Synth Geekery 288

Posted on March 22, 2025March 25, 2025 by admin

In episode 288 we talked about synths, eurorack, sequencers, drum machines, samplers, effects and software! Plus all the usual segments! Funny Side, News from the Geekery, Price Watch, Name that Synth …

Show contents:

About
Guests
Video replay
Funny Side
News from The Geekery
Price Watch
Name that Synth
Saturday Sonority

About the Synth Geekery Show

Synth Geekery is a weekly podcast/live stream (YouTube) show about everything synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, sequencers, eurorack and music technology. We take the “one of the masses” viewpoint, where we are also users of gear just like you (read: we’re not influenced by commercial product placement).

The show relies on the generous contributions of the synth community. You can contribute in many ways including supporting us via our YouTube Channel Membership or Patreon. We also have regular and special video guests: if you would like to take part in future shows – please contact me via email on the about page here.

Your Host

Ranzee (Ranz Adamson) is your show host. He’s based in Perth, Western Australia and has been a hobbyist musician and technologist for most of his life. More information can be found about him here.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ranzee

BandCamp: https://ranzee.bandcamp.com

Guests

This week’s video guests are:

Daren T. Housse

Bandcamp Link: https://darenthousse.bandcamp.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLPHxpZgFKKE1wkG9ndto3A

Daren resides in the UK and is one of the first video guests on the show since 2019. He has a large amount of tracks on his youtube channel plus a great album collection over on BandCamp.

SynthAddict

Andy is a musician and technologist from the bay area in California. He has an amazing collection of music tech gadgets and a large knowledge of synthesizers.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUtABvP7q29uvLKi73zIjFQ

Ian J. Cole

Ian is a musician, composer, sound designer and producer currently producing solo ambient electronic music. He also runs Sinners Music which is a Record Company and Online Music Retailer in East Yorkshire, England

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/IanJCole

Chris – Maikshifter

Chris is a musician and technologist from Perth, Western Australia. He’s always had a love for creating and tinkering with music electronics and has recently embarked on a new journey creating eurorack modules.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Maikshifter

Video replay

Funny Side

The funny side segment is a collection of memes that are somewhat relevant to the synth geekery community. Some of these images are taken from Facebook, Instagram and other social media sources. Please respect the creators. Hope you enjoy this week’s selection:

News

Suonobuono Polyvera

The Suonobuono Polyvera is a six-voice polyphonic desktop synthesizer that combines vintage digital sound generation with modern analog filtering. Designed for hands-on control, it features 36 knobs and encoders, along with two OLED displays, enabling intuitive sound design. The Polyvera’s digital oscillators emulate the character of early 1980s wavetable synthesizers and samplers, offering both high-quality modern sounds and vintage-styled artifacts. An integrated sample section allows for additional sound sources, which can be processed through the analog filter and modulation sections. The filter section includes selectable types, drive, FM capabilities, and key tracking, while three ADSR envelopes and three LFOs provide extensive modulation options. Additional features include a polyphonic sequencer with parameter automation, an arpeggiator, MPE support, binaural mode, and dual effects sections offering chorus, delay, phaser, and various reverbs.

Oscillators

The digital oscillators feature wavetable and sampler options:

Wavetable: Wavetable oscillator offers multiple vintage styles (PPG, Ensoniq etc) as well as digital wavetables. User wavetables can be loaded via the SD card.
Sampler: There are multiple vintage sampler styles offered (Ensoniq, Akai, EMU etc). The sampler offers up to 60 seconds per sample. There is a factory library included and users can record their own samples via external input.

Filter

The filter is a resonant analog filter offering 8 filter types including classic chip designs and an original type. The filter also has self-oscillation and FM.

Release date: The first production batch is currently under development, with shipments expected by the end of June 2025.

Price: approximately 13,189 SEK (Swedish Krona), excluding VAT and potential customs charges for non-EU customers.

Link: https://suonobuono.net/

Ombot Synopticonic Eye

The Synopticonic Eye is a powerful chaotic noise synthesizer developed by Ombot. Inspired by ancient analog technology, it generates unique and unpredictable soundscapes, making it a valuable tool for experimental musicians and sound designers.

Price: $365 USD

Link: https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1874420788/synopticonic-eye-a-harsh-noise

Home Bake Instruments EURO GiRL Mk2

The EURO GiRL Mk2 is a 4-track Eurorack sequencer module designed by Home Bake Instruments. Building upon its predecessor, it offers enhanced sequencing capabilities with four trigger outputs and four CV outputs, supporting 16-step sequences. Features include note (CV) sequencing, sub-step creation, step repeat, and randomization functions, providing users with versatile sequencing options.

Differences between Mk1 and Mk2:

Track and Output Configuration:
- Mk1: Features four trigger outputs and one CV output.
- Mk2: Upgraded to four trigger outputs and four CV outputs, allowing for more complex sequencing and modulation possibilities.
Control Interface Enhancements:
- Mk2: Introduces additional control buttons, including a ‘SELECT’ button for easier pattern and variation switching, enhancing user workflow.

These improvements in the Mk2 version provide users with expanded functionality and greater creative control over their modular synthesizer setups.

Release Date: 19 Febuary 2025

Price: ¥26,800 (Approx $293.52 AUD)

Link: https://home-bake-instruments.localinfo.jp/posts/56382820

BlaknBlu Oscar Tria

The BlaknBlu Oscar Tria is a versatile, analog-style stereo Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) designed for Eurorack modular synthesizers. It offers three distinct operational modes:

Traditional Mode: Features a stereo oscillator with continuously variable waveforms, two sub-oscillators, through-zero Frequency Modulation (FM), and hard sync capabilities.
Swarm Mode: Provides a swarm oscillator with variable waveforms suitable for creating rich super-saw sounds, complemented by a sub-oscillator.
Chord Mode: Enables stereo chord generation with 20 selectable chords (controllable via Control Voltage) spanning two octaves and adjustable note count.

Each mode allows continuous waveform variation from saw through triangle to square, with adjustable pulse width and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control via CV.

Specs:

Width: 10HP
Depth: 22mm excl. power cable. Approx 32mm inc. shrouded power cable
Power Requirements:
- +12v: 200mA, -12v: 50mA, +5v: 0mA
Inputs:
- Signal (Zero attenuation): ±5v nominal, ±12v max
- AUX CV1 [Zero attenuation]: ±5v nominal
- AUX CV2 [Zero attenuation]: ±5v nominal
- PWM CV [Zero attenuation]: ±5v nominal
Outputs:
- Dual/Stereo: ±5v nominal, ±11v max

Release Date: 18 March 2025

Price: £241.67

Link: https://www.blaknblu.com/oscar_tria/

Modular Grid: https://modulargrid.net/e/blaknblu-oscar-tria

Arcaico Dominus (update)

The Arcaico Dominus is a dual saw-core complex voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with an integrated wavefolder, designed for Eurorack modular synthesizers. Each of the two independent VCOs offers four selectable waveforms and maintains stable 1V/octave tracking across a ten-octave range. The integrated wavefolder allows for intricate waveform manipulation, enabling the creation of rich and complex sound textures. The 2025 re-release features a new faceplate design, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.

Specs:

24 HP
35 mm deep
Voltage consumption: 70 mA +12V70 mA -12V0 mA 5V

We first showed the Dominus back 5th February 2023 on Synth Geekery 191 : https://ranzee.com/synth-geekery-191/ –> can you tell the difference?

Price: 270€

Link: https://www.arcaico.eu/prodotto/dominus-dual-complex-vco/

Modular Grid: https://modulargrid.net/e/arcaico-dominus

NDLR REV 2

Conductive Labs have reached out to NDLR REV 1 owners advising that there will be a NDLR REV 2 released. The difference between the two is a new chipset, and this is because of the chip shortages. The REV 2 will have a new circuit board with the higher spec PJRC Teensy 4.

They are stating there will be some new features:

Motif Gate Control. Each motif MIDI note length is independently editable while jamming, or by the Mod Matrix. Settings saved with Global patches
Perlin Noise Pattern Generator. A Perlin Noise based editor which makes semi-random, but interrelated patterns for the two motifs. Parameters are modulatable. Save your Perlin Noise presets (4), parameters are also saved in Global patches.
Increased Global Patches from 8 on the original platform to 20 slots (more than double).

They will have more details to come in the campaign launch.

Video

Price: $125 USD

Link: https://conductivelabs.com/ndlr/

Zoom H5 Studio

The Zoom H5studio is a versatile handheld recorder designed for creators seeking high-quality audio capture in a portable format. Building upon the success of its predecessor, the H5, the H5studio offers advanced features such as 32-bit float recording to prevent clipping, six-track recording capabilities (four isolated tracks plus a stereo mix) at sample rates up to 192 kHz, and a next-generation capsule system supporting various microphone capsules. Its rugged design, combined with user-friendly controls and advanced audio processing functions, makes it suitable for musicians, podcasters, videographers, and sound designers

Price: $350 USD

Link: https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/handheld-recorders/handheld-recorders/h5studio/

Frequency Central Florian modular synthesizer

The Frequency Central Florian is a dual voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) modular synthesizer, inspired by classic designs like the Roland SH-2 and ARP Odyssey. Each VCO offers multiple waveform outputs, including sawtooth, triangle, and pulse, with pulse-width modulation (PWM) capabilities. The synthesizer features a 2-pole multimode filter with low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass modes, and a voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA) for dynamic sound shaping. An onboard low-frequency oscillator (LFO) provides additional modulation options, and the system includes two ADSR envelope generators for precise control over amplitude and filter modulation. The Florian is designed for Eurorack systems, offering extensive patching flexibility for both standalone use and integration into larger modular setups

Florian features the following sub-modules, all behind a single 42HP panel:

2 x XVCO, our legendary discrete VCO based on the Roland 100M design
Sub oscillator offering -1 octave square, -2 octave square, and -2 ocatve pulse
Digital ring modulator, taking VCO1 and VCO2 as it’s X and Y input.
Voltage controlled filter offering lowpass, bandpass, and highpass responses, based on Roland 700 multimode filter
ADSR based around AS3310 chip, offering normal and inverted outputs as well as CV of level
ARP influenced VCA with ADSR/gate/drone options
ARP influenced A/R generator with looping option
LFO1: triangle
LFO2: saw/triangle/ramp with sync option

Price: TBA

Link: https://frequencycentral.co.uk/florian-modular-synthesiser-would-you-like-to-own-one/

Sedaco TM32 MIDI Synthesizer

TM32 is a MIDI synthesizer that supports General MIDI / GS SF2 soundfonts and optional MT32 emulation. Vintage computers used the Roland MT-32 sounds for games and are now becoming increasingly popular for retro-gamers and synthesizer enthusiasts. The MT-32 used the famous Roland LAS multitimbral synthesizer and offered 128 sounds which were similar to what you find on the D-50 synthesizer.

The software is based on the open source MT32Pi, with a tweaked configuration for excellent live performance, preloaded with default GeneralUser GS soundfont. Complete fully built and tested unit, including enclosure. TM32 is the successor to MP32L which is still available until end of stock.

Features :

High Quality Stereo DAC, 3.5mm stereo line out
Standard DIN MIDI input
Micro SD card slot for MT32Pi based software
USB-C connector for power (for 5V 2A adapter)
Uses Pi zero 2W, 512 mbyte of RAM
High quality enclosure with TM32 led glow logo, dimensions : 81mm x 75mm x 26mm , 74g
Supports SF2 soundfonts up to 400mbyte, 16 part multitimbral (all 16 midi channels)
Optional support for MT32 emulation (need to supply your own ROM files on the micro sd card)
128 voices polyphony
Low latency
Switch between soundfonts with the press of a button

Price: 116 €

Link: https://www.serdashop.com/TM32

ROM Files:

Roland MT-32 and CM-32L Rom files: https://archive.org/details/mame-versioned-roland-mt-32-and-cm-32l-rom-files

500 Soundfonts Collection: https://archive.org/details/500-soundfonts-full-gm-sets

General User GS: https://schristiancollins.com/generaluser.php

Price Watch

Find below images and links to the items we showed for the price watch segment.

Moog Taurus	https://tidd.ly/4iOHp5T
Waldorf Streichfett	https://tidd.ly/4j8qJ9N
Moog Sequencer	https://ebay.us/Abcj4S
Spectral Audio Neptune 2	https://tidd.ly/4kN9Djf
Moog MuSonics Sonic V 1972	https://tidd.ly/4itYUbZ