Twisted Electrons AY3 Chiptune Synth Now Available

Twisted Electrons shared this demo video for the AY3 Chiptune Synth.

The AY3 features two 8912 chips, boasting 6 voice polyphony. You can apply
sequences, arpeggiators, noise, envelopes and pitch modulation to each voice
with a click of a button.

Here’s an audio demo for the AY3 Chiptune Synth:

Features:

  • 64 preset memory (8 banks x 8 presets)
  • 5 pots and 1 endless encoder with push button
  • 40 blue leds
  • 16 step sequencer to sequence notes on/off, pitch and noise on/off
  • 4 Pitch modulation modes (aka lfo)
  • 4 arpeggiator modes
  • ultra fat 6 voice unison mode with detune knob
  • 6 chords to split the voices
  • 6 voice polyphonic mode
  • Glide mode
  • Stereo sound (3 voice per channel/chip)
  • intuitive 5×6 mode matrix to access and control:
  • Volume, pitch, noise volume, envelope assignments, arp modes, sequencer ssignments etc
  • control of all knobs and other features via midi CC
  • backlit front panel

Connectivity:

  • MIDI in
  • 2x Audio Out
  • DC In

The Twisted Electrons AY3 Chiptune Synth is available for 197 Euro. See the Twisted Electrons site for details.

26 thoughts on “Twisted Electrons AY3 Chiptune Synth Now Available

  1. what kind of adapter is it this takes for power? any good suggestions of one to buy if I buy one of these?

    1. 9V to 15V, N or K barrel type, center positive. You might want to bring it to the store to make sure the plug fits. It’s in the manual which you can download from the site. Also you can get a good price on eBay where they sell these directly for a discount off and on.

    1. That looks like a lot of fun. Cool features for the price. Check out Linus Akesson playing his Chipophone DIY 8-bit synth made with an old organ if you haven’t already, on Synthtopia or Youtube.

    1. You’ll have to jump in the Tardis to ask the designers of the AY8910 series about the non-existent filter, brother. These are square wave and noise generator chips, for early arcade games and personal computers.

  2. One thing is that the audio from the two chips is divided to the two output sockets on the back. If you want the sound from both chips to go to one destination, you either need a joining Y adapter or run it through a mixer. If you send only the left or right through to an amp you will only hear half the notes.

  3. That wasn’t quite clear enough. The audio from one chip goes to the left socket, and the other chip’s audio goes to the right socket. There is no internal mixing.

  4. This is really something I’ve been waiting for a long time. But I need to read the manual before buying, see how useful it really is.

    1. The manual is seriously complicated, you’d need it out any time you wanted to do just about anything. The step sequencing I couldn’t follow at all. I think for me, I’ll get a meeblip anode and hook that up to my beatstep.

  5. This thing is cool. I love the sound, and the compact size.

    Why did they split the output of the chips to separate outs? Not a huge “problem”. Just curious.

    1. That’s a feature. Two chips, two outputs. Allows more flexible post processing, detuned squares give stereo effect when played in unison, etc

  6. i’ve just played this thing on proper speakers and both the demo’s are effected – the video is using subtle levels of delay which makes it sound bigger than it is, i think the sound cloud demo is also doing this, less at the start but increasingly towards the end of the demo.

    i find this dishonest. sure i can get out my delay pedal and make it sound this cool, but i want to hear the actual product i’m buying and decide myself not be deceived into thinking it’s UBER cool then be disappointed with the sound when i get it home.

  7. I found it rather intuitive! Manual is just 3 pages long, and you could start using Channel 1 as OMNI mode. Answering some comments above: this one’s completely different from a Meeblip! I’ve got both and while Meeblip resembles the original AVRsynth, it’s more like a gritty monophonic little beats, while AY3 is basically a chiptune synth. If you’re familiar with the AY-8912 demoscene you’ll get an idea. Of course, the front controls give it a diverse palettle to create, and the two outputs should be seen as CHIP 1 / 2 instead of L/MONO R.

    Using and external mixer possibilities are quite open. Sound quality it’s rather OK; pretty similar regarding noise to the Meeblip and other AVR based designs.

    It had some minor finishing problems, but I’m rather happy with it. In fact, I just complete one track with it.

  8. Just got my AY3 and I love it!
    I have a question – is it possible to somehow connect a MS-20 Mini to the AY3 and use it´s arpeggiator?

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