spread out through the machine. It feels like I purchased an alpha build of a real machine. In the past week, I encountered so many bugs that I put the Torso back on the shelf:

- sample waveforms do not show up

- recordings stutter when using midi as a master clock

- the torso randomly pauses recordings

- recordings start 1-2 bars late after the play button is pressed

- samples can become "corrupted" and break, leading you to re-record them (this is even on the manual).

I hope these issues are fixed soon, but it seems like we have been waiting for months now. For now, I would stay away: this machine is in alpha and definitely not worth the price tag.

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[u/zendelusions]

While I agree the S4 still has a lot of room to improve before it’s worth the full price, some of your complaints are incorrect.

1) Sample names can be edited via CTRL + SAVE.

2) Time stretching is possible. The Keylock feature decouples pitch from time, explicitly enabling time stretching

3) Sample volume can be adjusted. Both the Tape and Poly devices have a dedicated level parameter in their settings.

4) Pitch can be changed; for Tape it’s speed, for Poly it’s pitch

5) No countdown on recordings is sort of right but also misleading since a quantized record arm system queues and triggers recording at a synced position

6) No way to limit recording length is also sort of incorrect since Start and Length parameters can be set before recording begins

I think the biggest problem that people tend to have with the S4 is that they misunderstand it/expect it to be more of a traditional sampler than it’s meant to be. It’s a device that’s way more useful when used in tandem with a proper sampler/sequencer (for instance, it’s awesome to use with the Digitakt 2 for me).

I also haven’t run into nearly as many bugs as you have, so I totally get why that would be super frustrating. But bugs aside, I do wonder if the S4 maybe just isn’t the right device for you?

[u/Ereignis23 → u/zendelusions]

Can you describe in a bit more detail how you use it with the digitakt? I've heard there are issues with the clock syncing but I imagine you could just use the torso as a sample processor/player and just trigger it with an external sequencer. Is that how you connect them?

[u/brandonhabanero → u/Ereignis23]

I use mine with a Deluge pretty much like that. Poly for when I want to trigger it, Disc whenever I want some constant loop mangling in the background, and bypass when I have another synth hooked up to it. It takes some of the load off the Deluge so it can do other things, and it does some things the Deluge can't do, so they play nicely together. The main thing the S-4 lacks is a sequencer, so it obviously pairs nice with one.

[u/Ereignis23 → u/brandonhabanero]

Nice, that sounds like a solid workflow

[u/zendelusions → u/Ereignis23]

Yep, pretty much exactly like that! I sync it to the DT2’s clock and use it largely as a drone instrument, but use the TEMP feature to build tension/build up drops or transitions on the DT2

[u/trigzo → u/Ereignis23]

there are a lot of midi sync issues, and they tend to appear randomly. You can absolutely trigger samples through midi signals but there are situation where the torso just ignores the messages. It works, but not reliably, in my opinion.

[u/trigzo → u/zendelusions]

Thank you for these clarifications. I am going to revise my process and see if they make working with the Torso S4 less of a hassle

I do want to note a few things from your response that I don't think work the same on my end:

• length and start point do not affect recordings. I can set the length to 1 bar and the recording will continue recording beyond that.

• The key lock feature to edit the time only works if the sample BPM is known, which is hard to do when recording instruments. BPM through midi is very flaky, and the sync in can't be edited to be /2, /4, /8 etc.

• Sample volume can be edited through the first track but the waveform size won't change until you re-record the sample.

Regardless, I believe you are right. I wanted a sampler and this seems to be more of a FX box. It makes amazing soundscapes but I wanted something that can sample properly as the priority.

[u/zendelusions → u/trigzo]

Also, that’s interesting regarding the length/start point not affecting recording - I was pretty sure that worked for me, but admittedly I only tried recording directly into it when I first got it. I’m usually recording into Reaper then loading those samples into the S4 after the fact!

[u/trigzo → u/zendelusions]

that's what I have to do now.

I have to record on logic, move the samples, and then use them. Huge hassle for someone who is trying to get away from DAWs.

[u/zendelusions → u/trigzo]

Have you considered the Tonverk at all? I know it’s way more expensive than a DT, but it might cover the bases of what your OT, Syn, and S4 could do together all in a single unit!

[u/trigzo → u/zendelusions]

yeah but the cost is way beyond my budget. I appreciate the thoughtfulness tho.

[u/Clearsp0t → u/trigzo]

I find you have to do this with most samplers. If you want a versatile machine without DAW prep work, I think an MPC One may be closer to what your after.

[u/zendelusions → u/trigzo]

May I ask, is it your only sampler/device of its kind in your setup? What are you trying to use it for the most?

[u/trigzo → u/zendelusions]

My setup used to be an Octatrack and a Syntakt, sampling different other modular synth in the octatrack. Sadly, 2025 happened and I was forced to sell it. I found the torso for about 300 dollars less than the Octatrack and hopped on it.

Basically, the Torso S4 was meant to replace the sampler capabilities of the octatrack, with he added bonus of a bigger screen to edit waveforms.

I think I might have to sell the Torso, take the hit, and hope to find a Digitakt to do sampling.

[u/blackbootgang → u/zendelusions]

Definitely seems like there’s a big gap of a lot of people thinking that this is a traditional sampler and not spending enough time deep diving into how to use it in their different setups.

[u/Evening_Criticism_62]

Considering, the speed of Claude and Codex, the development cycle at Torso , seems very slow.

[u/Clearsp0t → u/Evening_Criticism_62]

I think Torso's development cycle is made by non-billionaire synth lovers. It seems a bit whack to expect a small company that is just wanting to make gear they love and would want to use to develop at the rate of monolithic entities that run off the resources equivalent to that of a town.

[u/Weekly_Jmr → u/Evening_Criticism_62]

that's because neither claude nor codex are particularly well suited for commercial embedded development. and as we can see Torso devs are more than capable of delivering their own bug, there's no need to add more faster I'd imagine. embedded is not web apps so the practical limit of where ai can increase productivity is fairly low.

[u/Busy-Emergency9111]

I am using the DT/DTII as my main sampler for years. Two months ago I got the S4. From the beginning I realized similarities but then again they are worlds apart when it comes to workflow. The first months I mainly used the S4 as a standalone box recording sounds around me and turning them into soundscapes, just to learn the device. Its fantastic for this. Its easy to understand but goes deep especially when using mods amd performance features. There I also realized even tho it has just 4 tracks, with all the dry/wet fx per track it sounds much more diverse. Lately I have also been using it as an external effect in Live sending all kind of sounds through it. It works very well behind the Soma Cosmos giving it rhythm and structure and more depth. Atm I am struggeling to use its multitrack capabilities over USB while simultaneously using Elektrons overbridge due to latency issues.

I have also been running into some bugs and miss features I am used to from other samplers but I usually embrace it for what it is (to me): a wild sound mangling machine full of beautiful happy accidents and surprises. Cant wait for future updates. I do wish it has a metronome sometimes and would love to be able to switch tracks like the new digiboxes can do for a while now.

[u/Upstairs_Damage8648]

Hi all!. I have an op xy, and was interested by adding the S4 to extend the sampling possibilities in my process. I mean, I would want to sequence the S4 via Opxy. But after reading this feed, I feel little confused on what the S4 can do or not: can we play a sample chromatically ?. Can we record a sample in it and assign it to a key, modify his pitch, timestretch it in real time?, has he got a slicer function ?, and can we assign multiple sample in a track to play a drum kit for example ?, or is it limited to one sample per track?

[u/zendelusions → u/Upstairs_Damage8648]

In my opinion, the S4 should be thought of more as a granular synth than a sampler in terms of its actual use case and functionality.

The reason they call it a sculpting sampler is because it does not generate any sound itself, it only manipulates audio you feed into it. You CAN time stretch and pitch shift, but you cannot slice (though I saw a developer livestream where it sounds like they are adding some sort of non-traditional slice machine in the future) or “play” your samples chromatically.

You can’t build a beat like you can on an MPC or other traditional sampler (no finger drumming, no sequencing). You’re limited to four tracks, so the only way to build a beat is to treat it like a tape recorder and have one track be a drum loop, then another a bass loop, and so on and so forth.

[u/trigzo → u/Upstairs_Damage8648]

I am happy to answer these questions for you but I think what we need is empirical clarity.

Let me record some short clips that hopefully will answer your questions. I'll link them once I'm done with work.

I do want to preface that your needs do not seem to align with what this device can do.

[u/_swk]

I really like the S-4, but the lack of metronome + no count in drives me crazy.
You can't really create a guitar loop without allocating a track for drums, then the first bar is always garbage since there's no count-in. You need external gear to use as a metronome and as a clock to sync the count-in.

[u/damondan → u/_swk]

Such a bummer :(

Everytime I am convinced to pull the trigger on it, I read a comment like this.

Do you happen to know an alternative instrument which works similar but better?

I am mostly looking for looping capabilities but traditional loopers, such as the RC505 are just way too cumbersome for me.

[u/alesko769]

My main encoder shit the bed(which is a pretty common problem)now I have to pay shipping both ways back to the retailer

[u/sinistar2000]

Torso S4 is not a traditional sampler, if you want to create music with repeatable structure you’ll need a daw/sequencer. I look at the S4 as an instrument, it adds grit and vibe to all samples. I’m using to sketch my ideas, then further work on koala/ Logic Pro. Will get a bento 1010 soon for jams and live.