Playlist:
1. Bastl Kalimba: An Expressive Instrument for Intuitive Electronic Music Exploration
2. Bastl Kalimba - Demo Overview
3. Bastl Kalimba is such a fever dream - HAINBACH
4. WTF did they make? Bastl Kalimba! - ANDREW HUANG
Press release follows:
Bastl Instruments are very proud to announce the release of their new instrument - Bastl Kalimba, a unique desktop instrument that combines microphones, touch sensors, and an accelerometer, with a user interface inspired by the traditional kalimba and its main interaction element: the tines.
We believe that this combination of features and physical interface leads to intuitive creativity and easy musical expression.
"Superbooth is coming and this year we are coming in full force!! Apart of the goodies we already introduced, we have a bunch of new modules that will be on display, like our new stereo filter, a new member on the ST mix family and a small and mega compact headphones module..... well and 1U Midi thing is closer than ever!
But the big thing is our collaboration with Tesseract modules. A monster Full ON sequencer with synth engines, smaple play and CV generation. We are proud to present you ARK: A collaboration with one of our dearest friends from the eurorack scene!
Aiming to release before christmas seasson, with a target price of 666€ Tax included. Unless some new apocaliptic shit is brought to us by the usual suspects, of course.....
NINA Macro Oscillator Mode - BRAIDS Update! Demo and deep dive with THE UNPERSON video upload by Melbourne Instruments
"The powerful new Macro Oscillator Mode firmware update for Melbourne Instruments' motorised polysynth, NINA, has arrived. This new update adds 45 synthesis waveform models using open-source code from Émilie Gillet’s Mutable Instruments Braids, one of the most celebrated Eurorack synth modules.
This new mode massively expands Nina's sonic capabilities, unlocking a new world of synthesis, from classic analog textures to cutting-edge digital experimentation. Powered by Nina’s innovative architecture, the new Macro Oscillator Mode delivers an incredibly versatile hands-on sound design experience unlike any other.
In this video Melbourne Instruments collaborator THE UNPERSON takes a deep dive into Macro Mode, exploring some of the Macro Oscillator models, and demonstrates just some of the 60 new presets created for this update, exploring the sonic possibilities of the new Macro Oscillator.
To support this update there is a new bank of 60 Macro Presets, designed by Protovolt, Tom Hall and James Terris. Available to download now: https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/..."
2nd video followed by the press release:
NINA Macro Oscillator Mode — 12 polyphonic voices of BRAIDS! Macro Presets audio demo with PROTOVOLT
"In this video, Sound Designer PROTOVOLT demonstrates a selection of the 20 new presets he created for this update, exploring the sonic possibilities of the new Macro Oscillator.
0:00:20 Xenomorph
0:01:02 String Theory
0:01:40 Zero Space
0:02:28 Harpsichon
0:02:58 Dark Matter
0:03:41 Supernova
0:03:58 Nucleus
0:04:38 Flux
0:05:09 Datablade
0:05:38 Retsu
0:06:04 Event Horizon
To support this update there is a new bank of 60 Macro Presets, designed by Protovolt, Tom Hall and James Terris. Available to download now: https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/..."
Press release follows:
Melbourne Instruments brings Braids engine to desktop NINA analogue polysynth
“NINA has always been an absolute powerhouse of a synth, but this update is insane; OSC 3 gives you 45 Braids macros across 12 voices, plus its massive mod matrix — the range of sounds and textures you can create now knows no bounds.”
- Musician/sound designer PROTOVOLT, 2026
MELBOURNE, VIC, AUSTRALIA: Melbourne Instruments is proud to bring Mutable Instruments’ Braids engine — Emilie Gillet’s celebrated open-source macro oscillator — to its desktop NINA analogue polysynth, as of April 30…
Available as a free firmware update, all 45 Braids synthesis models run across NINA’s 12 true polyphonic voices, each shaped by a dedicated overdrive-able analogue filter. Ultimately, users can now layer Braids and analogue VCOs (Voltage Controlled Oscillators) across four multitimbral parts, morph between presets, and sequence everything.
Duly described by Mutable Instruments as a macro oscillator, Braids was a mono Eurorack module: one voice, no internal filter, and no modulation routing. It is now something else entirely on NINA, itself described as the world’s first motorised polysynth. Put it this way: when switching layers, the motorised knobs snap to new positions; morph between patches and they sweep in real time. Meanwhile, modulation routings are all visible on the panel from the moment they are selected. Surely Braids has never been this hands-on.
Digging deeper, each waveform model is shaped by two expressive parameters — Timbre and Color — adapted from the original Braids module. More meaningfully, these controls affect multiple tonal dimensions simultaneously, producing complex, evolving, and musically responsive sounds. Spanning analogue VCO emulation, vowel and formant synthesis, 2-operator FM, physical modelling of strings and wind instruments, wavetable synthesis with smooth interpolation, granular synthesis, and electronic drum simulation, the 45 models evidently elevate NINA to a new level, further cementing itself as a premium analogue polysynth powerhouse for experimental, generative, analogue, and digital synthesis.
Says musician/sound designer James Terris, ending on a high note: “I’ve always described NINA as a beautiful beast — analogue oscillators paired with its super-fat and driven analogue filter make it beastly! But while the existing wavetable oscillator adds a crystal sheen that provides a beauty, the new macro oscillator models expand this tremendously. Indeed, it can go from delicate FM, Karplus-Strong, and even vocal formant textures straight into swarming, stacked super-waves. With this update, it feels like an instant NINA ‘MK-2’!”
Excluding taxes applicable to the territory concerned, NINA is presently priced at $3,299.00 USD in North America; €3,165.00 EUR in the EU; £2,835.00 GBP in the UK; and $3,499.00 USD in Japan, while it is presently priced in Australia at $4,995.00 AU, including GST (Goods and Services Tax) — all via Melbourne Instruments’ growing global network of dealers.
Coinciding with the new NINA MACRO OSC UPDATE firmware release, owners of the world’s first motorised polysynth can also download 60 new presets for free from here: https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/presets#nina
"I feel like I'm in synth heaven these days. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the new ECHON 6 from Morphor, which is a gorgeous sounding, super unique synth: a 6 voice polyphonic analogue BBD resonator synthesizer. Yep, that's quite the mouth full. In a nutshell it's one part analogue poly synth, one part analogue BBD chip physical modeling synth.
I've been a big fan of physical modeling kind of synths for some time, and Morphor's take on this concept is the most special one I've come across so far. I know this type of synthesis mostly from either quite complex plugins, or Eurorack stuff such as Rings and Surface. Morphor has managed to take this concept into an analogue desktop format and it's super special. In this little sketch I'm exploring quite typical karplus-strong like plucks, but feeding in some sine wave oscillator, having full ADSR control over the the exciter, and having BBD chips as resonators, makes for a super expressive sound.
Apart from its amazing sound, ECHON 6 is also beautifully built. One of the most sturdy, smooth and well built synths I have ever come across. One of its superpowers is that it also has an absolutely amazing and intuitive modulation section, which I'll tell you more about in some following videos (I've been making a lot!). Thanks so much for letting me explore this beauty, Morphor!
Find out more about ECHON 6 at: https://echon6.com/"
1. Introducing Osmose CE — Trailer
2. Osmose CE - The New Generation Of MIDI Controllers
3. Osmose CE — Overview
4. Osmose CE — DAW Control with Ableton Live
5. Osmose CE — DAW Control with Cubase
6. Osmose CE — DAW Control with Logic Pro
Osmose CE // A MIDI Keyboard That Feels Alive // Review & Tutorial
*Beyond a drum machine: A record of the Tempest as a true 'instrument.'*
Despite its notorious OS instability and the inherent temperamental nature of its analog circuitry, there is a distinct tension in this archive—the feeling of wrestling with the machine to weave a sonic narrative.
The visceral 'stickiness' of the low-end when the filters are tightened, and the organic tonal shifts driven by the sliders, produce a raw, physical resonance that digital synthesis can never truly replicate.
I’m surprised and deeply encouraged to see so many people taking the time to explore my past archives recently. I hope this video reaches those who appreciate the subtle, living textures of sound."
"PHYSIX — 32 organic pad presets for Elektron Digitone II by CO5MA.
Explore evolving textures inspired by physical modeling synthesis and deep Comb Filter sound design.
These presets are designed to create rich, expressive, and organic soundscapes.
Many sounds feature resonances and subtle friction-like textures, sometimes reminiscent of vibrating strings or acoustic materials.
Perfect for:
• Ambient music
• Film scoring
• Sound design
• Atmospheric compositions
⚠️ No random generation — every preset has been carefully handcrafted with love by CO5MA"
"In this video, we take a deep dive into the Kurzweil K2061/K2088 and explore creative V.A.S.T. programming inspired by the legendary Juno-60 sound.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. We’ll build the patch you heard at the beginning completely from scratch, using only a single saw wave as our starting point.
Rather than recreating a vintage synth directly, this patch expands on the Juno’s classic single-oscillator architecture — demonstrating how Kurzweil’s powerful V.A.S.T. synthesis engine can transform a simple waveform into something far deeper and more expressive.
In this episode, you’ll see how to:
• Design a full synth patch from a single oscillator
• Shape tone using VAST DSP architecture
• Create movement and depth with Kurzweil FX
• Use physical controllers to add expression and performance dynamics
• Push beyond traditional analog limitations while preserving classic character
The goal is simple: show just how much is possible with one waveform, thoughtful programming, and the immense flexibility of VAST.
"Join us for an exploration of TRAILS as part of our Pedals & Patches series of videos, exploring pedal FX with modular gear, synthesizers, around the studio and with some other instruments too. Pedals aren't just for guitarists, so lets get creative with them!
Trails offers 7 FX that make your sounds sustain and grow, there's resonators (think Rings) with sympathetic strings, bell like chord generation, live and frozen buffer granular processing, a unique distortion like nothing I've used before, micro loopers, pitch shifting delays, vinyl record emulating delays and more!"
Note the above is a playlist for the the Anti Rave Frosty Edition. The listing below is for the Slopes Edition. Not sure how or if they differ. This appears to be the first post to feature Twin Tropiques.
"Fully Analog Patchable Synth with Aligator clips included.....Very unique sound and is perfect for Noise, Odd Glitchy sounds....All all the available patch opportunities, you can get some really sync'd Percussive Rhythms...Nice squishy Textures and lot's of Clocks, Gates, Noise, Logic, Dividers...it really is packed with features...You can also interact with other Eurorack Gear.
Specs below.......
2 VCO's (pulse and triangle outputs
Unique capacitor switching low pass filter capable of a wide range of sounds
- percussive pinging, metallic sounds, additive and comb synthesis, lush and mellow to harsh and abrasive mayhem
-3 XOR gates which can generate logic outputs from pulse inputs or can be used to ring modulate pulse waves
-pseudo random chaos generator inspired by the famous rungler module by Rob Hordijk, has clock and data inputs and chaos output, great as a sound source or for modulations + 4 circuit bending touch sensitive patch points)
-The circuit bent patch points allow a range of WTF type of non linear and unpredictable modulation, depending on how and where you patch them
-2 slope generators with voltage control on attack and release, end of cycle pulse output, and trigger, hold, and loop inputs
-2 waveshapers with 2 voltage control inputs each, for overdriving and mangling internal or external signals
Thephonoloop announces availability of outlines VI, beautifully blending raw acoustic gestures with tape loops and modular-processed tonal experiments
KATOWICE, POLAND: Thephonoloop is proud to announce availability of outlines as its latest NKS (Native Kontrol Standard) ready VI (virtual instrument) for Native Instruments’ Kontakt Player free sample player — beautifully blending raw acoustic gestures with tape loops and modular-processed tonal experiments to spark musical momentum as the sample-based instruments with character-producing Polish two-person team’s approach to a collection of tonal variations designed to be combined and explored, each preset being an outline of a musical idea ready to be expanded and reshaped into something larger — as of March 12…
"Mutable Instruments Rings is one of my all-time favourite Eurorack modules, and I’ve made many videos about it over the years. As a resonator and physical modelling synthesizer, it’s been a core part of my modular synthesis and electronic music setup for a long time. I thought I knew all there is to know about Rings, but then I discovered this alternative firmware which greatly expands the features, and breathes some new life into this old module.
In this video I explore a range of new features within Rings, including frequency lock, updated chord charts, and a compact stereo version of the classic Mutable Instruments Elements, adapted to run inside the module. There’s also an “eternal exciter” mode, which allows more control over the exciter, opening up new possibilities for ambient, experimental, and textural sound design. This alternative firmware
If you’re into Eurorack, modular synths, physical modelling synthesis, or sound design for electronic music, this firmware offers some subtle but very useful extensions to an already powerful synthesizer module.
0:00 The most powerful synthesizer on the market
0:22 3D Wavetable synthesis
0:50 Resynthesis
1:40 Granular synthesis
2:18 Vocoder
2:53 Additive synthesis
3:36 Supersaw / Hypersaw
4:21 FM synthesis
5:01 Samples
5:33 Subtractive 7 Analog
6:12 Physical modeling
6:39 Waveshaping
7:02 PWM
7:32 Phase Distorion
Icarus is the most powerful synthesizer on the market. The award-winning audio engine offers a huge sonic range, true high-end sound quality, and the ability to create sounds that are impossible with other synths. The exceptionally versatile audio engine is capable of creating all important synthesizer sounds in high-end quality. Icarus is capable of over 30 (!) different synthesis methods, which can be combined:
3D Wavetables
3D Wavetable Synthesis cn create sounds impossible with other synthesizers and opens up a new level of dynamic expression. Classic wavetable synthesis only allows you to cross-fade waveforms. We have extended it with an extra 'morph dimension'. You can use 54 morph modes to further shape and modulate the sound. The morph modes are not limited to traditional waveshaping methods. We have also included a wide range of innovative and exclusive modes that are not available from other companies. This results in a wide range of unique sounds that cannot be produced by other synthesizers.
Resynthesis
Icarus comes with the most powerful and advanced re-synthesis engine on the market. Unlike competing products, it always delivers good results. With Icarus, anyone can create amazing sounds quickly and easily. Icarus' innovative resynthesis can rebuild sounds with a single mouse click! Just click this button, select a wav file, and Icarus will automatically create a patch that sounds like the original. You can further shape your sound with morphing, time-stretching, filters, effects, or any other module.
About this Pack
Serge Tcherepnin once described his instruments not as tools but as open systems for discovering relationships between sound and control. The Serge Modular Synth is built on this principle. It does not simulate acoustic behavior; it generates its own logic of vibration. Each circuit is an experiment in how voltage can behave as if it were alive.
This sample pack captures that principle through Random Source’s modern Serge system, combining the GTO, GTS, and Res EQ with the reissued 50th Anniversary Paperface. The recordings move fluidly between the precise tension of Eurorack signals and the raw, physical tone of classic 4U banana systems. Every patch was shaped through direct voltage interaction rather than digital post-processing, preserving the unpredictable complexity that defines the Serge approach.
Why Serge Matters
Serge Modular was designed in the 1970s by Serge Tcherepnin. It was created as an open-ended tool for sonic experimentation. Influenced by cybernetics and avant-garde composition, this system rejects musical hierarchies and embraces uncertainty.
In Serge, control voltages and audio signals are treated as equals. The circuits invite exploration through feedback, cross-modulation, and unpredictable interactions. Every patch is a process of discovery rather than reproduction.
This makes Serge a powerful choice for artists seeking sounds that are not pre-shaped or confined by rules. The textures you will find in this pack are unstable, alive, and deeply human.
Inside the Pack
The collection includes loops, one-shots, and drones. It extends from tonal minimalism to complex, evolving noise structures. You will find FM and AM modulations, unstable oscillations, and dark ambient layers that drift beyond equal temperament. There are moments of feedback that verge on collapse, SSG circuits running into chaotic self-modulation, and subtle rhythmic patterns that carry the unmistakable texture of analog uncertainty.
Each sound maintains the distinctive grain of Serge synthesis: harmonic richness without symmetry, motion that arises from interaction rather than programming. This is material for artists who value the tactile quality of electricity, who hear circuits as compositional partners rather than instruments.
Who This Pack Is For
Ideal for producers working in experimental electronic music, sound design, ambient, noise, or techno.
This pack suits those who are not satisfied with polished libraries and are looking for materials that add edge, texture, and risk to their work.
Continuous Evolution
This library is a growing archive. New sounds are added through regular updates at no additional cost for existing users. If you already own the pack, simply log in to your Sellfy account and new files will appear automatically. For those new to the collection, this is an invitation to enter a sonic environment that is never fixed but always evolving.
Not Just a Sample Pack
Some of the included tracks were originally composed as complete works. These can be experienced as finished drone pieces or used as inspiring source material. The lines between sample and sound art are intentionally blurred."
Been working on this for a while and it's finally at a point where I want to share it.
*Tresse* is a standalone polyphonic synthesizer built around Mutable Instruments' Plaits DSP code, running on an ESP32-S3 with a custom PCB. Three voices of polyphony, 38 synthesis engines, USB, DIN/TRS and Bluetooth MIDI, and perhaps Ableton Link and our upcoming stack (VMB) Våld Modular Bus, expected to ship this summer, and which will a new wireless comms protocol with negligible latency, auto discovery and machine mesh capabilities (to be released soon). Also enough knobs and encoders to actually play the thing without menu-diving, and a battery for when you're bored outside of your studio.
*The core idea:* take the full Plaits engine library — all 24 algorithms — and make it polyphonic in a self-contained hardware instrument. Then keep going and add 14 more custom engines on top. There are hundreds of options similar to this in modular systems and i thought why not bring all these god-level creative tools to bedroom, desktop producers who don't have the money or the space (or will) to mingle in the modular space, and bring them one contained box with all they need.
What's inside
*ESP32-S3* doing all the DSP across both cores (voices 0+1 on Core 1, voice 2 on Core 0, parallel render) **PCM5102A DAC**, 24-bit output, 32kHz sample rate *4 pots + 4 rotary encoders* through CD74HC4067 mux and MCP23017 I2C expander *OLED display* (128×64) for patch info, engine select, preset browsing *USB MIDI + BLE MIDI* — works with everything, no adapter needed for wireless Custom PCB, all through-hole friendly
38 engines
The first 24 are straight from Plaits — East Coast, Phase Distortion, all three DX7 variants, Terrain, String/Chords, Chiptune, Wavetable, Speech, Swarm, Particle, the Rings modes, the three drum engines, etc.
Then 14 custom engines built from scratch:
*Karplus-Strong* — proper physical string modeling with excitation morphing (noise → impulse → tonal) *ByteBeat* — 8 classic formulas with pitch-tracked rate, gets wild *CZ Phase Distortion* — Casio CZ-style, three distortion shapes *Supersaw* — up to 7 detuned saws with PWM, the obvious one but it needed to exist *Formant* — vowel synthesis with 3 bandpass resonators, gender shift control *2-Op FM* — clean FM with 13 ratios and operator feedback *Wavefolder* — sine/tri/saw/square source into a proper folder with bias *Noise Drums* — SVF-based with pitch envelope, covers kicks through metallic hits *Modal Resonator* — 8 tuned bandpass partials, morphs from harmonic → bell → bar inharmonicity, with a bowed excitation mode *Sympathetic Strings* — 3 coupled Karplus delay lines with controllable coupling and interval ratios *Comb Resonator* — 4 parallel comb filters with spread control *Drawbars* — organ-style additive with 8 Hammond-ratio partials *Complex Oscillator* — FM into wavefolder, Buchla-adjacent territory *Grain Noise* — granular noise with smoothing, good for textures and pads
Controls
Three parameter layers accessible via toggle buttons:
*Normal* — Timbre, Morph, Harmonics, Color on pots; Attack, Decay, FM, LFO Depth on encoders *MOD* — Fold, Detune, Ring Mod, Chorus on pots; LFO destination/shape/speed/sync on encoders *SHIFT* — Filter Cutoff/Reso/Env/Type on pots; Portamento, Octave, Vibrato depth/speed on encoders
Hold both buttons → engine select overlay. Double-tap MOD → system menu (randomizer, MIDI config, play mode). Double-tap SHIFT → preset browser across three banks (own patches, generated, branches).
Play modes: Poly, Mono, and chord modes (Major, Minor, 7th, Sus4, Power, Octave).
The randomizer is one of my favorite things — it generates random patches with procedural names (stuff like "Velvet Moth" or "Iron Shard"), you scroll through them with the encoder, and save the ones you like to a generated preset bank. 512 slots each for generated and branch presets, 128 for your own.
What it sounds like
Honestly covers a lot of ground. The Plaits engines already span everything from classic analog to FM to physical modeling to noise, and the custom engines fill in some gaps I wanted — proper supersaw, real Karplus-Strong, the modal/sympathetic stuff for metallic and evolving tones, and the ByteBeat engine for when you want to go full chaos. The global FX chain (filter, wavefolder, ring mod, chorus) ties everything together.
The project should be available from April 2026, in kit or assembled units! Price to be discolsed once i have the final FINAL prototype, but shouldn't hurt the wallet.
This is a *Våld Labs* project from Lisbon Portugal. Much more to come.
Would love to hear what people think, and happy to answer questions about the build or the DSP. Be aware that this is a pretty advenced prototype, but still a prototype"
1. We Made Three New Synths — The M0SS Family Kickstarter Launch
2. M0SS-201 Demo: Wave Folder Bass
3. M0SS-201 Demo: Krell Patch
4. M0SS-416 Demo: Presets
5. M0SS-416 Demo: Brian Eno's Tambura patch
6. M0SS-309 Demo: Mellow Horns and FX
"The M0SS-201, M0SS-309 and M0SS-416 are 3 new members of the M0SS line of synthesizers from UltraPalace, expanding on the flagship M0SS-101 released in 2025.
This line of instruments packs the power of an advanced synth in to a tiny, rugged enclosure, and offers a unique user interface, designed to be intuitive, hands-on, and fun. Press a button to select a parameter in the synthesis engine, and turn the encoder to modify its value.
Coloured LEDs positioned across the face will pulse and toggle to show the signal flow, indicate settings, and show the current parameters magnitude.
These synths feature USB MIDI Host, as well as 1/8" MIDI, so you can connect any MIDI controller, and map knobs or faders to any parameter using MIDI learn, allowing you to transform your inexpensive MIDI controller into a powerful and fascinating vintage-style synth, or to integrate the synth into your existing MIDI setup.
"The M0SS-201 is a west coast synth, which takes some inspiration from the Buchla Easel. This modern monosynth is packed with features that will inspire experimentation into advanced synthesis. It is capable of an incredibly broad spectrum of sounds, and diving in, you might find yourself wondering if the sounds you are creating have ever been heard before by human ears, and the answer may well be no!"
"Chris Sanders of KORG shows us the new phase 8! The phase 8 is 'an eight-voice acoustic synthesizer that merges the sonic richness of the physical world with precise electronic control... Acoustic Synthesis uses physically vibrating bodies to generate sound, enhanced with the electronic control you’d expect from a synthesizer.'
Basically, you can place household items onto the synthesizer to manipulate sound and frequencies. Really innovative and new instrument!"
"We're at the KORG booth checking out the new phase 8 acoustic synthesizer. Basically, you can place an item on the 'pickups' to produce a a really cool sound.
KORG.com states, 'Introducing phase8, an eight-voice acoustic synthesizer that merges the sonic richness of the physical world with precise electronic control. With envelope shaping, sequencing, analogue wavefolding, and pitch-dependent modulation, phase8 harnesses the latest Acoustic Synthesis technology developed at KORG.'"
"We head to the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio for our first hands-on look at the KORG Berlin Phase 8, one of the most unusual instruments to land on the Noisegate desk in years. Phase 8 is built around eight electromechanical voices, each physically striking a steel resonator or tine. Instead of traditional oscillators, sound is generated through real vibrating materials, then shaped with envelopes, modulation, sequencing, and analogue wavefolding. The result feels closer to playing a physical instrument than programming a synth.
In this video, we explore: – How Phase 8 produces sound – Sequencing, pluck, shift and performance controls – Acoustic interaction using everyday objects – Processing Phase 8 with external effects – Integrating Phase 8 into a wider live jam setup
CHAPTERS: 0:39 – Why Phase 8 Is Different 1:04 – What Is Acoustic Synthesis? 1:40 – Touch, Feedback & Physical Interaction 2:13 – Tuning, Scales & Resonators Explained 2:32 – Playing Phase 8 Like a Synth 2:41 – Per-Voice Envelopes & Velocity 3:11 – Air Slider & Raw Pickup Sound 3:35 – Shift & Pluck Performance Controls 4:27 – Sequencer Overview & Storage 4:56 – Playing a Recorded Sequence 5:06 – Step Recording & Polyrhythms 6:21 – Interacting with the Tines Physically 6:30 – Using Objects to Change the Sound 7:50 – Light vs Heavy Materials on the Tines 8:26 – Percussive & Prepared-Style Sounds 9:47 – Modulation & Tonal Experimentation 9:56 – Processing Phase 8 with External Effects 10:14 – Finding Sweet Spots with FX 10:27 – Connectivity: MIDI, USB-C, CV & Sync 10:58 – Hybrid Setup with OP-XY 11:24 – Live Jam Begins 14:29 – Reflections on Exploration & Sweet Spots 15:31 – Why Phase 8 Rewards Time & Touch 15:36 – Trying Phase 8 at MESS 16:04 – Final Thoughts & Sign-Off
We also look at how Phase 8 plays with other gear, including Teenage Engineering OP-XY and outboard effects, and why finding the “sweet spot” is such a big part of the experience."
The following is in via Sean Graves, who had the following to say:
"The piece, 'The 'Easel' Spirit in 3U: Rebuilding a Buchla Soul in Eurorack,' documents my five-year journey to replicate the specific workflow and 'soul' of the Buchla Music Easel using a curated Eurorack system."
"This post explores the creative power of 5-step sequencing (the 'migrating downbeat'), the 'origami' of wavefolding via the Verbos Complex Oscillator, and the organic harmonic dampening of vactrol-based Low Pass Gates. It’s a technical yet accessible look at why the West Coast workflow remains the 'holy grail' for performance - based synthesis."
The full write-up follows, with a demonstration of the system in the video above.
The “Easel” Spirit in 3U: Rebuilding a Buchla Soul in Eurorack
The Buchla Music Easel is legendary. It isn’t just a synthesizer. It’s a self-contained performance ecosystem. For many of us, the “Easel” workflow is the holy grail of synthesis. However, instead of chasing original hardware, I’ve spent the past five years rebuilding its specific soul within the Eurorack format. Because everyone deserves a hobby, right?
The Chef vs. The Sculptor Most East Coast synthesizers work like a sculptor. You start with a massive block of harmonic noise (Sawtooth or Square waves) and carve it away with a filter. The Buchla workflow is different. It’s like being a chef in your own Hell’s Kitchen. You start with basic, “bland” ingredients (sine waves) and spice them up with Frequency Modulation (FM), Amplitude Modulation (AM), your choice, and then fold until the sound sizzles.
My current rig recreates this spirit by focusing on three pillars: Uncertainty, Complex Oscillation, and the iconic Sequential Voltage Source.
Part One: The Modulators (The Brain) In a true Easel style setup, the Tokyo Tape Music Center 5-Step Sequencer acts as the brain. While most modern sequencers favor 4-8-16-32 steps, the 5-step limitation is actually a creative superpower.
