Modern Sounds has announced the availability of Pluto, a new compact two-voice mini-modular synthesizer.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
“Pluto is compact and portable, with abilities that belie its small size. Five channels of modulation (named for the five moons of Pluto), two voices, two sequencers, a mini-keyboard, and onboard effects make Pluto its own complete sound environment, but it can happily play with all your other gear.
The design of Pluto draws from a legacy of portable electronic instruments, from the Buchla Music Easel to 80s Casio synthesizers. With a focused, approachable interface, Pluto invites exploration.”
Features:
- Portable 2-voice, 2-sequencer patchable synthesizer
- Create complex, randomized sequences
- Low-aliasing digital oscillators, wavetable oscillators
- Rechargeable battery
- Built-in delay and reverb effects
- Mini touch keyboard
- Clock range from 1 bpm to audio rates
- Audio input for audio processing
- Audio output (stereo headphone, line)
- Quantize to preset scales, MIDI, or even audio input
- Eurorack-compatible patch signals (5v)
- Sync In & Out
- MIDI In & Out (TRS, USB)
- 2 channels CV Out (0-5v, 1v/oct)
- USB C cable included
- 5 patch cables included
- 7.5 x 3.5 x 1.57 inches, 12oz
Audio Demos:
Pricing and Availability
Pluto is price at $499. Modern Sounds says that the July 2022 batch has already sold out, but you can sign up for updates on the next batch.
I bought one of these during the beta period, and it is fun, deep, and almost every sound it makes is pleasing. I’ve plunked it down in front of 3 or 4 people with no synth experience and they all got immediately lost in exploring sounds. Highly recommend.
I once heard Trent Reznor say he doesn’t use his big modular much, but uses the little limited modular set ups often that do a specific thing. Watching this video that’s all I can think of. It’s a lot of cool sounds that seem to have a wide range and a lot of sweet spot all coming out of a limited box. Super rad. I’m not sure I can pick one up, but this kind of design is very appealing. (He says before he ends up buying one.)
Tip: perhaps Trent should try creating little limited modular set ups within his big modular. That way it won’t lay fallow.
I really dig the industrial design and size – as with everything – wish it were a tad cheaper & used USB C – but really, I’m grasping at reasons to control the GAS
it does use USB C !
He says it’s USB Micro B at 10:40 which is a shame, I don’t like those at all.
it says usb C on the website
GAS! could finally have found the sequencer for my o coast with this
price is steep at $499
It’s a boutique instrument made in small batches. It’s going to cost more than device that’s mass-produced in a massive Chinese factory. That’s okay. It’s different.
add 20 procent VAT in europe
Not really. Considering everything it does, the price is really good, especially considering it can integrate smoothly into a eurorack system.
These portable ones need to integrate Bluetooth MIDI… annoying to buy WIDI devices for every new otherwise perfectly tiny portable device. TX-6 + iPhone or direct USB recording necessitates it
pity it does not have outputs for both the synth engines. i wonder if they can be effected separately
i think you can do that with a TRS cable to dual mono
I’m pretty sure you can do that by plugging a Trs to dual mono cable…