SOMA Enigma - aptly named! - Beijing Modular 26

video upload by sonicstate

"We spoke to Tim from SOMA about *Enigma*, an instrument controlled with metal objects rather than conventional knobs. Enigma has eight engines, including drum engines, noise-based sounds, arpeggiated parts, tonal material and preset-specific effects.

The surface responds to coins or other metal objects, and parameter changes happen at various points covering the surface, often where the printed lines cross.

In theory, the same object position produces the same result, though finding that point can be a challenge ;-) Metal size matters: smaller pieces may not drive a parameter to its full range, while larger pieces can affect several parameters at once.

He demonstrated objects used as physical presets. Markers or templates can help return coins to fixed positions, and starting with more metal pieces, then subtracting them, is one suggested workflow.
There is no manual... it truly is a bit of a mystery, but it's the kind of instrument that rewards exploration"