Modal's CRAFTsynth 2.0 Kickstarter Funded within 24 Hours!

This massively redesigned and upgraded miniature hardware synth certainly packs a punch, and you can get your early bird special order in now. Here's the lowdown.  

We have already written about Modal's CRAFTsynth 2.0 monophonic wavetable synthesizer - well, now it's on Kickstarter! You can check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/skulpt/modal-craftsynth-20

At the time of writing it was about to smash through its funding goal so expect it to have done so by the time you read this. But what does it offer?

CRAFTsynth 2.0

Incorporating the design ethos first seen in the the recently released Modal SKULPTsynthesiser, CRAFTsynth 2.0 delivers unprecedented sonic versatility and sound design potential, in a completely portable package.

CRAFTsynth 2.0 retains many of the core features of the original such as

  • 8 oscillators per voice
  • 2 selectable waveforms
  • Morphable state variable filter
  • Multi option unison / spread
  • Waveshaping distortion
  • Touch pad scales

CRAFTsynth 2.0 packs real oscillator power: a total of 40 waveforms to choose from, and with the ability to select and morph between the waveforms in a bank, CRAFTsynth 2.0’s eight oscillator banks cover Virtual Analogue, Digital and Generative waves as well as a selection from the Modal Electronics 002 Polyphonic Synthesiser. All in a battery powered device that fits in your hand!

Taking sound design potential into new territory, CRAFTsynth v2.0 features 16 oscillator modulation ‘Modifiers’ that allow the user to process and cross modulate between CRAFTsynth 2.0’s two oscillator sets to create truly unique, new and exciting sonic textures.

A quick overview of its features shows CRAFTsynth v2.0 really pushes the bar up in terms of power to footprint ratio:

  • 8 oscillators in total with 2 selectable waveforms and mixer stage
  • 40 unique waveforms available split into 8 banks of 5 morphable waveform sets
  • Virtual Analogue waveforms
  • Digital waveforms
  • Generative waveforms
  • A selection of waveforms from the Modal 002 NCO oscillators
  • Process and cross modulate waveforms with 1 of 16 oscillator modifiers including
  • Frequency / Phase Modulation
  • Hard / Window Sync,
  • Ring / Amp Modulation,
  • Derez / Bitcrush,
  • Wavefolders and
  • Waveshapers
  • Multi option Unison / spread to detune the 8 oscillators for a big sound
  • 3 x separate envelope generators for Filter, Amplitude and Modulation
  • 2 x separate audio rate LFOs
  • 8 sources each with their own destination

Modal CRAFTsynth 2.0 measures only 150 x 135 x 68mm (6”x5 1/2”x 3”) and weighs around 300g (less than 1lb) and can be powered by either 3 x AA batteries or USB giving you the freedom to unleash your creativity in the studio, on the road or on the stage.

USB connectivity isn’t just for power; Modal CRAFTsynth 2.0 provides a Class Compliant USB MIDI connection, enabling CRAFTsynth 2.0 to play in an integrated setup with MacOSX, Windows or iOS & Android tablets and phones.

The MODALapp editor provides complete visual access and control to all of the features of CRAFTsynth 2.0, along with tight integration of Modal’s first generation CRAFT devices (CRAFTsynth 1.0 and CRAFTrhythm), as well as theModal SKULPTsynthesiser – letting you work across all the Modal instruments in your rig with one unified high quality editing environment on the platform of choice including MacOSX, Windows or iOS & Android.

CRAFTsynth 2.0 delivers unparalleled I/O options for its size, including DIN MIDI in and out (with an option for a soft ‘THRU’), and SYNC in and out over 3.5mm jacks, ensuring CRAFTsynth 2.0 sits in any rig with ease.

Hollin Jones was classically trained as a piano player but found the lure of blues and jazz too much to resist. Graduating from bands to composition then production, he relishes the chance to play anything with keys. A sometime lecturer in videographics, music production and photography post production, Hollin has been a freelance w... Read More

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