Muscarin Is An Experimental Semi-Modular Analog Synthesizer & Now On Indiegogo!

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kNoB technology Muscarin does not sound like a Moog Synthesizer but is an experimental semi-modular analog Synthesizer with a very own sound!

Semi-modular analog Synthesizers have been trendy for several years now. Anyone who can not yet afford a complete Eurorack system or doesn’t know how to patch it, starts often the cable drug with a semi-modular. Most popular are here the Moog Mother 32, Behringer Neutron or the new Arturia MiniBrute 2 Synthesizer series. Pittsburgh also has with the MicroVolt 3900 a nice semi-modular analog synth. If you like crazy sounds and don’t like or are boring of classic vintage sounds (Moog, Behringer,…) you should check out Muscarin who is currently on Indiegogo.

Muscarin is an experimental semi-modular analog Synthesizer (desktop or Eurorack) designed by kNoB technology and is based on cross-modulation technology. The synthesis core is based on 4 square wave VCO’s that features cross-modulation. Than the signal goes further in a VCF filter and to a vactrol based VCA. On the modulation side, you have an LFO (square, triangular) as well as a envelope generator with AR characteristics. The envelope can receive external gate signal and automatically generate an envelope. On the right, it comes with a patch-bay with in total 16 connections.

From the first sound demos, I observed a noisy/dirty sound character that is indeed perfect made for noise or experimental orient music production. With the expanded cross-modulation here, you can go very crazy in the sound creation process here. Pretty sure the Muscarin is not perfect for all but especially for musicians who want to make noisy sounds like drones, noiscapes etc.

Muscarin semi-modular analog synthesizer

Overview

The Muscarin is an analog music synthesizer with analog and touch controls, that has everything that’s needed for creating music and synthesis of sounds. Designed by kNoB technology, it is based on cross-modulation technology. It is designed as semi-modular and can be used by its own, or as a part of the eurorack system. It is made for generating standard sounds and sound effects, as well as for extremely changing their sound while playing, converting it too complex structured noises. It has full manual hands-on controls (switches and knobs), as well as it can be controlled by CV (control voltage).

Muscarin semi-modular analog Synthesizer

Muscarin Synthesizer Core

Muscarin semi-modular analog synthesizer

  • 4x VCO based on square wave, cross-modulation control “Bias”, control by CV full range linear or 1v \ oct (4-octave range; 32-500 + Hz)
  • LFO is a low-frequency oscillator, has two waveforms square and triangular.
  • EG AR envelope generator. Can both receive an external gate signal, synchronize with the LFO, and automatically generate an envelope.
  • VCF filter \ saturator 12db\oct has two modes of cutting high or low frequencies.
  • VCA \ Gate-5x, voltage controlled amplifiers. They stand one on each generator before the filter and one on the common output. In their heart are the vactrols. That is very much reflected in the sound. Management of both internal and external sources of CV.

 

Early Muscarin Synthesizers were made only for sound experiments and could be classified as noise generators, although it always was a powerful instrument, combining additive, subtractive, FM and Cross-modulation synthesis. Later it was decided to fully reconsider the concept of Muscarin, to widen its range of use, adding new functions, without limiting its noise abilities, and making it more universal and flexible. With this purpose, it was designed as 3u Eurorack and has a lot of inputs and outputs.

Muscarin is able to generate bass, lead, piano, organ, violin sounds. But it’s major difference is cross-modulation, which helps to create complex, multifactorial noises, and noise effects, as well as lo-fi drum and percussion sounds.

Inputs

  • 4x VCO frequency CV control
  • 4x VCA\Gate CV control
  • 1x Main VCA\Gate CV control
  • 1x VCF cutoff CV control
  • 1x Bias (cross-modulation) cv control
  • 1x Envelope AR in
  • 1x External signal in

Outputs

  • 1x Main out
  • 1x LFO out
  • 1x Envelope AR out

The Muscarin semi-modular analog Synthesizer is available now for pre-order on Indiegogo for $320 USD + shipping for the Eurorack version or $350 USD for the desktop version. The campaign is valid for the next 11 days!

More information: Muscarin Synthesizer

Hardware Synthesizer News

Eurorack News

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