Arcane Synthesizer
Square Wave Analog Synthesizer

The Arcane Synth is a five voice analog square wave synthesizer that combines an arcade-style push button layout with two potentiometer controls for each voice: Pitch (oscillator frequency) and Filter (output pulse duration). The frequency range sweeps from ultra-deep lows to dog whistle highs and the filter allows sounds ranging from grating, glitchy, and cutting, to warm, thick, and smooth. 

 

The Arcane Synth is based on a modified version of a 1984 oscillator design by Forrest Mims III called the "Sound Synthesizer", later popularized in DIY circles as the "Atari Punk Console".  We've taken five of these oscillators and added a buffered, joint CV input that can accept a variety of inputs from CV sequencers to samplers and more. The Input, Ouput, and 9v Power jacks are the same as any pedal.

 

What makes the Arcane Synth unique is that it makes the oscillators playable like never before.  The custom five digit layout creates a standalone playable synth that doesn't require musical knowledge like a keyboard, and is more intuitive than an MPC or other button style interface.  The five arcade buttons are optimized for where your finger tips land when your hand is over the unit.  Tune each oscillator to the desired note or noise, and tap out your melody.  Arcane sounds best when patched into other effects like reverb or delays, and gets really wild when used in conjunction with a CV sequencer, although the Arcane Synth is NOT perfectly tempered or scaled like a traditional oscillator, but can create sounds traditional oscillators cannot.

The Arcane synth is fun as a stand alone instrument but was created to enhance your studio recordings. Tune each voice to the desired pitch and timbre, then create chords or melody lines to add texture, thickness, or just weirdness to your tracks. Use a CV sequencer to add rhythmic pulses or turn it into a perfectly clocked glitch machine.  Put some weird in your life.