Music start-up Thoughtful Things has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Engram, an audio sampler and groovebox that uses AI to transform recordings and generate unusual new sounds. The instrument is aimed at experimental sound design rather than producing polished, radio-ready songs, and is designed to let musicians explore the unpredictable results of AI audio models.

Engram runs a custom, locally installed model and does not connect to the internet. The company says its models are trained only on commercially licensed audio and plans to make the firmware open for modification and custom models. The Kickstarter’s limited run starts at $675; the eventual retail price has not been announced, but the pledge is described as a 30 per cent discount, suggesting a price of roughly $850 to $900.