Ahead of Superbooth 2025, being held May 8-10 at the FEZ-Berlin, Italian synth maker Frap Tools has announced Magnolia, a flagship 8-voice analog through-zero FM synthesizer, featuring a Fatar keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch.
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he company says that they designed Magnolia “to create sounds from the modular world through a classic keyboard interface.”
Here’s what they have to say about the Magnolia synthesizer:
“Waveshapers, wavefolders, and, most importantly, analog linear through-zero FM unlock every sound associated with the “West Coast” synthesis world. But that’s not all! Fat resonant filters and powerful analog oscillators allow more traditional subtractive synthesis sounds as well.
A vast and flexible modulation section encourages complex patches with the twist of a knob, but it is always easy to keep track of what’s going on thanks to LEDs on every source and destination. An arpeggiator and a sequencer complement the machine.”
Here’s their intro video. It’s in Italian, but you can enable closed captions in English:
Pricing and Availability:
Frap Tools is showcasing two pre-production Magnolia synthesizer keyboards at Superbooth. They say that they expect to release the Magnolia synthesizer at the end of summer 2025.
They note that the release version “may have a more refined interface, it will feature digital effects, and some of the features currently under evaluation may disappear.”
What do you think of the Magnolia? Check it out and share your thoughts in the comments!
Looking forward to learning more about this one
1
This looks most promising. The first thing that popped into my mind was it’s numerous sound capabilities. It almost looks as tho’ it could stand on its own as the provider for musical scores on blockbuster movies. This had me wondering if Hans Zimmer was already heading to the manufacturer with his wallet out. I’ve a feeling we’re going to see a lot of this little powerhouse very soon. And you never know, even JMJ might take a shine to it. Well done boys. “Capo de tutti capo” ?
good use of LED’s, no bi/tri-color parts. thank you!
Keep all features, eliminate built in effects instead….we can always add effects. I would rather the synth have more options for you know… synthesis.
Also, it will be a travesty if there is not a brown version with white knobs and dark green buttons and sliders. The brown referencing the name, Magnolia…and also harkening back to the DX7 simultaneously, it really is a no brainer to offer a brown version. The dark green buttons and sliders like the leaves of the tree, but also a subtle reference to the aqua 80s green on some DX synths. The knobs white as a reference to the white flowers on magnolia trees.
Oh yeah, no those damn blue leds!
black electrical tape for those. i’m refering to indistinguishable LED colors. one LED per function is more DEMOCRATIC than collapsing multiple indicators into a single one using color which many folks can’t use.
Brown?
No, the colour of it now is magnolia.
That’s the perfect colour for a synth called Magnolia.
Magnolia tree you Dongleboob….those are brown and share the name, Magnolia, hence why there should be an ADDITIONAL color option.
Aren’t all trees, when not in leaf, brown?!
Except for silver birch, which is silver brown.
This looks like the handiwork of Mr. Axel Hartman. Every piece of gear with a random orange knob is suspect.
This is not a complaint. He does terrific design work.
Wow. I’m seriously impressed by the all-too-brief sound clips. The instrument has a unique aspect I can’t pinpoint yet, but the voice is fascinating in a new way.
I loved it when one developer said “The machine works, now we have to make the musical instrument work.” Its bound to be a good synth. The team has the right grip on what causes you to fully embrace one.
they need to seperate those clips out so folks can hear them.
Yes, one of the most interesting (to me) synths to come out in the post COVID era. At first I was thinking it was an FM synth with analog oscillators as well in addition, but what is instead is more intriguing.
I’d have thought it was obvious that the use of through zero FM/PM on an analogue poly synth is the unique aspect. Doesn’t appeal to me personally but sounds excellent, is an impressive technical achievement, and based on their modules is likely to be extremely well built. Likely very pricey too
It is a bit strange how analogue synths can sound so different. This, from the demo so far, reminds me more of a waldorf q than an typical analogue synth. The Redshift6 is so smooth and warm, it sounds more like a late generation Nord lead. I really love the idea of the thru zero oscillators, i would prefer if both of them were like that to allow for cross fm. Also i don’t see anything about sub oscillators which i always like to have available with thru zero. And of course the modulation abilities are yet to be seen. Aesthetically though this is beautiful.
White smoke, a new Pope!
For god’s sake, someone please tune the fucker!