SynBe - Inspired by 1975 Japanese Synth Bass (demo)

video upload by Hügelton Instruments

"This series' first synthesizer simulation is of a rare Japanese-made bass synthesizer.
This synthesizer possesses features rarely seen in modern synthesizers, such as a unique traveler and simplified oscillator sources.
We has poured its passion for this hard-to-find synthesizer into this simulation software.

Features
・Monophonic synthesizer architecture
・Triangle, Square, Saw, Pulse and Phaser modes
・4’, 8’ and 16’ octave ranges
・Classic Traveler filter
・Twelve factory presets
・Full MIDI CC control
・Separate modern modification section

Available for macOS (AUv2 / VST3) and Windows (VST3).
https://hugelton.itch.io/synbe"



SynBe is a monophonic bass synthesizer inspired by a 1975 Japanese Synth Bass.

I had wanted one for a long time, but finding one is difficult. Rather than wait for the right unit to appear, I started with what was still available: surviving technical documentation, published circuit information, material from related instruments, and other technical references.

Some sections are well documented. Others are incomplete. Where the original circuit cannot be fully determined, SynBe uses the available evidence, related designs, conventional modelling techniques, and listening tests.

Features

Monophonic synthesizer architecture
Triangle, Square, Saw, Pulse and Phaser modes
4’, 8’ and 16’ octave ranges
Classic Traveler filter
Twelve factory presets
Full MIDI CC control
Separate modern modification section
2x internal oversampling
Versioned DSP kernel
Special nice & great graphics by ME!
Archaeology

Most of my previous reconstruction projects started with an instrument sitting in front of me.

SynBe did not.

The reconstruction began with surviving technical documentation and circuit information. I also studied material from contemporary and related instruments where the available information was incomplete.

The signal path was reconstructed section by section, from the oscillator and waveform circuitry through the Traveler filter and VCA.


I own a M-500 and MS-20, but neither turned out to be particularly useful for this project. I still intend to turn the M-500 into software someday.

SynBe is not presented as an exact hardware emulation.

(I think the result is extremely close)

Fictional MODs

The upper panel follows the original control structure.

MODE selects Triangle, Square, Saw, Pulse or Phaser. The Phaser mode is actually a pulse width modulation oscillator. OCTAVE provides 4’, 8’ and 16’ ranges. The rest of the panel contains Pitch, Attack, Percussion, Sustain, Traveler, Bright, Expand and Volume.

The lower panel contains my fictional modifications.

These include portamento, adjustable bend range, bend attack and release timing, bend to Traveler, Bright amount, Expand amount, extended resonance behavior, noise mix and output drive.

Every modern control defaults to a setting that leaves the reconstructed sound unchanged.

What We Do Not Know

SynBe is based on documentation, circuit information and research into related instruments.

It is not based on direct measurements of an original unit.

Some parts can be reconstructed with relatively high confidence. Others still require interpretation because the surviving information is incomplete.

I am satisfied with the current sound, but that does not mean every detail matches the original hardware.

If you own an original and notice something that clearly behaves or sounds differently, I would like to know.

SynBe uses a versioned DSP kernel, so new measurements or stronger technical evidence can become a future kernel without silently changing the sound of existing projects.

Revenue from SynBe will eventually be used to purchase an original unit.

Notice: Generative AI (Claude and Codex) was used for coding assistance and running the testing pipeline. Sound design, visual design, and all graphical assets were created by the developer