Polyend Play+ 1.3.0: Free Beat Unleashes the Drift Engine (Finally)

The real workflow revolution in this update? You can finally edit synth patches using the macro knobs. Gone are the days of endless encoder twiddling and menu-diving that made patch editing feel like assembling flat-pack furniture blindfolded. Now, you just hit Edit Patch and those lovely-feeling macro knobs do the heavy lifting—filter sweeps, envelope tweaks, the works.

Switching between pages with the main encoder is still a thing, but the tactile control is a massive leap. Free Beat doesn’t hold back: this is how it should’ve been from day one. The new system actually makes sound design fun instead of a test of patience. If you ever wanted to shape a patch without losing your will to live, this is the update you’ve been waiting for.

Free Beat’s not shy about calling out Polyend for taking their sweet time. The macro knob patch editing is so obviously better that you have to wonder what the devs were thinking before. It’s a classic case of a feature that should’ve shipped on day one, not after a year and a half of firmware updates. Still, better late than never—just don’t expect the creator to let Polyend off the hook for the wait.

The update doesn’t just make Play+ owners happy—it sparks speculation about what’s coming for Polyend’s other boxes. Free Beat openly hopes the Drift engine will land on the Tracker, Tracker Mini, and especially the Polyend Synth, which has somehow become their favourite rectangle in the Polyend lineup. The way Polyend keeps their devices in sync with updates gives hope that Drift could go cross-platform soon.

Of course, nothing’s confirmed, but the wish-listing is real. If you’re a Polyend Synth owner, keep your fingers crossed and your firmware updater handy. This update shows Polyend’s still got some surprises up their sleeve—and maybe, just maybe, they’ll start rolling out the good stuff to the whole family.