Synth Geekery 350
In episode 350 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
Hermetic Modular’s Alchemy Lab
The world of Eurorack synth design is witnessing a fascinating shift toward flexible, open-source ecosystems. Leading this charge is Hermetic Modular with their Alchemy Lab platform. Instead of building fixed-architecture hardware that does only one thing forever, they have created a gorgeous, highly optimized hardware environment driven by the powerful Daisy Seed 2 DSP brain.
Hermetic Modular has rolled out two flagship firmwares for this platform: Echoa (a profound spatial and temporal processor) and Spagyros (an end-of-chain performance multi-effects powerhouse). Because both modules share the exact same underlying open-source hardware, you can instantly swap firmwares between them using a standard USB-C cable and a web browser.
Echoa: The Spatial Time Machine
Echoa reimagines the relationship between delay and reverb. Rather than treating them as separate blocks, it treats reverb as the natural evolutionary endpoint of tightly diffused delays.
Built around four independent delay lines (two per stereo side), Echoa lets you seamlessly morph a crisp digital repeat into a smeared, ethereal wash. It handles everything from traditional echoes to cascading plate and hall environments by using a multi-stage all-pass diffusion network. With integrated character emulation engines—covering digital clarity, dark bucket-brigade device (BBD) warmth, unstable tape warble, and dusty vinyl crackle—it functions as a complete texture workstation.
Key Features of Echoa
- Dynamic Time Morphing: Delay times spanning from a microscopic 1 millisecond up to a massive 16 seconds.
- Flexible Routing: Run the four delay lines in series, parallel, isolated mono, or a spectral mode utilizing a tunable crossover network (100 Hz to 8 kHz).
- Advanced Reverb Controls: Dedicated parameters for Diffusion (smearing repeats), Bloom (growing short loops into lush plate/hall tails), and bipolar Damping.
- Character Engines: On-the-fly emulation swapping between Digital, BBD, Tape, and Vinyl modes.
- Preset & Mod Loops: 16 onboard snapshot slots that save every routing choice and CV map, alongside per-knob looping parameter-lock modulation.
Spagyros: The Ultimate Performance Grid
If Echoa is about getting lost in space, Spagyros is about taking absolute control over time and texture in a live performance setting.
Spagyros functions as a stereo end-of-chain effects array that organizes nine distinct studio-grade effects into a three-tier vertical grid (Top, Mid, Bottom slots). You can layer up to three effects simultaneously in series. The absolute highlight is its dedicated 32 MB stereo ring buffer time machine, allowing you to manually scrub playback backward, perform classic vinyl stops, or accelerate time to catch back up to your live input.
Key Features of Spagyros
- Three-Tier Multi-FX Stack: Layer up to three live effects in series from a pool of nine algorithms.
- Top Slot Effects: Performance DJ filter, morphing bit-crush/saturation, and an automated riser.
- Mid Slot (Time Machine): Clock-synced beat repeat, a parameter-controlled audio chopper, and a 32 MB reverse/slow ring buffer.
- Bottom Slot Effects: Lush resonant phaser, studio echo, and wide ambient space reverb.
- Performance Control: Dedicated “Panic Mute” functionality to immediately kill audio trails via button combos or external gates, plus live looping parameter locks on every single pot.
The Alchemy Lab Platform & Open Source Architecture
The true magic of these modules lies beneath the surface. The Alchemy Lab isn’t just a container for pre-made effects; it is a fully open-source hardware abstraction layer (HAL) and software development kit (SDK) released under the developer-friendly MIT license.
For deep hardware customizers and DSP coders, the module acts as a premium eurorack development board. The hardware features field-programmable CV jacks. By routing an onboard analog switch through the microcontroller, the physical jacks can morph from inputs to outputs on the fly based purely on what the firmware commands.
The included software framework takes away the headache of low-level coding by handling QSPI flash wear leveling, knob calibration, parameter pagination, and smooth UI animations out of the box. With a front-facing USB-C port, a microSD slot, and rear-panel I2C/SPI expansion headers, it is a future-proof playground for the synth DIY community.
Platform Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
| Module Width | 12 HP |
| Module Depth | 20 mm (Skiff friendly) |
| Power Consumption (+12V) | 199 mA |
| Power Consumption (-12V) | 20 mA to 40 mA |
| Core Processor | Electro-Smith Daisy Seed 2 DSP |
| Connectivity | Front USB-C (MIDI/Flashing), MicroSD slot, Rear I2C & SPI expansion |
| Hardware Panels | Premium aluminum knobs, Alpha pots, and reversible full-art faceplates |
Echoa vs. Spagyros: Comparison Grid
Both configurations leverage the exact same 12 HP hardware package, meaning your physical investment never becomes obsolete. Here is how their default configurations compare:
| Feature / Attribute | Echoa Architecture | Spagyros Architecture |
| Primary Focus | Stereo delay, acoustic diffusion, and reverb textures | End-of-chain multi-FX, performance glitching, and audio manipulation |
| Simultaneous FX | 4 customizable delay lines feeding a shared diffusion space | Up to 3 stacked effects processors running in series |
| Max Delay / Buffer Time | Up to 16 seconds of delay time | 32 MB stereo ring buffer for real-time phrase playback manipulation |
| I/O Jack Configuration | 6 CV jacks software-configurable as Inputs or Outputs | 6 Live CV inputs mapped to slot depths, clock sync, reset, and bypass |
| Clock Integration | Tap tempo or external 24 PPQN clock synchronization | Dedicated 24 PPQN external clock tracking for beat repeats |
| Preset Memory | 16 complete hardware snapshot slots | Temporary preset capture and looping parameter automation |
Global Pricing Reference
Because the modules utilize identical physical hardware, Hermetic Modular maintains a uniform retail price across the core lineup. You buy the hardware shell once, and the secondary firmwares are entirely free to flash.
Australian Dollar (AUD): A$557.00
United States Dollar (USD): $389.00 MSRP
Euro (EUR): €340.00
British Pound Sterling (GBP): £289.00
Link: https://hermeticmodular.com/modules/alchemy-lab/echoa
Meet the LF-AMP: The Useful “Peanut Butter and Anchovies” Combo from Kanawha Music
When building out a modular synth setup, you often find yourself hunting for very specific utility pieces to tie your rig together. Kanawha Music and Art has introduced a clever solution that addresses two common backend needs at once: the LF-AMP (affectionately pronounced “Elephamp”).
Described by its creators as the “peanut butter and anchovies of the modular world,” the LF-AMP combines two entirely distinct functions into a single chassis. On the left, it features a highly precise, low-frequency modulator; on the right, a high-gain utility amplifier. Designed originally to complement Kanawha’s Stereo Ensemble instruments—providing a dedicated LFO for phaser modulation and a robust final output amp—it functions as a versatile utility toolkit for any desktop or modular synthesizer enthusiast.
Key Features
1. Precision Triangle Wave LFO (Left Side)
- Dual Output Pairs: Features two separate sets of outputs, each equipped with its own dedicated amplitude (“amount”) control knob.
- Direct & Inverted Modes: Each pair provides both a direct and a phase-inverted output, making it easy to drive two separate modules in exact opposite directions simultaneously.
- Precision Bias Control: Each output has a bias knob to precisely shift the center of the voltage swing. This allows you to dial in very tiny voltage swings or scale exact depths for highly sensitive external gear like VCAs and VCOs.
- Wide Frequency Range: Includes a HI/LO range toggle that stretches from a fast 20Hz down to an ultra-slow cycle of roughly one wave per minute.
- Visual Indicators: Clear rate indicator LEDs show the real-time positive and negative swings of the wave.
2. High-Gain Utility Amplifier (Right Side)
- Premium Audio Chip: Built around the high-quality LM4580 amplifier integrated circuit, ensuring low noise and clean gain behavior.
- Flexible I/O: Equipped with stereo inputs and versatile outputs. It features a normalled output option allowing for two separate individual outputs, or a combined stereo output jack labeled “2/MIX”.
- Multi-Purpose Monitoring: Designed to comfortably drive standard consumer headphones as well as line-level hardware sources.
Technical & Product Summary
| Attribute | Specification |
| Product Name | LF-AMP (“Elephamp”) |
| Manufacturer | Kanawha Music and Art |
| Core Functions | Triangle Wave LFO + High-Gain Utility Stereo Amp |
| LFO Range | ~20Hz down to 1 cycle per minute (HI/LO switch) |
| Amplifier IC | LM4580 |
| I/O Routing | Dual pairs of LFO outputs (Direct/Inverted); Stereo input with 2/MIX output options |
Pricing
The LF-AMP is sold directly by Kanawha Music. The base price includes shipping within the United States and Canada. International conversions are estimated based on standard global exchange rates.
- United States Dollar (USD): $225.00 (Includes shipping to USA & Canada)
- Euro (EUR): ~€211.00
- British Pound (GBP): ~£178.00
- Australian Dollar (AUD): ~$346.00
Link: https://www.kanawhamusic.com/lf-amp
Beyond the Ambient Loop: Meet Mur Mur, the Speaker with a Living World Inside
Most of us have accepted a quiet compromise when it comes to ambient audio. Whether you use background sounds to push through a tight work deadline, calm your mind after a long day, or combat insomnia, you are usually listening to an elegant loop. It works well enough—until your brain accidentally recognizes the seam. The moment you notice that exact same thunderclap or bird chirp repeating every three minutes, the spell breaks, and you are suddenly hyper-aware that you’re just listening to a machine running a pre-recorded trick.
A fascinating new project called Mur Mur is trying to fix that, and the solution is brilliant.
Designed in a collaboration between design studio oio and Mattering Studio, Mur Mur is an innovative ambient sound concept that replaces static audio files with live, autonomous digital simulations. Instead of hitting play on a static loop, you are tuning into a persistent, always-evolving world populated by digital agents that live out their lives whether you are listening to them or not.
Core Features
- Persistent Virtual Ecosystems: The underlying simulation runs continuously in the background. The environment changes organically over time, meaning the soundscape shifts based on what is happening in that digital world at any exact millisecond.
- Three Distinct Worlds:
- The Block: A bustling urban landscape filled with the sounds of morning rushes, street musicians, delivery robots, traffic, and local pigeons.
- The Plot: A dense forest ecosystem layered with rustling leaves, shifting weather patterns, diverse birdsong, and the occasional footstep of a digital hiker.
- The Pond: A tranquil aquatic space dictated by gentle waves, passing boats, swimming fish, and ducks.
- Agent-Based Audio Generation: Sounds are synthesized dynamically based on the actions and paths of individual virtual characters (agents) interacting within the simulation.
- Zero Repetition: Because it relies on generative physics and behavior rules rather than static audio playback, the soundscape never repeats itself.
- Production-Ready Integration: For musicians and sound designers, the project includes a dedicated Max for Live patch, allowing creators to route these living, unpredictable environmental textures directly into Ableton Live.
Pricing Details
Because Mur Mur is currently operating as a high-concept working prototype and an active design exploration, the physical 3D-printed hardware speaker is not yet mass-produced for commercial retail sale. The creators are actively seeking manufacturing and hardware partners to bring the physical units to scale.
However, the experience itself is accessible to public audiences online.
- Web Streaming Platform: Free / Open Access (Tune into the live simulation directly via their official radio stream)
- Max for Live Integration Patch: Free / Open Source (For creators and Ableton Live producers)
- Physical Hardware Speaker Retail Price:
- USD: TBD (To be determined upon commercial production)
- EUR: TBD
- GBP: TBD
- AUD: TBD
Product Summary Table
| Feature / Detail | Product Specifications |
| Product Name | Mur Mur |
| Creators | oio studio & Mattering Studio |
| Product Status | Active working prototype & interactive web stream |
| Audio Type | Generative, agent-based live synthesis (non-looping) |
| Environments Available | The Block (Urban), The Plot (Forest), The Pond (Aquatic) |
| Software Integrations | Max for Live patch (Ableton Live compatible) |
| Availability | Available now via digital streaming; physical speaker launch pending hardware partnerships |
Price Watch
Find below images and links to the items we showed for the price watch segment.
* As an eBay Partner Network Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Name That Synth
No name that synth this week – send one in!
If you are after more information about Name that Synth – please check out this page here.
Saturday Sonority
This week’s Saturday Sonority we might talking about …..
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