Mach Devices has introduced the MD-7, a portable hardware synthesizer designed around a tactile control system using motorized haptic feedback discs.
The two rotary controls provide parameter adjustment while also generating physical feedback through variable resistance, stepped detents, and virtual limits.
The instrument includes a subtractive synthesis engine with oscillators, a multimode filter, and an ADSR envelope, along with a 16-step sequencer, drum looper, and open-source firmware platform.
The firmware, including the DSP engine, modulation system, and sequencer, is planned to be available as open-source software.
Features:
- Compact hardware synthesizer design
- Open-source firmware platform
- DSP engine, modulation system, and sequencer firmware planned for public release
- Two motorized FOC haptic control discs
- Variable resistance feedback based on parameter values
- Simulated detents for stepped parameters
- Virtual walls at parameter range limits
- 1.65-inch IPS display with 273 PPI resolution
- Subtractive synthesis engine
- Four oscillator waveforms
- Resonant multimode filter
- ADSR envelope
- 13-button backlit keyboard
- 16-step sequencer
- Drum looper
- Sequencer control through motorized discs
- MicroSD card slot for storage
Pricing & Availability:
MD-7 is listed as’ ‘coming soon’, priced at $399 USD, with general availability is expected in September 2026.
If you told me this was the epsilon-meter for Elario Mamoman’s strange new past lives project I would not disbelieve you.
This looks a lot more polished than most open source hardware projects.
Does anybody else see a bit of Teenage Engineering influence?
No sound examples on their website is very poor form.
Also, very little connectivity.
yea, no demos is sus. Plus that miniscule screen looks impossible to read. Will have to wait for more info/ demos, i guess…
Damn……that screen is SMALLLLLLL.
it is like if you glued 2 ipods together and added keys
interesting concept with haptic feedback. With these two discs many things can be done as a controller. MIDI NRPN or OSC. My guess is that with an open source firmware one could build controllers for video editing, graphics, a de luxe scroll wheel.
$400,?!. That’s whack yo. I thought, everything i see something halfway cool i scrollbar look for price, oh $3800 no thanks. Now I guess. I thought this will be $799. I was double right. Still not purchasing it.
Not a fan of the Teenage Engineering look.