Chompi

Chompi, stylised as CHOMPI, is a hardware sampler, looper, and effects instrument created by Chelsea and Tobias Hendrickson of Spokane, Washington. The product was announced in March 2023 and developed as an intentionally accessible alternative to more visually dependent music-production hardware. Rather than relying on a conventional display, Chompi communicates its state through LEDs, physical labels, oversized buttons, and tactile controls. Its workflow is designed to encourage immediate experimentation with sampling, looping, effects, and performance-oriented manipulation. The instrument emerged from the Hendricksons' broader involvement in synthesizers and music-technology education. They became familiar with synthesizers through a synthesizer community in New Zealand and subsequently operated a community synth program serving Spokane and the wider Pacific Northwest for approximately a decade. That experience informed their emphasis on approachable interfaces and hands-on learning. Chompi's physical design also draws on Eurorack modular synthesizer culture, including the idea that a musical instrument can expose its functions through clearly separated hardware controls rather than hiding them behind menus. Accessibility was a central design consideration. Tobias Hendrickson has severe vision loss, and significant parts of the Chompi workflow were developed while he was completely blind between eye surgeries. A 3D-printed prototype helped him test the instrument's layout without depending on a screen. The resulting product uses large, rounded, toy-like controls and visual indicators that distinguish functions such as filtering, tape saturation, and the combination reverb-and-delay effect called the Magic Wand. The creators have described the design as both practical and exploratory: the absence of a screen reduces visual complexity while inviting users to learn the instrument through touch, sound, and experimentation. Chompi is manufactured by Electro-Distro and uses the Daisy Seed platform developed by Electro-Smith, a microcontroller platform intended for building custom musical instruments and audio devices. The creators have stated that many components are manufactured in the United States. The instrument includes sampling and looping functions together with built-in effects, and subsequent firmware updates addressed bugs and expanded capabilities, including sample panning and volume control. The development process has also incorporated user feedback, with feature requests gathered through the Chompi Club Discord community. The product was funded through Kickstarter. The campaign launched on 28 March 2023 with a stated goal of $30,000 and exceeded $900,000 during its first day. It ultimately raised more than $1 million, making it one of the more successful Kickstarter campaigns of 2023. Campaign backers could obtain a standard Chompi for $499, while a limited pink edition was offered at $599. Kickstarter units began shipping by January 2024, after which Chompi became available to the general public through the Chompi Club website, with pricing starting at $599. Chompi received considerable attention for its colorful, rounded, and toy-like appearance when first announced. Reviews generally recognized the appeal of its effects and looper, while also identifying limitations in the initial software and hardware experience. Hainbach praised the effects and looping capabilities but criticized aspects of the labeling system. Ricky Tinez highlighted the loud mechanical keys and the absence of some useful controls, including sample volume management. Firmware development subsequently added functions requested by users. Chompi remains a niche music-technology product whose identity combines accessible industrial design, screenless operation, modular-synthesizer influence, and community-led development.

Chompi was developed by Chelsea and Tobias Hendrickson, a couple based in Spokane, Washington, with backgrounds in synthesizer education and community music technology. Their interest in electronic instruments was influenced by time spent with a synthesizer group in New Zealand. Before developing Chompi, they ran a community synth program focused on Spokane and the Pacific Northwest for roughly a decade. That work gave them experience introducing modular and electronic instruments to people who might find conventional music-technology interfaces intimidating. The product was conceived as a sampler and looper that would minimize dependence on screens and menus. Tobias Hendrickson has severe vision loss, and the development process included periods in which he was completely blind between eye surgeries. He used a 3D-printed model to explore the layout and workflow, helping establish the instrument's large controls and tactile arrangement. The creators also viewed a screenless interface as an artistic and educational choice: users could interact directly with controls, listen to the results, and discover the instrument without navigating a dense visual interface. Chompi was publicly announced on 12 March 2023 through a video on the Chompi Club YouTube channel. The presentation demonstrated its sampling, looping, and effects functions. Its design drew inspiration from Eurorack modules and used LEDs, physical labels, and oversized controls to communicate operating status. The device included effects such as a filter, tape saturation, and the Magic Wand, a combined reverb-and-delay effect. The rounded, colorful enclosure and unusually large buttons led commentators to describe the instrument as toy-like or adorable, although the design was intended to support both accessibility and musical exploration. The funding campaign launched on Kickstarter on 28 March 2023 with a goal of $30,000. It raised more than $900,000 in its first day and finished above $1 million. The campaign offered a standard unit at $499 and a limited pink version at $599. Manufacturing was handled by Electro-Distro, while the electronics used the Daisy Seed platform from Electro-Smith. The creators stated that many components were manufactured in the United States. Kickstarter units began shipping by January 2024, and Chompi subsequently became available to the general public through the Chompi Club website, with prices starting at $599. Reviews generally welcomed the instrument's approachable design and built-in effects. Hainbach praised the looper and effects while identifying shortcomings in the labeling experience. Ricky Tinez criticized the loud mechanical keys and the initial absence of features such as sample volume control. The creators continued development through firmware updates, fixing bugs and adding capabilities such as sample panning and volume control. They also collected feature requests through Discord, making user feedback part of the ongoing product process.

1. 2024Backer shipments begin

   Chompi units ordered through Kickstarter began shipping by January 2024.

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2. 2024General retail availability

   Following backer fulfillment, Chompi became available to the public through the Chompi Club website, starting at $599.

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3. 2023Public announcement

   Chompi was introduced through a Chompi Club YouTube video on 12 March, demonstrating its sampler, looper, and effects workflow.

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4. 2023Kickstarter campaign launches

   The funding campaign began on 28 March with a $30,000 goal and raised more than $900,000 in its first day.

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5. 2023Crowdfunding surpasses $1 million

   The campaign concluded after raising more than $1 million, placing it among the strongest Kickstarter campaigns of the year.

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A tactile, screenless, and accessible sampler for musicians, producers, and electronic-music performers, differentiated by its playful industrial design, immediate controls, built-in effects, and community-oriented development.

• ChompiHardware sampler and looper2023

  Chompi is a screenless electronic instrument combining sampling, looping, and built-in effects. Its interface uses LEDs, physical labels, oversized buttons, and tactile controls rather than a conventional display. The instrument includes effects such as filtering, tape saturation, and the Magic Wand combination of reverb and delay. It is built around the Daisy Seed platform and was designed with accessibility, direct manipulation, and playful experimentation in mind. Later firmware updates added functions including sample panning and volume control.

• Pink ChompiLimited-edition hardware sampler2023

  The pink Chompi was a limited-edition variant offered during the Kickstarter campaign. It retained the core sampler, looper, and effects architecture of the standard instrument while using a distinctive pink finish. Kickstarter pricing for this version was $599.

• 2023Chompi Kickstarter campaign

  International crowdfunding market

  Chompi Club used Kickstarter to finance production of the sampler. The campaign opened on 28 March 2023 with a $30,000 target, passed $900,000 during its first day, and ultimately raised more than $1 million. Backers could choose a standard unit or a limited pink edition.

  Outcome. The campaign became one of Kickstarter's more successful campaigns of 2023 and funded production and subsequent shipment of backer units.

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• 2023Launch a screenless sampler and looperProduct launch

  The creators sought to make electronic music hardware more approachable and accessible while avoiding dependence on a conventional visual display.

  What changed. They developed Chompi around tactile controls, LEDs, physical labels, and large buttons, combining sampling and looping with built-in effects.

  Aftermath. The design attracted substantial media attention and strong crowdfunding demand, although reviewers identified limitations in the initial control layout and feature set.

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• 2023Use Kickstarter to fund productionStrategy

  As an independent hardware project, Chompi required advance funding and evidence of market demand before broader production.

  What changed. Chompi Club launched a Kickstarter campaign with a $30,000 target and offered discounted campaign pricing for early supporters.

  Aftermath. The campaign exceeded $1 million in funding and was followed by backer fulfillment and public sales.

  Kickstarter funds raised. $30,000 campaign goal → More than $1,000,000 raised (28 March 2023 campaign and its completion)

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• Expand functionality through firmware updatesGeneration change

  Early reviews identified software bugs and missing controls, including limitations around sample volume management.

  What changed. The creators issued firmware updates and gathered additional feature requests through the Chompi Club Discord community.

  Aftermath. Updates fixed bugs and added features such as sample panning and volume control.

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• 2024Kickstarter Chompi units begin shipping

  Units ordered by Kickstarter supporters began shipping by January 2024, followed by general availability through the Chompi Club website.

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• 2023Chompi sampler announced

  Chompi Club announced the screenless sampler, looper, and effects instrument in a YouTube presentation on 12 March 2023.

  Product launch
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• 2023Chompi Kickstarter exceeds $900,000 in its first day

  The crowdfunding campaign substantially surpassed its $30,000 goal during its first day and later exceeded $1 million in total funding.

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• Firmware updates add sample controls and address bugs

  Later firmware releases fixed bugs and added functions including sample panning and volume control, partly in response to feature requests from the user community.

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1. Chompi
2. Chompi Club official website