Polyend Launches $299 Endless Pedal, Selling AI-Generated Guitar Effects for $20 per 2,000 Tokens
Updated
Updated · The Verge · May 21
Polyend Launches $299 Endless Pedal, Selling AI-Generated Guitar Effects for $20 per 2,000 Tokens
1 articles · Updated · The Verge · May 21
$299 Endless lets guitarists load custom effects generated from text prompts through Polyend’s web-based Playground, with about 60 downloadable “Plates” available at launch.
2,000 bundled tokens cover only a few creations, and extra generations cost $20 per 2,000; in testing, more than 3,500 tokens produced three keeper effects alongside several failed attempts.
5- to 10-minute generation times, one-effect-at-a-time loading and firmware quirks slowed iteration, with some effects needing a manual power cycle before working properly.
Polyend positions Endless as a cheap, approachable way to chase unusual sounds rather than replace dedicated pedals, which the review says still offer better control, stability and polish.
Polyend also stresses “ethical” AI use by training on in-house and open-source effects code and running near-self-sufficient on-site servers, though broader musician skepticism toward AI could limit adoption.
As AI learns to generate any sound, what becomes the future value of traditional, hand-crafted effects pedals?
Can an 'ethical AI' music device succeed with a pay-per-creation model, or will it just frustrate creative musicians?
When an AI generates the code for a unique sound, who truly owns the copyright: the user or the company?