syn¶

syn is a hardware synthesizer we are building with dok. I wrote the initial code as a linux/jack program in C with the hope that someday this code would run on real hardware. This dream is now a reality.

control panel (early prototype)¶

Mar 12, 2025

@dok finished routing all tracks in kicad for control panel + silkscreen with pretty labels using KiBuzzard

Mar 28, 2025

we received 5x pcbs

Mar 31, 2025

we soldered two units, flashed a usb firmware and had successful bring-up.

Apr 2, 2025

I wrote a usb-midi firmware and received first control changes

April , 2025

The month was spend furiously writing usb firmware code to make the synth functional for revision25.

April 20, 2025

We released Summoning our 32Kb linux intro @revision25 made with our tools and syn rewrite and our fresh control panel. Quite an experience watching it live from the big hall

stm32¶

Jan 29, 2025

@dok did a fixed point rewrite of syn and we ported it to stm32f411.

This was the very first notes and control changes sent via uart. Nordrack2x only used as a midi controller, audio from the evaluation board using a stm32f411 firmware I wrote (no hal).

updates¶

v2¶

We are currently working on synth/front-panel v2.

v1 started as a Nord Lead 2x clone (which I absolutely love), now the synth as evolved on its own path. It still have this ability for weird complex spectrum, with korg k35 (ish) filter implementation, substractive + fm synthesis but a few design changes opened new soundscapes.

Removed filter envelope (replaced by modulation envelope). Modulation envelope now target fm_amt, lfo_amt, filter cutoff, high-pass mix simultaneously,.variable modulation intensity for each parameter.

This way modulation act simultaneously as an exciter, generating complex high end spectrum (fm_amt, high-pass mix) and as a damper (low-pass freq.)

Amplitude + modulation envelope now share the same potentiometers. Those envelopes slopes are tuned so that amplitude envelope gives body to the sound following initial excitation. It made sense to me that those envelopes could be correlated. This results in tangible sounds.

Parallel high-pass filter mix (+env) allow for early transient to get through and decay fast. This "opens" the sound so much during attacks. I don't see parallel filters so much, this works wonders.

lfo only target fm_amt but at audio rate, allowing to create formants.

finally, a 'secret' acid recipe : blending fixed point oscillators outputs using XOR (wet/dry). This + fm is gluing oscillators output together and giving an awesome acid overdrive sound.

objectives¶

Our goal is to release a hardware synthesizer. We aim to have a few units available by april 2026, so we can bring them to synthfest in France. We would also love to attend Superbooth.

We develop and run the synth on linux. We also made a front panel prototype that we use as a usb controller. Technically, it works very well (see demos, livecoding) and I'm extremely happy with it.

However from the point of view of releasing a music instrument, we really want to go for hardware with well defined boundaries and constraints. Also, physical control is an integral part of the instrument. Code and front panel design go hand in hand with live performance in mind.

With a hardware synth, our goal is to get technology out of the way as much as possible for users. Simple, standard interface: 2x audio output, 1x midi in/out. Plug and play, just working, no matter what. Linux audio / computer audio is nowhere near the "it just works" territory.

About sharing resources, we aim to go for open-hardware and keep firmware close for some time. Although we are more than willing to share what we've learned on the way, discuss and document design, or whatever question. We are moving steadily towards production and we still have a lot of things ahead of us.