Plinky 12 Chords, Blocks and Syntakt: Polyrhythmic Arps

video upload by Making Sound Machines

"In this video, Enrica and Roland from Making Sound Machines play a melodic house track, performing live with the built-in polyphonic arpeggiator.

Plinky 12 sends a MIDI clock signal to the Elektron Syntakt, synchronizing the tempo between both devices. Syntakt is a fantastic hybrid digital-analogue drum machine and provides the beats you hear in this clip. All synth sounds are produced with Plinky 12's internal synth engine.

Plinky 12's internal sequencer advances through a harmonic progression, while Enrica performs on the touch surface, editing the polyphonic arpeggio. First she extends the length of the loop, leading to great polyrhythmic shifts over the 4/4 house beat.

As the track progresses, Enrica taps the surface to add or delete notes in the arp pattern.

Roland operates a second Plinky 12, the Blocks panel to the left. It is configured to send MIDI messages from an XY surface to Plinky 12 Chords. This allows him to change the sound parameters remotely while Enrica performs on Chords at the same time.

This track was composed for a live set at Club Synth, an event our friends Stijn and Priscilla from This is Not Rocket Science are hosting and organizing quarterly at Ruigoord near Amsterdam. Thank you for inviting us and putting in the hard work to create such a lovely event!

Plinky 12 is a family of expressive polyphonic synthesizers. The three instruments are built around a shared polyphonic synth engine. Designed by mmalex, it evokes the unmistakable melancholic sounds of the original Plinky.

Each instrument is designed in collaboration with a different synth maker, lending each panel a distinct playability and unique character.

Plinky 12 Chords is a harmonic inspiration machine. It lets you improvise melodies and chords, with expressive control over voicings, progressions, and immediate musical play. Created by Making Sound Machines, Chords is the panel for finding beautiful harmonic movement quickly.

Plinky 12 Toadstep is a 4-track step sequencer built for super funky riffs, experimental self-generative melodies, and good ol' Acid. Created by Toadstool Tech, the designer behind the Ectocore Eurorack module, Toadstep is fun, immediate and easy to jam with!

Plinky 12 Blocks is an open panel built for experimentation, with monome-grid compatibility, Plinky style touch synthesis, and a browser-based coding environment just a click away. While it comes with a fully playable design out of the gate, creator mmalex invites you to build your own adventure with this panel. If you can imagine it, you can make it!"