Creative Labs Reimagines Audio with a Modular Sound Blaster Hub on Kickstarter Creative Labs, the legendary name behind the iconic Sound Blaster audio cards, is venturing into new territory with a Kickstarter campaign for a highly versatile and modular audio hub named the Sound Blaster Re:Imagine. This device aims to be a universal command center for all your audio sources and outputs, allowing users to route any input to any output instantly with a simple button press. The concept is reminiscent of popular control surfaces like the Elgato Stream Deck but is built specifically for audio management. Imagine connecting your gaming console, personal computer, and musical instruments to the hub, and then having your speakers, wired headsets, and wireless headphones all connected as outputs. The Re:Imagine promises to let you switch between these combinations seamlessly, eliminating cable swapping and complex software settings. At the heart of the system is its modular, magnetic design. Users can customize the control surface with various modules that snap onto a base unit. These modules include a 3-inch smart screen, a four-button pad, a rotary knob, and dual sliders, all of which can be rearranged to suit the user’s preference. The standard base offered in the Kickstarter is the Horizon model with five slots, while an expanded six-slot Vertex base is a potential stretch goal. Under the hood, the Re:Imagine is surprisingly powerful. It is equipped with an octa-core ARM processor that includes a small NPU for AI tasks, 8GB of RAM, and 16GB of internal flash storage, which is further expandable via a microSD card slot. For audiophiles, it features a high-resolution 32-bit DAC to ensure sound quality is maintained. It supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity and runs on a Linux-based operating system. This allows it to function either as a standalone device or as a hub tethered to a computer. Beyond its core routing functionality, Creative Labs is packing the hub with unique features. An AI DJ is included that can generate music on the fly. For a dose of nostalgia, there is a built-in DOS emulator for retro gaming. One-tap audio recording is also part of the package. Perhaps most intriguing for the tech-savvy community, the device is being positioned as developer-friendly. Creative Labs will provide an SDK and sample source code to encourage users to build their own custom applications and share them within the Creative Labs ecosystem. The Kickstarter campaign for the Sound Blaster Re:Imagine is set to run through December. If successful, the company estimates that shipping to backers will begin in July 2026.
