The Squishable Modular Synth Workstation

squishable

Meng Qi’s Squishable Modular Synth Workstation is a self-contained modular synthesizer instrument.

squishable-modular-synthesizer

It has 3 parts:

  • Sidrassi is a analog modular synthesizer with 7 independent voices. Each voice has 6 CV patch points, and you can modulate each voice with audio signal and gesture signal from other voices. Sidrassi is designed by Peter B and Squishable uses Peter’s original PCB.
  • VM (Voltage Memory) is internally connected to control pitch of 4 voices / main pitch / timber of Sidrassi. It provides save/recall feature, and it offers a vast number of modularized recalling methods. Squishable can save 84 sets of tuning, so you can play complex chords, melodies and tonal music pieces. As well as complex automated pitch changes controlled internally or externally .
  • 2 of AM (Arcade Manifold) provide a very versatile realtime re-patching and mixing system.

Here’s an example of Squishable in action:

Squishable is made to order, priced at $2000 + shipping.

26 thoughts on “The Squishable Modular Synth Workstation”

  2. Just say no to vertical video. Vertical video looks unprofessional and regardless of the content, shows that the person posting and filming have no ascetics . Looks like a cool analog but cannot get past the vertical video. (a message to future posters)

    1. Elitists can’t get past their own narrow range of view. At least it announces who to ignore. I like it, and I am not going to let something as trivial as video format get in the way of my judgement.

  7. i think it sounds nice. i like hearing room reverb too. mail alerts should be turned off though. 😉

    example sounds very good on the website too.

  8. without a doubt the worst demo vid i’ve ever seen.

    makes those early ‘rhythm wolf’ demos look like masterpieces.

    i get no sense of the functionality & sonic range of this synth from this video. just 8 minutes of the guy making the exact same crappy frantic plinky plonky sounds.

    you could get this exact same result by finger drumming on a table & running the sound thru a highly resonant filter + bitcrusher.

    it’s a shame because the design of this thing seems really interesting! i like the concept but i hope this is capable of much more than what we see in this video, especially for $2000.

  9. I was thinking this would make a really great toy for an eight year old, like the science and electronics kits. Then I saw the price.

  10. Seems like an interesting thing. But is this why the demo only shows it as a weird drum machine? And I quote: “Squishable can save 84 sets of tuning, so you can play complex chords, melodies and tonal music pieces.” How about showing of the playing range of it? Or is this the only way to play it? If so, its not that interesting.

  11. Is it just me or does it seem like an awkward design to put the “keyboard” on top, so you have to play over the knobs/controls?

    1. MQ- your builds are beautiful, and the Squishable looks and sounds fantastic. You have executed one of the best Ciat Lombardi realisations I’ve ever had the pleasure to see. Don’t stop!

    2. Oh yea, there we go 🙂 Yup, missed that one. Back to very interested again. Is this just the Squishable? Effects? Anywho, _very_ nice sounds.

  14. I agree this isn’t the best video, but once again I question the conservative nature of a lot of the comments here… The Sidrassi organ has always been a experimental instrument. It’s not made to sound like a Moog or any other traditional synth. Look up videos of it to see how it sounds/is played. It makes beautiful drones, percussion sounds like shown, and glitchy self evolving patches. A local artist here uses one and it sounds amazing. I’ve laid hands on it and it’s a beast. This a souped version with patch storage and a modular patch bay rather than the alligator clips it normally uses. Looks like it also has touch plates below the keys and the push buttons up top instead of on the sides like normal, which explains the placement of the bars.

    1. Same here. Boutique synths are never going to be priced like mass-produced gear. And if you want cheap hear, the micrKorg and MiniBrute kick ass for the price.

      But when people diss gear like this, or even gear like DSI and Moog synths, it always makes me think “Do you really want to play with cheap plastic syntha your entire life?”

      Once you work with nice vintage gear or well-built modern gear, you realize how many compromises going to make a cheap gear.

  15. The “Squishy” part is the 2 G’s being squeezed out of your wallet. I could buy 4 or 5 great synths that make music (not noise) for $2,000. There’s a plethora of noise makers out there…go waste your money.

  16. I love the way Meng Qi strips the pretentious out of Ciat Lonbarde and makes more pratical designs, interfaces, and even instrument descriptions. I love ciat lonbarde circuits, but damn, everything the guy says or writes makes me want to choke him. I would certainly buy this if I had the bread, it’s right up my alley and looks like a lot of fun.

  17. Hi, Thank you for the comments and nice words out there! 😉

    In that video of myself playing the Squishable, there is a small eurorack containing MMG (used as a mixer – Squishable is stereo), Wogglebug and Phonogene (that background “loop” out there). All sounds are from Squishable.

    Btw, if you do like more “practical” and more “bang-of-the-buck” stuff, check my euro modules :
    http://mengqimusic.com/SynthModules
    VM is a 84*6 programmer with multiple recall modes. And DPLPG is dual passive low pass gate for only 2HP with a 60$ price tag. Will be available at retailers worldwide.

  19. Who are all of these angry iPad producers making these knee-jerk comments (and I say that as one myself)? It’s a really beautiful design, just an unfortunate demo. Not to mention that without a Kickstarter or some other financial support to outsource manufacturing, $2k for a custom-built electronic device like this is completely reasonable. That’s still cheaper than a good chunk of tools people use in this industry.

    Nice job, Meng 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *