Rare Dewanatron Swarmatron FM Modulation Analog Ribbon Synthesizer

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"For your consideration is a very rare Swarmatron 8 Oscillator FM Modulation Analog Ribbon Synthesizer. It is in excellent physical, and 100% operational condition. Please refer to the specs and description below. Payment via paypal to include $ 85.00 shipping in the Continental U.S. within 48 hours of auction end. Overseas or International shipping is set at $ 250.00

This is a synth like no other, eschewing conventional controls, nomenclature and even an ordinary on/off switch. Is it destined to become a cult classic?

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Dewanatron Swarmatron For Sale

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This boutique and exquisite handmade piece is the 19th Swarmatron of 66 total made by the Dewan cousins.
Purchased new this item is $4000 just to get on an 8 month+ waiting list. It is unlikely that many more of these will be made.

This instrument quickly gained public interest after Trent Reznor took home a Golden Globe and an
Academy Award for best original score in David Fincher's 'The Social Network' in which the Swarmatron was the featured instrument
and was responsible for the incredible cinematic tension the score was noted for.

Played using two ribbon controllers, the Swarmatron orchestrates a symphony of seemingly angry yet musical bees.
This extremely rare synth has been cared for intensely over the past few years and shows very little cosmetic wear.
It is as chaotic as it is musical, it is as inspiring as it is challenging.
With the option of Fine Tuning + CV control for Pitch / Gate / Filter / Swarm this beast has the option of being as tame as you want it.

From Dewanatron:
"The Swarmatron was created to produce eight tones tuned approximately to one note, each tone slightly different in pitch to produce a complex and natural choral effect.
These eight oscillators can be played with a single ribbon controller (variable resistor) to move the pitch center up or down.
The span control expands the sound of a swarm of eight notes spread just a few cents apart into a wide chord of equidistant pitches spread over the entire spectrum. The player can "taffy pull" the resulting chord by using the span control and pitch ribbon in tandem.
Swarms of sine waves evoke swarms of angels congregating. Swarms of sawtooth waves evoke the swarming of bees. The sound of a host of voices, earthly or unearthly, has a unique character recognized by the ear even when they are folded together in unison."

Included in the purchase you will receive the key to power up the Swarmatron and an extra set of ribbons which are easily replaced at home
with the instruction of Leon Dewan who is very eager to help all Swarmatron owners.

This item is not only a wonderfully inspiring instrument but also a beautiful addition to your studio
that will raise a lot of questions from your visitors."

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Dewanatron machines and the Swarmatron

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"Here's the Swarmatron and its creators Brian and Leon Dewan, talking to Detroit Public TV about 10 years ago.

I posted about the Swarmatron about a year ago. It's an analogue synth that creates a tone using eight oscillators all playing slightly different frequencies. The pitch is controlled with a ribbon at the front. The difference between the 8 oscillators is controlled with a span control, from tightly aligned to woozily detuned. It's designed to produce a sort of cacophony, almost like multiple voices singing at once.

It's best known for its use by Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor on their soundtrack to "The Social Network", which won an Oscar and changed a lot of minds about the sort of movies that could use electronic scores.

Leon and Brian Dewan are cousins and together they run Dewanatron, which makes a family of instruments like the Swarmatron, the Novitiate – a one-off they made for the Bob Moog Foundation. Their instruments are unique, expensive, beautiful and very unusual. In the video you see another of their machines, which has two keyboards that face each other so two people play it at the same time.

I also found some great footage of the Novitiate they made for the Bob Moog Foundation on the YouTube channel AutomaticGainsay, which is a great resource for synth reviews and videos. I've posted more videos of the Swarmatron, the Novitiate and other Dewanatron instruments on my YouTube and on the subscriber section of this channel.

The Dewans, whose family is originally from Syria, spoke to a Detroit Public TV show about Arab Americans."

See the Dewanatron label below for more.

LYRA-8, Swarmatron, JEN SX-1000, Strega, and Grendel Drone Commander Emulators by Diego Capoccitti

video uploads by Diego Capoccitti

Use the player controls to skip through videos once started.

Playlist:

1. OktaDie, plugins and iOS app inspired by LYRA-8 ....Coming soon! #synth #sounddesign

"Eight touch-sensitive voices, a cross-modulation matrix, a dual modulated delay and an overdrive — no keyboard, no scale, no quantization anywhere.
It drifts on its own and never makes the same sound twice.

The plugin will be available on Mac, Windows and iPad.
VST3 / AU / AAX / AUv3, instrument and FX.

Coming Soon on! https://www.diegocapoccitti.it"

2. SwarmaDie 2 — Swarmatron (Unofficial) Emulator Plugin | Overview & Demo (VST3 / AU / AAX)

SwarmaDie 2 is an unofficial emulator of the legendary Swarmatron analog synthesizer, available as a VST3, AU, and AAX plugin for Mac and Windows. The Swarmatron is iconic for its hypnotic, swarming sound — multiple oscillators slightly detuned against each other, creating that signature ethereal drone. Made famous by artists like Jonny Greenwood, it's a rare and expensive hardware piece. SwarmaDie 2 brings that unique character straight into your DAW at an affordable price. MUSIC: "Hollow Light — Piano & Swarmatron (SwarmaDie 2 Demo)" (Diego Capoccitti - 2026)

3. SwarmaDie 2 iOS — Raw Screen & Audio Capture on iPad (Swarm Synth Jam)

4. JenDie — The JEN SX-1000 Reborn on iPad | Analog Synth Plugin Test

JenDie is an analog synthesizer inspired by the legendary JEN SX-1000 — the iconic Italian mono synth of the late '70s — faithfully recreated with its warm, gritty and unmistakable vintage character.

In this video you can see JenDie running on iPad, tested in standalone (also AUv3 plugin available!), showing how easy it is to bring that classic analog tone into a modern mobile setup. Plug in, play, and enjoy pure vintage synth vibes — anywhere.

🎛️ ABOUT THE PLUGIN
JenDie captures the soul of the JEN SX-1000: rich oscillators, a characterful filter and that raw, organic analog warmth that made the original a cult classic. Perfect for basslines, leads, retro sequences and anyone chasing that authentic vintage synth sound.

5. AlchemDie — Make Noise Strega (Unofficial) Emulator | Overview & Demo (VST3 / AU / AAX)

AlchemDie is an unofficial emulator of the "alchemical" Make Noise Strega, available as a VST3, AU, and AAX plugin for Mac and Windows.

Inspired by the mysterious and esoteric hardware designed by Make Noise in collaboration with Alessandro Cortini, AlchemDie is more than a synthesizer: it’s a laboratory for sonic experimentation. It transforms a simple digital oscillator into an unpredictable, evolving sound machine by routing its output through a feedback delay experiment that blurs the line between synthesis, processing, and noise.

From haunting drones to screeching feedback and organic textures, AlchemDie brings that unique "strega" soul straight into your DAW at an affordable price.

MUSIC: "Nigredo (AlchemDie Demo)" (Diego Capoccitti - 2026)

⚙️ KEY FEATURES:

Tonic Oscillator: Includes a sub-harmonic generator and continuous waveform morphing.
Vactrol-style Activation: VCA with asymmetric slew response for organic, acoustic-like behavior.
Time/Filter Loop: BBD-style delay emulation with dynamic lowpass and feedback.
Agitation Function: Generator with continuous trapezoid modulation to stir the sound.
Gesture Pads: Six momentary pads for multi-parameter macro control and performance.
External Substance: Input for processing external audio through the alchemical engine.
Character Section: Analog-style tape companding and stereo width controls.

6. DroneDie — Grendel Drone Commander Classic (Unofficial) Emulator | Overview & Demo (VST3 / AU / AAX)

DroneDie is an unofficial emulator of the legendary Grendel Drone Commander Classic, available as a VST3, AU, and AAX plugin for Mac and Windows.

The Grendel Drone Commander Classic is a cult hardware drone synthesizer, beloved in experimental, industrial, and noise music for its raw, abrasive, hypnotic character — a machine that turns simple oscillators into visceral sonic textures. Rare, quirky, and deeply expressive, it occupies a unique niche that no conventional synth can fill.

DroneDie brings that savage analog soul straight into your DAW at an affordable price.

MUSIC: "Axiom (DroneDie Demo)" (Diego Capoccitti - 2026)


⚙️ KEY FEATURES:

Inspired by the original hardware's raw oscillator behavior and gritty drone character
Simple, intuitive interface optimized for modern DAWs

7. DroneDie for iOS: Unedited RAW Live Demo & Jam in iPad (AUv3)

You can find them at https://www.diegocapoccitti.it

Free Dewanatron Swarmatron Emulation by Semi Source for the Holidays

via Trevor Gavilan on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

"Merry Xmas!
Free Reaktor Swarmatron Emulation!

http://www.semisource.org/reaktor/Swarmatron/Swarmatron.zip"

http://www.semisource.org

Dewanatron Featured in New York Times

The New York Times has an article on Dewanatron and the Swarmatron. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' use of the Swarmatron get a mention for their use of the Dewanatron in "The Social Network".

"It was something of a personal victory, too. 'It felt like the Swarmatron was the foundation on which they built a whole bunch of other musical stuff,' Mr. Dewan said, referring to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, who together created the score."

Trip to Hell - SWARMATRON Clone -

Trip to Hell - SWARMATRON Clone - by gattobus
"Headphones strongly recommended.
This is is just a demo to try out my new swarmatron patch made on Nord Modular G2, inspired by the Dewanatron Electronics instrument.
Hear hundred of angels swarming and screaming desperatly at 1:15 -> 2:35.
Almost everything was played with Modular G2 (on multiple tracks) except of course for the drums (elektron machinedrum) and the bassline (Moog Little Phatty).
A little of gleetchlab in the background just to add a little atmosphere and some glitches here and there...
Mounted and mixed with Ableton Live 8.
Enjoy!"

NOT NAMM: The Swarmatron by Dewanatron

"The Swarmatron was created to produce eight tones tuned approximately to one note, each tone slightly different in pitch to produce a complex and natural choral effect.

These eight oscillators can be played with a single ribbon controller (variable resistor) to move the pitch center up or down.

The span control expands the sound of a swarm of eight notes spread just a few cents apart into a wide chord of equidistant pitches spread over the entire spectrum. The player can "taffy pull" the resulting chord by using the span control and pitch ribbon in tandem.

Swarms of sine waves evoke swarms of angels congregating. Swarms of sawtooth waves evoke the swarming of bees. The sound of a host of voices, earthly or unearthly, has a unique character recognized by the ear even when they are folded together in unison."

If you've been following this site for a while you might recognize the Swarmatron from this post back in March of 2007.

Swarmatron #61 by Dewanatron, unique and very rare synth (with FM mod)

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

A synth with a key to start it. How cool is that?

"Brand new, unused Swarmatron #61, for sale.

Includes the FM feature."

If you are not familiar with the Dewanatron Swarmatron, see the Dewanatron label at the bottom of this post for more. The video in the listing from Amanda of Catsynth, at NAMM 2013, was previously captured here.

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Negativland: Circuit Parade

Published on Aug 9, 2018 Joseph McGinty

Directed by Amy Hobby
Edited by Isaac Royffe
Starring:
Biet Simkin
Joe McGinty
Leon Dewan
Features vintage Super 8 footage of the Traymore Hotel demolition
Composed by Joe McGinty
Performed by Circuit Parade
Circuit Parade:
Joe McGinty, vocals, keyboards
Mike McGinnis, woodwinds
Julia Kent, cello
Leon Dewan, Swarmatron, Melody Gin
Produced by Joe McGinty
Engineered by Bryce Goggin
Album available for download: https://circuitparade.bandcamp.com/

One more:

Circuit Parade: "Million Dollar Mermaid" Coney Island Tribute

Published on Aug 9, 2018 Joseph McGinty

"Million Dollar Mermaid" by Circuit Parade
Directed by Edward McGinty
Composed by Joe McGinty
Featuring:
Circuit Parade:
Joe McGinty, vocals, keyboards
Mike McGinnis, woodwinds
Julia Kent, cello (recording)
Leah Coloff, cello (video)
Leon Dewan, Swarmatron, Melody Gin
Available for download at: https://circuitparade.bandcamp.com/

Dewanatron Swarmatron - faux THX sound effect

YouTube via bigcitymusic | September 17, 2010

"Here is the amazing Dewanatron Swarmatron sounding a bit like the THX sound that you've heard in movie theaters. Enjoy. :-)"

NAMM 2013: Leon Dewan demostrates Swarmatron

Published on Jan 26, 2013 catsynth·59 videos

"Leon Dewan demostrates the Swarmatron at the Big City Music booth at NAMM 2013"

Swarmatron Sequence Madness..

Uploaded on Sep 25, 2011 tanqueraytom

"Using a Roland 101 to control my swarmatron via CV/Gate i made a sequence and went wild on it for a minute.."

See the Dewanatron label below for more.

Moogfest 2016 Announces Modular Marketplace Synth Event with Neuronics (ex Dewanatron) Debut

This is a bit of a double post. The press release from Moogfest follows further below. A number of known manufacturers are listed, however there is a new one you might not be familiar with, Neuronics. This will be their debut. I am curious what they will show as one half of Neuronics is Leon Dewan of Dewanatron, makers of the Swarmatron and other eccentric synthesizer creations. P.S. Great Make Noise T-shirt on the left! They are my favorite synth T, aside from mine of course. :)

"See, Hear, and Experience the Future of Music at the Moogfest 2016 Modular Marketplace

Free interactive bazaar gives everyone a chance to discover and test-drive next generation electronic musical instruments

Durham, North Carolina (April 27, 2016) - The Modular Marketplace at Moogfest 2016 reimagines the traditional trade show by creating a fun, interactive, educational space where electronic instrument designers connect directly with musicians, technology innovators, and the general public.

Over 25 companies selected for their cult status or game-changing ambition will demonstrate their instruments and offer a glimpse into the future of electronic music. Many of the entrepreneurs and designers behind these products will be in attendance, and almost all items are available for purchase.

Moogfest programming partner Kickstarter has ever curated a selection of three instruments, supported through its crowdfunding platform, to exhibit at the Modular Marketplace: the Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1, Sensory Perception by Sunhouse and Kilpatrick Audio.

The Modular Marketplace is one of the many highlights of Moogfest 2016, which celebrates the legacy of Bob Moog, the visionary engineer who pioneered the analog synthesizer and other technology tools used by artists like Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Kraftwerk. The four-day festival from May 19-22 will feature over 250 innovators in music, art, and technology -- from Gary Numan, GZA, Grimes and Laurie Anderson to virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier and transhumanist visionary Dr. Martine Rothblatt. For the first time, Moogfest takes place in Durham, North Carolina, a fast-growing capital of technology, culture and entrepreneurship.

'The Modular Marketplace is free and open to the public, giving everyone from school kids to technology influencers an opportunity to participate,' said Moogfest Festival Director, Marisa Brickman. 'A new generation of engineers and circuit designers are building on Bob Moog's legacy by creating new tools that are shaping the future of music and sound.'

The Modular Marketplace features product launches, daily demonstrations, sound experiments, exclusive discounts, and other special events. It takes place at the American Tobacco Campus at 318 Blackwell Street from 10am - 6pm from May 19 - 22.

Some highlights of the Modular Marketplace include:

Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1: Developed at The New Museum's NEW INC incubator and funded through a Kickstarter campaign that raised $1.3 million, the Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 will make its public debut at Moogfest 2016. The groundbreaking instrument allows users of any skill or style to strum a guitar, tap a piano, bow a violin, or loop a drum beat -- all on a single interface. By connecting to iOS devices, Macs and PCs, this portable and durable musical tool can make any sound imaginable.

Audulus: Audulus is a virtual modular synthesizer environment for iOS, Mac, and Windows platforms. Throughout the festival, Audulus will be giving away copies of the deep and beautifully designed software to curious sonic voyagers. Simply come by the booth and get signed up.

Bastl Instruments: Based in the Czech Republic, Bastl Instruments in a community-driven company focused on producing handmade electronic musical instruments. Bastl Instruments will be displaying an eclectic robotic percussion set controlled by their Eurorack format synthesizer modules. Additionally Bastl Instruments will be offering 10% off discounts on their tabletop granular synthesizer - The Micro Granny.
Bleep Labs: Bleep Labs will launch the Thingamagoop 3 at Moogfest 2016, a light controlled synthesizer, effect and noise friend. Simple controls give musicians access to rich and diverse sounds, from simple square and triangle waves to FM laser battles.

Neuronics: Neuronics is an exciting new adventure in synthesis helmed by Leon Dewan and producer Josh Humphrey. Dewan is best known for the unique and visually striking analog synthesizers available with his company Dewanatron, whose flagship device, the Swarmatron creates the effect of a swarming hive of bees. Neuronics makes its debut at the Modular Marketplace.

Electric Objects: Electric Objects is the creator of E01, an Internet-connected screen designed specifically for art, capable of playing more than 10,000 works of digital art including video, animations, GIFs, high definition images, or web-based work. Electric Objects will be featuring works by performing artists and speakers at Moogfest 2016.

Kilpatrick Audio: Using both new and vintage circuits and cutting edge software, Kilpatrick Audio creates unique and interesting musical equipment designed to sound great, be fun to use, and to inspire musical ideas in the exploration of new sounds.

Luisa Perera & The Counterpointer: The Modular Marketplace will feature an auto-composing musical installation by coder and instrument designer Luisa Pereira. The counterpoint method Bach will be expressed through her instrument the Counterpointer and 3 Moog Mother-32 modular synths. This alludes to the work of the composer who made the Moog Modular famous, Wendy Carlos.

Make Noise: Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the home of Moog Music, Make Noise designs and builds Eurorack format modular synthesizers that incorporate "West Coast" design philosophies associated with synth pioneers Don Buchla and Serge Tscherpnin. Make Noise is presenting a demonstration of their new 0-Coast device during daytime programming.

To view the full list of Modular Marketplace exhibitors visit:
http://www.moogfest.com/program/talent/modular-marketplace"

FM Mod on Dewanatron Swarmatron

Published on Oct 8, 2013 bigcitymusic·291 videos

"Here is a brief exploration of the Dewanatron Swarmatron's optional frequency modulation
feature which allows one or more its eight voices to frequency modulate the overall pitch as well as the spread of its 8-note cluster. www.bigcitymusic.com"

Dewanatron Swarmatron #46 ⚡️ VERY RARE ⚡️

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Note auction links are affiliate links. See the site's privacy policy for more info.

"Extremely rare Swarmatron number 46 (out of 83 ever made) you might not ever see one again.

In perfect working order, ribbons recently re-tensioned & bulb replaced.

It's as magical and interesting as you'd hope it would be"

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The Carpetbagger: Trent Reznor's Oscar Nominated Score

YouTube via TheNewYorkTimes | Rated: TV-Y | Season 1 Ep. 14 | Added: Feb 3, 2011 |

"Melena Ryzik visits Trent Reznor in his home studio to discuss his work on the Oscar nominated score of "The Social Network."

Watch more videos at http://nytimes.com/video"

They won for Best Original Score. Hans Zimmer was nominated for Inception.

Also see:
Dewanatron on NPR's here & now
'The Social Network' - Swarmatron with Trent Reznor of NIN
Dewanatron's Swarmatron Featured in The New Yorker

Dewanatron Swarmatron Controlled with CV Video

Published on Jan 31, 2013

"Dewanatron Swarmatron Controlled by Moog Voyager and MP-201"

reFuse Software The Swarm - Dewanatron Swarmatron Inspired Virtual Synth

via reFuse Software

"A drone synth inspired by The Swarmatron, a handmade synthesizer from Dewanatron.

We have released The Swarm as an OS X standalone application only. It is not available as a plug-in, but the audio output of the The Swarm may be sent to ReWire-compatible host applications.

Version 0.2 features these changes:

- Added pitch wheel control, mappable to Base Pitch or Span
- Added hints for a quick start
- Fixed osc. initializer routine at startup"

Dewanatron Swarmatron at NAMM 2014

Published on Jan 28, 2014 perfectcircuitaudio·44 videos

"This is the Swarmatron from Dewanatron being played by one of it's creators!"