"Remember the magic of a hand-cranked music box? That simple, satisfying motion, turning a handle and hearing a melody come alive. Now imagine that crank isn’t just playing music… it’s powering your creativity.
We are about to reinvent the classic paper strip music box. Blending tactile, hands-on music-making with a powerful digital engine.
A Physical Way to Compose
At its heart, it’s simple: you punch holes in paper to compose your own melodies, feed the strip into the box, and crank. Note by note. Idea by idea. There’s no undo button; just experimentation, happy accidents, and discovery. You’re carving music into existence. A melody you can hold, tweak, rewind, and reinvent."
"Yes, it's a banana shaped synthesizer. It's also a synthesizer that turns bananas and other conductive objects into musical keys you can play. This is both a pocket sized sound machine and a musical science lab that lets you use electricity to play notes and control effects. Whether you're a STEM student or pro musician, there's so much to explore with the Banan-a-Synth.
Custom Sound Engine Packed with Sounds: 12 different instrument sounds, 8 built in sound effects. It's also 4 note polyphonic, so you can play a chord!
Play Conductive Objects: Use the included alligator clips to turn all sorts of conductive objects into keys you can play.
Learn Music and Physics: An intro to both the physics of conductivity and the art of applying filters and effects to synthesizer sounds.
Control Effects with Touch: An analog conductivity sensor to control effects. The harder you press the sensor, the stronger the sound effect.
Take It Anywhere: Super portable, with built in speaker and 2xAA Batteries. Also has a headphone jack and can be powered by a USB-C cable, not included.
No Screen, No Computer: Does not require connection to a computer or anything with a screen. Focus on exploring music without distraction.
No Knobs, No Problem: Change tuning, volume, and sound mode by simultaneously touching a setting touchpad and one of the keyboard keys.
Metronome: Select your beats per minute and rhythm structure.
It's a Banana: Tell your friends you can play the banana."
See the MicroKits label below for additional posts.
Hesperides is Altered State Machines' new handheld synthesizer built
to accompany you on your venture to the outer regions of dissonance and back.
Designed for performance and explorative sonic mangling.
Every control can bring a drastic adjustment to the sound.
Go from vanilla to completely alien.
Self contained and portable, especially so with the battery pack.
Lend your support to our project, and put a little more chaos in everyone's pocket.
Altered State Machines history
Hi, we're Jesse and Ed.
Jesse became fascinated with modular synthesis around 2016 and went back to school as an electronic engineering technician to learn how to repair and create his own eurorack modules.
Altered State Machines grew out of Jesse's first project, the Aristotle sequencer which is now in its fifth iteration. Jesse is our electronics and hardware mastermind. Ed joined forces to twiddle bits with the software.
"The Return of a Legend - Our Re-issue of the 777 analog synthesizer with Updated
Sequencer Features from the Revolution and Swynx!
In 1997, The 777 was the first 303 clone to include the all-important sequencer,
and provide real-time editing of patterns during playback. However, it really
was much more than a clone..
...The first 30 units produced were the purple 777 models. Approximately 25 of
the blue 777 models were then produced. There were 7 custom hand-brushed silver
front panels created, and only 3 of those were ever sold to the public. The
white 777 is the only one in existence. The majority of 777’s produced were the
black and white models. Notice these models had slightly different
screen-printing with the 777 name typed out instead of using a symbol like the
first models had. ...It sounded fabulous but also caused the output to increase
drastically in volume. So a completely new overdrive stage was implemented on
later models that kept the output more consistent as the overdrive was
increased. I would say later models had a cleaner sound overall, and slightly
better stability.
All 777’s were hand assembled, and the first 200 plus units of the 777 were made
entirely by myself. It took at least 8 hours to assemble a single unit. As
demand grew for the 777, I hired another hand assembly company to do the
majority of component placement, while I focused on final assembly, testing, and
tuning of each unit, and the day-to-day chores of running a business. The 777
quickly became the acid synth of choice by many well known artists including:
Skylab2000, Uberzone, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, KMFDM, Nine
Inch Nails, Jason Nevins, Air Liquide, Alex Gopher, Richie Hawtin, Aphex Twin,
BT, The Juan MacLean, Terra Firma/Union Jack, Nortec Collective, Atomic Babies,
Electric Skychurch, and many others. Bands like Hardfloor and Plastikmand
inspired the original concept for the 777, with the minimal acid house music
they were creating using only a drum machine or two, and a TB-303.
I wanted to create similar music using only the 777, as digital multi-tracking
was becoming more accessible at that time. The 777 provided built in distortion
to achieve those ripping acid leads that were becoming popular, and also
provided enough additional circuitry to allow analog percussion and other sounds
to be generated. The 777 was originally called the Bassix, which can be seen
printed on the PC boards. Although it was never publicly called this, it was
simply a nickname given during development. This was a derived combination of
the TB-303’s “Bassline” name and the TR-606’s “Drumatix” name. As this unit
could sound like the 303, but its sequencer operated more like the 606 with its
live note entry and editing features.
In 2003 production of the 777 stopped, with a total of 678 units being produced
in all. These units quickly became collector like commodities, and continue to
command high prices in the used market. We are very excited to bring it back! As
of 2025 we have been prototyping the 777 for over 2 years to bring it back to
the market. We have been through many iterations of the analog board in order to
make it sound as much like my personal vintage unit while also designing it for
manufacture.
Now we are asking for you help to do it the way we would like to. We are wanting
to upgrade the processor and code base so that we have the ability to include
the remix feature from the Revolution/Orb sequencers as well as the time
signatures and swing features from the SWYNX!"
"🎹 Meet the Wunderkammer WoO.1 – a battery-powered mini sampler, looper, and sequencer that lets you create full songs on the go! Whether you're into finger drumming, sampling, or building grooves, this compact device packs serious creative power.
🚀 This is a prototype , and you can back the project on Kickstarter to help bring it to life:
👉 [Kickstarter Link] https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
📺 In this video :
Live demo and sound examples
Sampling workflow and instrument mode
Arpeggiator, grooves, and effects
Saving, rendering, and playlist features
Honest thoughts and nitpicks
"M0SS-101 is a virtual analog monosynth built for a pure, hands-on subtractive synthesis, packed into a compact, rugged guitar pedal enclosure.
With 26 buttons and a single encoder, M0SS-101 gives you intuitive access to a deep 42-parameter virtual analog synthesis engine. Press a button to select a parameter, turn the encoder to modify it, and monitor your signal flow via the LED system.
Using a MIDI controller, you can map any parameter via simple MIDI learn, making it easy to integrate into your setup. Up to 17 presets can be saved and recalled for quick access to your favourite sounds.
The 26 RGB LEDs use colour and brightness to represent signal flow, modulation paths, settings and selections. A separate row of 11 LEDs at the bottom gives you instant visual feedback on the currently selected parameter.
I aim to offer an affordable, compact, and versatile instrument, without sacrificing features, ergonomics, or most importantly, fun. I hope you'll enjoy playing this synth as much as I have :'-)"
"I’ve designed a set of original Eurorack modules with intuitive interfaces and powerful features to help you create melodies, harmonies, and custom sequences in your synthesizer setup.
The T=3^x⋅2^y Midi Clock Divider makes it easy to explore rhythmic possibilities. The intuitive front panel shows the relationship between all outputs at a glance.
The 4051 Permutational Sequencer turns simple gate signals into complex sequences. This sequencer uses three gate inputs as a binary number, which determines the order of its steps.
Take your melodies and harmonies to the next level with the MC2VQ MIDI Controllable Dual Voice Quantizer.
The T=3^x⋅2^y Midi Clock Divider makes it easy to explore rhythmic possibilities. The intuitive front panel shows the relationship between all outputs at a glance.
Flexible Rhythms: Outputs are organized into triplet, standard, and dotted note divisions, perfect for creating musically meaningful patterns.
Seamless Integration: Combine any three outputs with the 4051 Permutational Sequencer for instant access to unique and inspiring sequences.
Reset in and out: To sync to other modules or use the reset in to make it reset itself if you want different sequence lengths.
Whether you're building complex grooves or experimenting with polyrhythms, this module simplifies the process.
Simple Inputs, Complex Sequences
The 4051 Permutational Sequencer turns simple gate signals into complex sequences. This sequencer uses three gate inputs as a binary number, which determines the order of its steps.
Dynamic Variations: Feed it three successively halved standard notes like quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes for a standard left-to-right sequence. But the real magic happens when you replace any of the inputs with another signal, resulting in limitless creative possibilities and rhythmic variation.
User-Friendly Design: Color-coded inputs make it easy to understand and control.
CV Output Range and Level Options:
The CV output range is adjustable via a dedicated switch, allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs. Additionally, the level knob provides precise control over attenuation for fine-tuning the signal.
Trigger Output:
Each time the sequencer advances to a new step, a trigger pulse is sent from the trigger output, making it easy to synchronize with other modules or external gear.
This sequencer is a powerful tool for creating evolving patterns that push your creativity to new heights.
Perfectly Spaced Notes, Dual Voice, MIDI Control
Take your melodies and harmonies to the next level with the MC2VQ MIDI Controllable Dual Voice Quantizer.
Dual CV/Gate Output: Creates two sets of CV/Gate outputs from the same scale or chord, resulting in lovely and complementary harmonies.
Unique Mixing Capabilities: Blend the three analog inputs differently for each output using dedicated mixers, generating beautiful harmonies or cascading arpeggios.
MIDI Input: Use a MIDI keyboard or sequencer to set scales or chords on the fly, enabling seamless chord progressions and harmonic shifts.
MIDI Output: Use the two voices generated by the quantizer to control your MIDI synths, or send the output to the next MC2VQ to synchronize scales across both modules.
Smooth Transitions: The quantizer’s algorithm distributes active notes evenly across the 1V/oct range for fluid and consistent transitions.
Trigger Inputs: Optional trigger inputs let you synchronize outputs with a fixed rhythm for precise timing.
Whether you're composing melodies or creating complex arpeggios, this module provides a unique and expressive way to shape your sound.
See the Trilling label below for additional posts.
The MiniDexed FM synthesizer similar to 8x DX7 (TX816/TX802)
"Dtronics DT-DX Dtronics, Dutch maker of high quality synthesizer controllers such as the popular DT-RDX for the Yamaha Reface DX and other MI-related technology announces the DT-DX Kickstarter project.
At the end of last year we came across a fantastic project on Github, MiniDexed.
We immediately fell in love, imagine 8 x a DX7 in mini format.
This compact powerful hardware unit is based upon the Github project MiniDexed and about to provide you with legendary FM sounds in a purpose designed instrument at an unbelievable small footprint and affordable price.
This beautiful project just needs to be made more widely accessible to everyone who is not handy enough to put it together themselves.
So we desided to contacted the developer to see if we could work together to create a ready to use Dtronics DT-DX. The response was very positive, and so the DT-DX project started in colobaration with PROBONOPD (MINIDEXED).
Eight DX7-compatible FM-synthesizers in a box
The DT-DX relies on a Raspberry Pi 2 Zero hardware which runs a version of the famed software-synthesizer Dexed which closely emulates the legendary Yamaha DX7. It makes use of MiniDexed which ports Dexed to run on a bare Raspberry Pi without the need for a Linux kernel or operating system.
When we at Dtronics came across MiniDexed, we immediately came into contact, with Probonopd who manages the MiniDexed project. The DT-DX is the result of this collaboration.
We went ahead to build a prototype and decided to create a dedicated sturdy hardware in a metal housing to be used as a professional musical instrument on stage, in the studio and at home. We also took advantage of a specifically designed printed circuit board to make optimal use of the functions being offered by MiniDexed.
Next, we added a back-lit display in tasty orange, a push-encoder to be able to access sounds and parameter directly from the unit, USB- and MIDI-connectors, an SD-card reader for sound import/export and finally a stereo output using a high quality converter with 122 dB dynamic range. In short: DT-DX is ready to be used with any DAW and MIDI-keyboard and controller. The Raspberry Pi 2 Zero which is used in the DT-DX is capable of running eight polyphonic tone generators simultaneously which will allow for splits, layers and multi-timbral use as being found in the Yamaha TX802 and TX816. And just like like Dexed, the DT-DX is compatible to any DX7/TX7 SysEx data and therefore also with our own massive DT-7 controller.
About Digital Suburban Dexed Dexed is a multi-platform and multi-format software-synthesizer which is closely modeled on the Yamaha DX7 to which it is fully compatible through system exclusive MIDI data. It doesn't stop here since Dexed also offers a few additions to the sound engine such as the availability of multiple waveforms as being found in the TX81Z. Dexed is licensed on the GPL v3. It runs as a plug-in on any relevant computer platform and DAW and offers a generous graphical user to edit its 144 parameters. This way, Dexed may not serve only serve as a fantastic sounding instrument but also as an editor to all compatible Yamaha FM-synthesizers. And certainly, it is also great front-end to create and fine-tune your personal sounds which can then be used on the DT-DX.
About Probonopd MiniDexed MiniDexed ports the FM-synthesizer Dexed to a bare Raspberry Pi. On a Raspberry Pi 2 and larger, it can run eight polyphonic instances of the synthesizer allowing to also recreate the sounds of the Yamaha TX802 and the mighty TX816. Additionally, each instance can be detuned and shifted in the stereo panorama to create wide and complex sounds. On top, MiniDexed adds compressor and reverb effects."
The SILHOUETTE SPORT is the new forthcoming synthesizer made by Pit Przygodda. It is the new sprout in the SILHOUETTE synthesizer family, joining the SILHOUETTE EINS. Infos:
http://silhouette-synthesizer.de/
Enjoy! Join!"
The SILHOUETTE SPORT is an innovative audiovisual synthesizer that transforms visuals and motion to sound and rhythm. The interdisciplinary approach liberates the inherent connection between various senses and actions like seeing, moving and listening. To play along these intersections wakes basic intuitions and leads to a widespread field of cross-sensual beauty, poetry and joy.
The SPORT has a camera on board, and it is portable: Ready to search and find visuals in the outside world to play with - dance like. It can also load picture and movie files. The special 'Vimpler' ('visual sampler') function closes the audiovisual circuit: Incoming audio gets transformed to a picture, ready for artistic sound resynthesis.
The SILHOUETTE SPORT is invented and build by German musician and artist Pit Przygodda, and it is the new smaller-in-size-and-prize sprout in the SILHOUETTE synthesizer family and joins the bigger SILHOUETTE EINS (2021).
It looks like Aodyo's Anyma Omega & Loom are on hold, and unfortunately it appears backers may be out their funds as their money went towards pre-production.
Key points from the full Kicstarter message further below:
1. "Given that the funds have been used entirely to advance these projects, we regret to inform you that a refund of your contributions is unfortunately impossible at this stage."
2. "However, if we do not succeed in securing new investments or partnerships in the coming weeks, we will be left with no other choice but to file for bankruptcy."
3. "In closing
We know this is not the message you were hoping for, and we share your frustration. We want to express our deepest gratitude for your support and belief in our vision, and we remain hopeful that a solution can be found."
The full message follows:
"Dear contributors,
We apologize for the delay in getting back to you and thank you for your sustained patience. During this time, we have been doing everything we can to avoid the situation we now find ourselves in. In the spirit of transparency and honesty, we want to share the challenges we are facing and provide a clear picture of where we stand.
🥁 Dato DRUM: the playful drum machine that is made to be enjoyed by humans of all ages! The hands-on visual sequencer makes it easy to explore rhythm & the circular shape invites collaboration."
Press release follows:
"Dato DRUM is a playful drum machine that is aimed at children and adults alike. Its round shape invites collaboration, and its simple hands-on interface makes sure everyone can play along.
Key features include:
Four sample-based drum voices with pitch control
Eight-step circular sequencer per voice
Pressure-sensitive drum pads
Built-in speaker, USB power, MIDI and SYNC
User-replaceable samples via a web-based tool
Musicians and non-musicians of all ages were involved in the design process, resulting in a unique and robust instrument. The DRUM has a focused selection of features inviting hands-on interaction. Each voice has its own eight-step sequencer that always shows the entire pattern with its colorful lights, making it easy to explore different rhythms.
Our Journey:
Dato creates musical instruments for future generations. Starting from the belief that making music is fun and should be so from the first time you try it, a Dato instrument is always out of the ordinary, yet easy to use.
In 2016 we successfully Kickstarted the Dato DUO – a synthesizer for making electronic music together. Since then, we have been producing the DUO here in our studio in Utrecht, The Netherlands."
"The Extend-o-Matic is an intuitive instrument that merges your favourite vintage synthesizer and electric piano sounds with an innovative chord trigger system, enabling you to play complex and soulful chords across a range of genres without years of training.
Sound Engines
Subtractive digital synth engine and electric piano engine
Able to produce warm vintage tones as well as modern sounds
12dB/oct and 24dB/oct Resonant Lowpass Filters
Chord Functionality
Innovative chord trigger system
Chord bank tailored to genres like Jazz, Neo-Soul and Funk
Ability to program custom chord formulas
Effects and Modulators
Comes loaded with 9 effects - chorus, reverb, phaser, EQ, etc.
Arpeggiator with customization options
Modulation sources like LFOs, envelopes
Controls and Workflow
Clean, minimalist interface
Unique features like a single-knob design and LED status bar
Sound Blocks is a groundbreaking music composition app for Mac and Windows. You simply place blocks of sound anywhere on the grid, connect them together and play!
It's a beautifully animated experience that really brings out the visual character of sounds — (kind of like synesthesia).
You can add 'Control Blocks' to your sequence that act as modifiers for speed, time, randomization and more. Using these tools, you can create intricate musical machines that loop in interesting ways.
It's a remarkably simple new workflow that removes the obstacles and steep learning curves commonly associated with conventional music production software — and by the nature of its distinct design, lets you do things that you might never think doing of with other music apps.
Who is it for? Can I use it if I'm not a musician?
Sound Blocks is for anyone who wants to dive into music production, whether you're a child, non-musician, gamer or a professional music producer — it has something for everyone. The workflow is super intuitive and playful, and you can learn to use it in about 10 seconds — no prior music experience needed.
What does it offer for skilled musicians and producers?
Sound Blocks will give you a completely new workflow to experiment and create the kind of music you might otherwise never make using a conventional DAW. The non-linear sequencing approach, alongside features like Control Blocks and asynchronous loops will open new creative avenues for some serious artistic exploration. The more funding our Kickstarter project raises, the more advanced features we'll be able to add, such as the ability to add your own samples, crazy effects pedals and much much more. We will be sharing a detailed development roadmap soon."
"At Randomwaves, we are passionate makers, driven by a love for music, electronics, and the thrill of creation. Our mission is to craft a unique line of sound gadgets that ignite imaginations. We believe in the power of high-quality soundand captivating visuals, but we also prioritize affordability and accessibility. Our goal is to empower fellow makers with instruments that can be easily customized, hacked, and transformed into their own creative visions.
Introducing the first member of our gadget family — Drumboy, our first love. Drumboy is more than a step-sequencer; it’s an advanced drum machine that empowers you to create complex rhythms with 1/64 quantization across 8 bars and 8 measures. With features like complex fill generation, dual filter channels, and a robust effects processor, Drumboy stands out as a powerful & versatile tool for your sound creation.
Our second addition to the product family is Synthgirl. Featuring dual 256-step wavetable oscillators, this new-age pocket synthesizer allows you to produce complex sounds akin to those from Serum or Massive VSTs. Equipped with dual channel filters, a powerful effects processor, and a reverb engine, you can craft even more intricate and layered sounds."
See the Randomwaves label below for additional posts including demos.
She's a 16 track polyphonic midi sequencer and recorder / song arranger that can record pitch bend, MIDI CCs, and aftertouch. She's got 128 songs, 16 blocks per song, and 16 tracks per block.
Each block can be up to 2048 steps, and each track can be up to 2048 steps. Blocks automatically sequence at the end of the previous block, and you can jump freely between any blocks by tapping them in the scroll menu. Each block can have its own set of 48 program change messages to trigger new programs in sync with the block changes. You can change songs with no load times and no hitch. She's got 30 NeoPixel MX switches that can be freely customized or changed, 8 push-switch rotaries, a 5" touch AMOLED screen, and the software is going to be fully open source from day 1. The unit seen here is the first tactile prototype, but I've started production run for the first batch and I'm getting ready to launch it next month.
It's been a year of hard work and this is the first tune I've actually gotten to make, I'm excited to be able to make music again and not have to focus so much on the software and hardware side of things. I'm a little bit out of practice, it's hardly a perfect performance, but it's always fun! Thanks for listening in and checking it out :)
Here's unit #002, with red anodized aluminum, black knobs, pudding keycaps, and smokey black sequencer key caps. All of this is fully customizable to taste, and each unit will be built and tested personally by hand."
Midina is an open-source sequencer born from a passion for electronic music and technology, designed to be powerful and accessible.
Midina stands out with its ability to record pitch bends, aftertouch, and MIDI CCs, providing you with a versatile and expressive sequencer. There are easy ways to trigger program changes automatically or manually. The linear sequencer within each Song provides a clear Block Order, designed to help you make music that moves. It supports extended track and block lengths, enabling different creative methods of song building to be explored. Additionally, for those who enjoy a traditional approach, Midina offers robust step sequencer options that will only get better with time.
One of the core philosophies behind Midina is community engagement, iterative software development, and the support of customization through community contributions to both software and hardware. I believe that anybody who wants to contribute should be welcome to contribute. By opening the code, I hope to see others tailor Midina to their personal needs, enhancing their creative process and the project offerings along the way.
Midina is built on the versatile Raspberry Pi platform, making it an accessible and affordable choice. Its open-source nature means that you have the freedom to explore, modify, and expand its capabilities.
Midina is still young, but it is a project I am committed to developing and improving for the long haul. I set out to build a sequencer which fits my own production needs in a live environment, and I am happy with what it currently offers.. At the same time, I know it can do much more over time, and I am excited to iterate and improve as the days go on.
Thank you for exploring Midina. I look forward to hearing the music you create with it.
"Join Playtime Engineering developer Troy Sheets as he demonstrates all the key features of the Blipblox myTRACKS. The Blipblox myTRACKS Kickstarter runs from April 9 through May 9th 2024, exclusively at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/..."
"Unleash your creativity and explore the world of sound with Randomwaves. Our new handheld instruments, Drumboy and Synthgirl, put the power of music-making in the palm of your hand.
Drumboy packs a powerful punch in a compact design. Featuring an ARM processor and intuitive controls, you can create dynamic beats and percussion patterns with ease.
10 Instrument Layers
Mix and match to build unique rhythmic textures
Parametric EQ
Sculp your sound with precision for perfect beats
2 Effect Channels
Add depth, texture, and character to your grooves
Reverb Engine
Create immersive and atmospheric soundscapes
---
Synthgirl is a powerful wavetable synthesizer that empowers you to craft a vast sonic palette. With 2 versatile oscillators, you can explore a world of evolving sounds and textures with just your fingertips.
At Artium Instruments, we approach our designs with the understanding that musicians cultivate intimate connections with the gear they employ to create their art. We firmly believe that instruments ought to possess not just functionality, but also personality, character, and a distinct identity that inspires its user.
First and foremost, we've dedicated significant effort to ensuring that the synthesizer and onboard effects produce exceptional sound quality akin to professional studio-grade equipment. The Swarm features a SuperSaw oscillator with 8-note polyphony, curated onboard effects, and a full-featured arpeggiator.
At Artium Instruments we are committed to knob-for-knob functionality in our desktop synths. Every feature of The Swarm is directly mapped to a knob, button, switch, or jack, ensuring effortless control. There's no need for menu-diving or complicated button presses to access features; everything is conveniently accessible at your fingertips.
With over a decade of experience in the effects industry, we have carefully curated a selection of effects that complements the synth core. Unique to The Swarm is its capability to use the onboard effects with other equipment, allowing you to route external audio through the input jacks on the back.
We've invested considerable thought into crafting the overall feel of the instrument. From the layout of the knobs to the choice of colors, artwork, and weight of the enclosure, every detail has been considered. These details matter to us because we recognize that the connection a user forms with a piece of gear is nearly as crucial in the creative process as the sounds it produces. We hope you can feel the love and passion we've poured into every detail of The Swarm, from its sonic capabilities to its design aesthetics.
The Swarm is controlled by MIDI through a USB-C port. Most modern class-compliant MIDI controllers with USB functionality should plug in and work immediately with zero setup. Additionally, The Swarm provides power to your controller, streamlining your setup process. For older controllers that only have DIN connections, a USB to DIN converter can be used to ensure compatibility.
The Swarm features a SuperSaw oscillator with 8-note polyphony. This oscillator is composed of seven individual saw waves stacked on top of each other. The magic happens when you detune the waveforms by applying a frequency offset, resulting in one of the most massive synth sounds available.
The Swarm employs this SuperSaw oscillator through two distinct control modes: Polyphonic Mode and Arpeggiator Mode. In Polyphonic Mode, you can play up to eight notes simultaneously. Arpeggiator Mode offers a comprehensive monophonic arpeggiator, automatically sequencing held notes in a variety of patterns.
All onboard effects can be used with external equipment. Simply plug an external audio source into the rear input jacks, and The Swarm will seamlessly mix the external audio with its synth core, allowing for simultaneous processing of both signals.
By pressing the touchpad on the right, The Swarm records a 1000ms sample of the current audio. It then layers, and smears the sample, creating an infinite drone frozen in time—a perfect foundation for layering additional notes. The freeze effect facilitates overdubbing, and pressing the touchpad with the freeze knob at its minimum setting erases the memory, allowing you to capture a fresh sample.
The Swarm's delay is a digital delay with a subtle touch of warmth. The delay length synchronizes with the arpeggiator clock, which can be adjusted manually using the clock knob or via the tap tempo touchpad on the left. Additionally, the delay features a multiplier knob, offering a range of unique subdivisions that complement the synced arpeggiator, including quarter notes, dotted eighth notes, eighth notes, and triplets.
The reverb effect in The Swarm strives to enhance the natural body and ambience of the synth core without overshadowing it. Its stereo reverb algorithm is controlled by a single knob, which adjusts both the mix and decay simultaneously. This versatile control allows you to seamlessly transition from realistic room or hall effects to expansive cathedral-like soundscapes, offering a wide range of atmospheric possibilities.
The SuperSaw oscillator practically demands to be paired with a chorus effect. The Swarm employs a stereo 4-voice chorus effect alongside a gradually shifting LFO, aiming to craft dimensionality without becoming nauseating.
