Introducing the Kodamo MASK1 Bitmask Synthesizer

video uploads by Kodamo

"The Kodamo MASK1 is a musical instrument focused on the sound interaction between the player and the keyboard. With its exclusive Bitmask™ engine combined with resonant filters, the MASK1 makes raw, gritty and ethereal sounds that respond in incredible ways to your playing style."

"What is Bitmask synthesis?

Bitmask synthesis is the method the MASK1 uses to generate its sound. Internally, oscillators do only have one waveform. Various tones are created by applying what is called a bitmask. This is a technique inherited from computing, which alters a number by masking some of its digits. Here we adapted this technique to make sound. Bit-masking creates complex wave shapes that are full of harmonics and give the MASK1 its sonic character."

Playlist:
Introducing the Kodamo MASK1
Kodamo MASK1 - Ethereal choir
Kodamo MASK1 - Chorused saw
Kodamo MASK1 - Bit Piano
Kodamo MASK1 - Paraphonic evolving pad
Kodamo MASK1 - Notch filter
Kodamo MASK1 - Filter resonances & sound editing
Kodamo MASK1 - Almost clean guitar
Kodamo MASK1 - Gritty formant
Kodamo MASK1 - Creating a sound in 1 minute
Kodamo MASK1 - Analog pluck
Kodamo MASK1 - Asian fifth
Kodamo MASK1 - Ambient/Atmospheric soundscape
Kodamo MASK1 - Hybrid monophonic/polyphonic (moly) mode
Kodamo MASK1 Teaser

Also see [SOUNDMIT 2022] KODAMO MASK 1 (+ DEMO) - New "Bitmask" Keyboard Synthesizer Incoming

Test et sons : le Mask1 de Kodamo

video upload by Eric Synthwalker

KODAMO MASK1 Demo & Review

video upload by musictrackjp

"DEMO by Katsunori UJIIE.

KODAMO MASK1
https://kodamo.org/mask1"

via Kodamo

Expressive & Characterful

The Kodamo MASK1 is a musical instrument focused on the interaction between the player and the keyboard. With its exclusive Bitmask engine combined with resonant filters, the MASK1 makes raw, gritty and ethereal sounds that respond in incredible ways to your playing style.

It's not just the notes

Most synths just play the notes you press. We went a bit further, by looking at how the notes interact with each other. Only by playing the keyboard, you can control when the attacks are triggered, how notes are tied or separated from each other, or if they should keep resonating or stop each other like if they were played on the same string on a stringed instrument. You will discover new ways of playing the keyboard.

Built with love

The MASK1 uses a high quality, 5-octave Fatar keyboard with velocity and aftertouch. It's fully made of painted metal, with two ALPS knobs and 23 KAILH mechanical switches. Everything is assembled in France with high attention to detail. We love creating musical instruments that have their own identity. We spent a lot of time selecting parts and suppliers to balance price and work ethics, while always aiming for the highest quality.

For live and studio players

With its compact size and light weight, the MASK1 will easily fit in your studio and is ideal for gigs. It remembers settings between sessions. With its unique sound, premium keyboard and MIDI connectivity, it can become the main keyboard of your setup.


Synth engine specs:

Synthesis type Bitmask, subtractive

Polyphony 10 voices with optimized allocation

Multitimbrality 4 parts (5 in layered/split mode)

Oscillators 2 bitmask per voice with 256 masks each, transpose and detune

Noise 1 per voice with programmable sample-and-hold frequency

Filter 1 per voice, two poles (12dB/oct) state variable, self-resonant with pitch tracking and 4 modes (low, high, band pass, notch)

Envelopes 4 loopable ADSR per voice (osc1, osc2, noise, filter), 3 delta-decay (osc1 mask, osc2 mask, pitch)

LFO 2 per part with 7 waveforms and noise, delay, decay and 16 destinations

Arpeggiator 26 patterns with adaptive or fixed chords, latchable, retrig or pitch change modes. Arp do send note events to MIDI out.

Looper Up to 10000 events, unlimited duration, single track. Records notes, pitch bend, mod wheel, aftertouch and sustain pedal.

Effects Two stereo effects in series. First effect: chorus, phaser, distortion, bitcrusher, tremolo and ring mod (64 types). Second effect: delay, comb filter, reverb, room simulations and distortion (48 types)

Modulations Velocity (6 destinations), modulation wheel (16 destinations), aftertouch (16 destinations), LFO1 and LFO2 (16 destinations each)

Play modes Polyphonic, monophonic, slurred, mono portamento on legato, paraphonic, hybrid poly-mono on legato, slurred paraphonic, mono retrigger, poly retrigger

Split Configurable split point, balance between voices, transpose, panning and tuning

Layer Configurable balance between voices, transpose, panning and tuning

Misc Voice pan spread, polyphonic portamento, keyboard envelope rate scaling

Additional pics: