At the 2016 NAMM Show, Abstrakt Instruments was displaying the Avalon synth – an evolution of the classic Roland TB-303 synthesizer.

The core circuitry of the Avalon is based on the Roland TB-303, to which a new layer of analog and digital circuitry has been added to give the synth new capabilities.

They were also debuting their filter cartridge system, a set of hardware cartridges that plug into the Avalon and give it new analog filter options.

In the video below, Brian Castro of Abstrakt Instruments gives an overview of the Avalon Bassline Synthesizer on the NAMM Show floor.

The show floor video offers a great technical overview of the Avalon. For high-quality audio examples of the Avalon bassline synth in action, though, check out this official intro video:

Features:

• Core analog and digital circuitry based on TB-303 – Incorporates layout and parts from the original bassline, including carbon film resistors, united chemi-con electrolytic capacitors, poly foil film capacitors, original IC’s, and sanyo/on semi & mitsubishi transistors.
• Synth Cartridge System – Compatible with the cartridge system in the form of filter plugin carts.
• Extensive Analog Control – In addition to the six analog controls of the original bassline, the avalon includes controls for sub osc/ext input level, filter tracking, accent decay time, vca decay (normal to full off), utility envelope attack & decay time, utility envelope to vfc and vca modulation depths, frequency response select (normal and full range.
• Extensive Digital Control – In addition to backwards compatibility with the TB-303 pattern write pitch & time modes the avalon incorporates new progamming modes making extensive use of (16) step LED switches. Patterns can be up to 64 steps in length (up to 4 sections x 16 steps) and each pattern can have numerous scales including triplet modes. Real-time editing includes slide time select, utility envelope trigger mode, pattern step skipping, pattern reverse, rotate, random, & shuffle. There is also an arpeggiator that can be performed real-time or recorded directly into a pattern.
• MIDI & DIN Sync – Sync source can be selected as internal, MIDI, or Din Sync, and the avalon sends both MIDI & Din Sync.
• Audio inputs & Outputs – Includes main & headphone outputs, saw and square outputs (+/-5V), external input, and filter and vca outputs.
• CV Inputs & Outputs – Includes cv & gate input and output, filter cv Input, & accent sweep output.

The Avalon Bassline synthesizer is available for US $949. Filter cartridges are priced at $99.