"We say...
A pre-owned Bastl Instruments Kastle ARP in excellent condition. It comes with original packaging and accessories.
Manufacturer's description
Kastle ARP is a unique modular melody generator based on a quantized sine wave oscillator with a digital waveshaper.
The pitch selection employs straightforward concepts to unleash surprising intricacy. The quantized oscillator ensures it is always in tune, and its pitch can be selected using the NOTE and CHORD inputs. The decay envelope adds variation by occasionally skipping pitches before retriggering. The timbre control allows you to blend between noble sine waves and 8-bit chip-tunes.
"I picked up a used SOMA Rumble of Ancient Times several weeks ago and have been messing around with this crazy little synth. The wonderfully noisy jams by @ImmerhinHalbzwo inspired me to finally do one of my own. The ROAT can sound lovely and melodic but it has this button labelled simply 'CHAOS'. Pushing it scrambles all of the parameters of the four synth voices in unpredictable ways, including how they react with each other. That's what's happening here, locking one or more of the oscillators into "drone" mode will sometimes cause a noisy, harsh modulation that is absolutely primal, hence the name of the thing.
Rhythm comes from the Bastl Kastle Drum, going through the Kastle 2 FX Wizard on the "Shifter" setting. They clock the looper on the ROAT and get some delay from the Korg NTS-1 MKii.
Recorded live on the Zoom L6, audio normalized in Audacity.
Check with dealers on the right for availability and price.
Playlist:
1. CITADEL ALCHEMIST & Kastle 2+Citadel DIY Kits & more NEWS from Bastl!
We built a fantasy world of magical music machines with the FX Wizard multi-effect, the Wave Bard sample player and the Alchemist synth that live in battery powered Kastle 2 format and the Citadel eurorack version. We are excited to not only announce the late arrival of the Citadel Alchemist Eurorack module to the party, but to let everyone know that all the instruments are now available as DIY kits and that we are partially open-sourcing it so the world we started could be expanded by many others."
2. Bastl CITADEL Alchemist - All Synth Modes preview
"A complete preview of Alchemist's Synth Modes with a quick preview of the Dual FX and a small jam."
Chapters:
00:00 Filter
00:44 FM
01:32 Supersaw
02:25 Hypersine
03:24 GlitchNoise
03:41 Dual FX
04:27 Small Jam and patching
3. Hello Alchemist ! Bastl Citadel synth engine rave to experimental - Stazma and Bastl Instruments
Alchemist is now EURORACK... into the CITADEL!!!!!
So here we go checking out how this synth engine will play out with his other citadel friend the Wave Bard in breakbeat torture mode.
Also a cool oportunity to play around the Diktaat from Mzourack to trigger both units in a performative way.
Citadel Alchemist is a patchable hybrid-synthesis based eurorack module that empowers you in discovering melodies and even harmonies despite being monophonic. Patch programmable sequencing via the control signals into the two PITCH MOD inputs opens up a world of melodic inspiration beyond classic arpeggios while staying in your preferred SCALE.
5 synthesis modes The Alchemist has a carefully tuned wide timbral range spanning across 5 synthesis modes (FILTER, FM, HYPERSINE, SUPERSAW and GLITCHNOISE) accessed by main TIMBRE sweep that is refined by the RATIO control.
The ENV macro knob affects different parts of the synth and sequencing engine to maximize musicality and it even lets you continually morph between the synthesis modes and access truly unique sounds. The timbral palette is further extended by the dual FX section which offers either a wide delay that will smear the arpeggios into echoed harmonies or a chorus-flanger-distortion-combfilter macro custom tuned for each synth mode. You can also access gliding rubber textures with the PITCH SLIDE macro that applies pitch envelope and portamento. You can customize its rhythms and scales with the web-based editor. Modulate anything All main parameters can be modulated and tightly sequenced by the surprisingly powerful CV and GATE pattern generator. Create groovy off-grid beats using the built-in LFO, which can be synced, reset, or left to run freely.
"Join Wes on his exploration of the Kastle 2 Alchemist — a portable, hybrid-synthesis instrument with 5 synth modes and plenty to discover!
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:53 Overview + Functions
09:53 Synth Mode: Filter
11:32 Synth Mode: FM
13:27 Synth Mode: Supersaw
16:05 Synth Mode: Hypersine
18:03 Synth Mode: Glitchnoise
19:10 Envelope Knob Functions
21:47 Play Input (Arpeggiation)
25:19 Scales & Pitch Slide
31:22 Advanced Mode
40:56 Alchemist Laboratory App
44: 32 How to play with 2 Kastles 2
48:29 USB MIDI Function
55:59 Did you make it to the end?"
1. Kastle 2 Alchemist 🧪 Compact Hybrid-Synthesis Instrument
2. No talking, just sounds - Kastle 2 Alchemist Hybrid-Synthesis Instrument
3. The most fun I've had making a video - Oscillator Sink and Bastl Instruments
4. ALCHEMIST: Bastl's super fun Kastle synth - Turbo Tambourine and Bastl Instruments
5. Bastl Alchemist Beginner’s Guide – How to Get Started - Shimmery.mp3 and Bastl Instruments
"We are stoked to introduce the Kastle 2 Alchemist – a patchable, hybrid-synthesis
instrument that empowers you to explore melodies and even harmonic textures, despite
being monophonic.
The Alchemist offers a range of Bastl-brewed Synth Modes – Filter, FM, Supersaw,
Hypersine, and GlitchNoise – which can be combined with its internal effects and the
versatile Pattern Generator. Rhythms and scales are fully customizable via the web-based
app, and expanded MIDI USB compatibility adds even more flexibility.
The Kastle 2 Alchemist is the third firmware release for the Kastle 2 hardware platform,
joining the FX Wizard multi-effects processor and the Wave Bard stereo sample player. The
firmware is fully cross-compatible across all devices in the Kastle 2 Series – meaning the
Alchemist firmware can be loaded onto previous Kastle 2 units and Citadel modules, and
vice versa.
The Kastle 2 Alchemist is the spiritual successor to the original and widely popular Kastle
Synth, introduced in the fall of 2016 and later updated to Kastle 1.5 in late 2017. It also
inherits the DNA of the Kastle Arp from 2023, resulting in expanded musicality.
The Kastle 2 Series is often described as experimental and funky — and while the Alchemist
certainly carries that spirit, this third medieval-themed instrument pushes the platform further.
With carefully crafted synth modes and intuitive controls, the Alchemist expands the musical
range, making it valuable in both beginner setups and complex studio environments."
"Dive into the sonic world of Oliver Torr —a multidisciplinary artist, composer, and sound designer working at the edges of sound, performance, and speculative technology.
In this mini-documentary, we follow Oliver while exploring his unique approach to sound design, instrument building, and world-building in audio . Every object, every space, every moment becomes material for creating new worlds and stories – if we only look through the right lenses.
Oliver created the original factory sample bank for Kastle 2 Wave Bard. He included a secret Easter-egg bank there as well (we wonder if you managed to find it there yet hehe).
And now we are proud to present Oliver’s Artist Sample Pack.
🎧 Download the Sample Pack
You don’t need to own a Wave Bard or a Citadel to explore it — everyone is welcome.
Open our Sample Loader Web App, select “Preset” → “Citadel by Oliver Torr”, generate the firmware, and load it onto your Kastle 2 or Citadel.
Sample Loader Web App link: https://apps.bastl-instruments.com/wa..."
1. Bastl Citadel Breakbeat Party - Stazma and Bastl Instruments
2. BASTL CITADEL! FX Wizard and Wave Bard Sampler comes to Eurorack! - The Unperson and Bastl Instruments
3. Bastl Citadel: A TWO-FACED friend with Samples + FX - Turbo Tambourine and Bastl Instruments
Check with dealers on the right for availability and price.
"Bastl CITADEL - Fortress of Modular Magic - is a Eurorack reimagination of the popular Kastle 2 semi-modular desktop device. The CITADEL comes with a full 3.5mm patch bay that offers the flexibility needed in the Eurorack format while maintaining the strengths of the Kastle 2 allowing it to stand on its own, and yet let it truly shine when patched with other modules. We’ve also added switches for hands-on control of the pattern generator. The Citadel provides the basic infrastructure needed to integrate Eurorack systems within the context of electronic music making: headphone output, TRS MIDI input and sync, tempo generator with divider/multiplier, USB MIDI (from the back of the module), stereo mixing, integrated LFO and Pattern generator and effects. All that makes it the perfect module for smaller and beginner systems while the fun and unique creativity of the Kastle 2 firmwares: the FX WIZARD multi-effect processor and WAVE BARD sample player will earn its place in larger setups.
🛠️ Get Wave Bard & FX Wizard at the same time 🔃 The Citadel comes equipped with a reversible front panel with WAVE BARD on one side and FX WIZARD on the other side. It also comes with our custom designed tool to make the panel switching as seamless as possible. You can load and try different Citadel/Kastle 2 present and future firmwares and updates with a USB port (on the back).
The Citadel might break a few rules of standard Eurorack design, but it does so in the name of instant musicality, fun, and effortless integration of Eurorack with other gear. The PITCH inputs on the WAVE BARD track 1V/Oct, are factory-calibrated, and there’s even dedicated calibration software to ensure a perfect match with your source."
"Bastl's garden had the pleasure of hosting our dear friend and artist Adéla Konečná – Orinoko. Among the Bastl Crew, she is known as the "Queen of Kastles," as we have seen her bend these little machines to her will many times during our Bastl Jams and her other shows. Watch Orinoko weave a dark yet delicate musical thread with the OG Kastle Drum and two Kastle 2 Wave Bards.
Thanks Orinoko!"
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:37 Orinoko's Setup
04:51 Jam n. 1
05:46 Orinoko's approach to making music
07:03 Jam n. 2
"The Kastle 2 series is getting a major firmware update that now allows you to control the unit with USB MIDI or you can send MIDI to your DAW and use Kastle 2 as a unique MIDI controller that has retained its quirks. Thanks @soffter for amazing video manual as always!
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:41 MIDI Settings and Overview
05:43 Controlling Kastle 2 with MIDI
12:17 MIDI & Patch Pitch
14:52 Kastle 2 as a MIDI Controller"
"The FX Wizard goes into oscillation. I’m using the ARP just for converting patch cables to stereo and for grounding. It’s not powered. In post, I added a touch of reverb and delay.
