ST Modular shared a playlist of video demos, embedded above, to introduce their new Euphoria DIY semi-modular analog synthesizer.
Euphoria is designed to be built by ‘passionate builders’. It consists of fourteen individual circuit boards that are mounted on one controller board.
Features:
- Two Voltage Controlled Oscillators with classic waveforms, waveshapers, sub- octaves and a noise source. Convenient sliding potentiometers for volume control of the waveforms. Based on the famous CEM3340 chip and a newly developed wave-shaping tone generator.
- Dual Sequencers – Play notes with a 5-STEP trigger and CV sequencer and an additional 4-STEP CV sequencer. Transpose and change the length of a sequence, control the tempo via CV, add swing or sequence manually with the push of a button.
- OSC Mix & Vari Boards – Seamlessly blend the oscillators manually or by CV. Insert external audio and pass it through the Filter or internal Reverb. VARI BOARDS are interchangeable boards, each offering a different functionality. Choose the VARI BOARD that meets your requirements.
- DUAL LPG, VCA & ADSR – Each oscillator is processed by a filter- based low-pass gate (PLG) and both are optionally routed through an internal AC- coupled VCA. Use the internal ADSR envelope to shape and express your sounds.
- Modulation & Tools – Get your sounds moving with the internal CV-controllable LFO and the Buchla 281e-inspired function generator. Multiply, invert and amplify your signals with a buffered multiple and an additional DC-coupled VCA.
- Reverberation – Add depth to your analog sounds with the internal reverb unit. Connect either an Analog Spring Tank or a Digital Reverb Brick. Apply Reverb Feedback and control the Dry/Wet Portion via CV.
Audio Demos:
Pricing and Availability
ST Modular says that Euphoria is ‘coming soon’ and estimates total cost for the DIY build to be about 600€.
via Briac Diridollou
This is super ambitious both for the designer and for the potential customer. As someone who has built plenty of DIY modules I decided to take a deeper look. One potential problem I see is, it appears they are counting on the customer to procure all of the electronic components themselves. I hope they consider making component kits to include for a price as a lot of DIY companies do. As it stands there are in the neighborhood to 1600 parts to purchase, and the excel file they provide has over 450 entry rows, with suggested purchases from multiple vendors. This is no small task for a potential builder to buy on their own, and that is before even picking up a soldering iron. When you see stuff like this it makes you appreciate why hand built synths have historically been so expensive.
I love the look of the synth and design from what I can see. This is going to be a major project for those who decide to take it on!
Kitting DIY projects has become cost prohibitive, which puts off a lot of potential DIYers, Manufacturers can’t make and sell full kits for cheaper than full modules can be made in China.
Sure but if you actually want to sell products you’ll put in the time. Otherwise you’ll have no customers who actually want to buy the boards, especially with so many parts being sold out right now. You also get discounts when you buy thousands of parts versus a dozen, so the economies of scale work in your favor by doing bulk buys.
Economies of scale don’t work in favor of niche DIY projects, unfortunately.
Case in point, the DIY TTSH costs four times the pre-assembled Behringer 2600 clone.
So “putting in the time” to release full kits for many projects would just increase their likelihood of failure. DIY project manufacturing is hard to pull off competitively, these days. So little human effort is involved in manufacturing that doing it DIY doesn’t save a significant amount of money.
But for folks who do a ton of DIY it’s a lot easier. Buy everything in bulk, and always order extra. Whenever I need 10 resistors for a project, I order 100. When I need 50, I order 200…
Very nice Buchla Music Easel inspired layout but it does not really sound like a Buchla 208 at all.