Mutable Instruments Announces Ambika Poly Shruthi

via Mutable Instruments

"Here are some of the key features:

Up to 6 voices, each with an individual output — in addition to a global mix output.
MIDI channels/patches/voices are distinct entities, allowing many different flexible configurations, from 6 independent monophonic parts each on a different MIDI channel, to 1 polysynth, with everything in-between (unison, keyboard split, layering, voice doubling).
Connectors for up to 6 voicecards. In true Mutable Instruments spirit, you can mix and match voicecards with different filters, and in the future with different synthesis engines.
Easy to use sound programming interface with a large 2x40 LCD display, 8 knobs, 8 switches and 15 bicolor LEDs. Each module of the synthesis engine has a page, each page has a direct access button.
Massive patch memory, easy backup/data exchange, fast firmware upgrades with the integrated SD card reader. And there might be other things you’ll load from the SD card in the future…
Patch versioning and undo/compare/redo of editing operations.
Sequencer, arpeggiator and rhythmic chord generator available for each part. 2 step-sequences per part. Each part can be clocked at a different multiple of the MIDI clock.
And of course: DIY friendly, through-hole assembly.

Each voice is on its own circuit board. Yes, it’s huge and it draws a lot of power! The first 3 voicecards that will be released are based on a maxed-out version of the Shruthi-1 sound engine.

All the Shruthi-1 oscillators goodness – classic analog waveforms, FM, wavetables, vowel synthesis, low-fi tones.
More z-family oscillator waveshapes, with digital emulations of analog waveforms sent through resonant LP/BP/HP filters.
“Wavequence” mode for individually addressing the content of the wave memory (wavequence + step sequencer = wave sequencing).
New mixer with adjustable overdrive and bitcrusher effects, independent of the mixing mode.
3 synchronized LFOs shared by all voices in a patch with new waveforms, and 1 desynchronized, per-voice LFO for subtle voice modulation effects.
3 ADSR envelopes with times up to 60s.
Large modulation matrix (14 slots, 4 modifiers), with new modulation sources and destinations.
Improved sound richness/brightness and extended filter range.
3 flavours of voicecards: Warm and classic 4-pole low-pass (OTA-C with Darlington buffers), sweet and liquid 4-pole low-pass (SSM2164), 2-pole multimode (SSM2164).

What will come after that? Voicecards offering a few channels of drum sounds. The following voicecards are in development:


Multi-channel drum samples ROMpler.
Analog drum module (2 instruments per voicecard).

How does it sound? You can listen to many sound clips here [embed below].

Ambika is a DIY project, all the technical choices have been made to make it accessible to DIYers, and it will be sold primarily as kits.