Reader Pierre Jean Tardiveau shared this short demo of the SynTesla IX, an impressive custom DIY synth, that features a knobtacular interface they say was inspired by WWII-era communication devices.
The SynTesla is a prototype 7 voice polyphonic synthesizer. The demo video captures the raw sound of the synth, no effects or compression added.
We’ve asked Tardiveau if they have additional details about the SynTesla or their plans for it that they can share. Here’s what they told us:
“The Syntesla IX is a hybrid synthesizer in the sense that it embeds a microcontroller board for the oscillator and hardware for the VCF part as well as for the VCA and LFOs. The hardware part is based on chips programmed by ElectricDruid and all the circuits have been edited and ordered online.
The oscillator part is composed of 3 waveforms: super saw, super square, and super triangle. Each one has 3 levels of modification (equivalent to a fixed pulse width). The polyphony is 7 voices and each “super” waveform is composed of 6 basic waves that can be detuned or transposed in fifth or octave.
The classic VCF offers 3 types, high-pass, band-pass and low-pass, in 12, 18 or 24 db.
The LFOs offer 5 waveforms and can be sent to the VCF, VCA or PITCH. The LFO circuitry can offer up to 16 different waveforms and a tap-tempo, but these options will be the subject of future development.
The design of the Synthesizer is directly inspired by the WWII communication devices with the big bakelite buttons or the voltmeters. I deliberately went in the opposite direction to the current trend that synthesizers are getting smaller and smaller to the point that it becomes difficult to use them with adult hands!
Alas, the SynTesla IX will remain a prototype, the inflation and the soaring prices of materials in Europe make that I can’t decently produce several copies and propose them at a price which would remain accessible to all. I have to content myself with making 1 or 2 synthesizers per year for some lucky musicians or collectors. For the moment, this situation satisfies me, it allows me to stay creative and I have tons of great projects I’m eager to work on.”
Is this the alternate-universe polysynth that you wish had debuted at the 2023 NAMM Show? Check out the video and share your thoughts on the SynTesla in the comments!
Very nice design.
Beautiful. This is some serious gorgeous design.
Yes this is such a gorgeous build
Are we listening to a synth? Or a annoying drum & base loop?
he dosn’t try to sell you anything, it’s a diy project of one unit, enjoy it or not.
i liked the drum loop much better than the usual four on the floor swingy shit.
i love this synth almost as much as fl studio
I just love d&b. Here it’s nice and tasteful.
annoying drum loop? let me guess, you are a guitar guy?
amazing synth, cool performance and the breakbeat is nice too
Very nice work, bravo !
In case you like it, Pierre Jean is also sharing a lot of his “Steampunk” Synth design here: https://www.instagram.com/pierre_tardiveau/
i love it, but i’m a sucker for this esthetic, it’s why i love the Shadow Hills stuff. sounds good though, the synth, not so much the drum loop.
this guy does beautiful work in hardware.
Seeing stuff like this makes it clear how boring most gear introductions have been for the last couple of years, and how terrible interfaces are getting.
Somebody needs to hire this guy!
very nice and a refreshing take on interface design, knob turning and visual feedback much better than button pushing and sliders. those who don’t like the drum loop, appreciate his work not what type of beat it is. there’s a lot more drum loops that sound worst.
This front panel design would be great with vacuum tube synthesizers like the Knifonium.
Ok this is not just synth design this guy is an artist/craftsperson. Beautiful work!
Nice aesthetic, nicely organized controls,, good choice of functionality and normalized patch (is there a patch panel somewhere for more modular use?), Good do if morphing smoothly among a range of interesting sounds. Criticizing the specific sequence or percussion pattern is missing the point, badly; this is a synth demo or at most live dance track, not a formal composition.
Yeah, I want one; hits all the right buttons for me. Feels like what you’d get if you took an ARP 2600 and put it through time loops to pick up polyphony from its future and a control panel from its past.
I don’t care one way or the other about the “steampunk” (it doesn’t seem very steampunk, but it’s visually very pleasing) what I care about is that it’s a wonderfully ergonomic design – also shows how clarity and physical control can turn even a simple subtractive synth structure into a wonderfully expressive instrument.
Technically, the synth is in the related category of ‘dieselpunk’, and definitely shows well.
The first new old design which makes sense to me for a really a long time ago, lets say, since the release of the Minimoog.
I’m interested in how the SEVEN voices are allocated. That’s an interesting number. Its a lovely piece of work, as if someone mashed a prototype Moog together with an old shortwave radio and gave it pinstripes. I’d like to hear more of what it can do. The sound seems fairly meaty.
Excellent design however the LED color combinations actually put a strain on my eyes.
Man shows the world something they won’t be able to buy. Pointless.
Dude says anything that can’t be bought is pointless. Shallow.
Possibly the saddest message I’ve ever read on here