Gear Hunter

Gamechanger Audio - MOTORSYNTH MKII

Description

The MOTOR Synth is an analog, electro-mechanical synthesizer using a system of eight electro-motors as its main sound source instead of conventional oscillators. Its electro-motors are able to instantly and precisely change their rotation speed in order to produce musical notes. Because of the distinct way the motors create wave shapes, MOTOR Synth's sound is certainly in a category of its own. However, the comprehensive sound-shaping features let you recreate classic synth sounds and even real instruments.

Motor Synth MKII Overview

* Eight electromotor oscillator system with custom-built brushless DC motors
* Two fully independent MOTOR Voices with Separate Amp Envelope, Pitch Envelope and Analog multi-mode Filters
* Additional third DIGITAL VOICE (DCO) with full functionality
* Powerful modulation section with assignable mod destinations;
* Built-in performance interface with ARP, SEQUENCER and MOTION REC engines;
* MIDI & CV control
* Input Signal Processing: VOCODER, GATE, SIDECHAINING, FILTERING
* Power supply included

MOTOR Oscillators
The MOTOR SYNTH's central feature is the innovative ELECTROMOTOR OSCILLATOR SYSTEM. The spinning motors can be used to generate electromagnetic inductive signal (M wave), as well as three types of optical waves (sine, square, saw) via a specially designed system of reflective rotating discs.

Modulating the rotational speed of individual motors enables the creation of musical pitches. The eight MOTOR Oscillator block comprises two MOTOR VOICES, with four Motors per Voice, capable of playing notes either in unison (four motors per note per voice) or with four-note paraphony (due to a single analog filter stage per voice).

Each voice has independent controls for volume, scale, waveform, amp envelope and pitch envelope. The analog amp envelopes can be run in multiple modes (ADSR, AD, AR, DADSR, ADSHR) with adjustable curve parameters.

The Motor oscillators take full advantage of the innovative pitch envelope system with detailed controls for ACCELERATION & BRAKE functions.

DCO
In addition to the two MOTOR Voices, the MOTOR Synth includes a third Digital voice known as DCO. This voice consists of four digital oscillators that can be played in unison or with four-note paraphony. Similar to the MOTOR Voices, the DCO Voice also has independently controllable amp and pitch envelope sections, as well as a dedicated multi-mode digital analog filter. However, it also has additional tone-shaping options, including a wider variety of waveshapes, wave folding, pulse width modulation, and hard syncing. The DCO is not the MOTOR Synth's main feature, but it serves very well for adding precision and tonal range to the MOTOR Oscillators.
* fully independent controls of all parameters;
* virtual-analog oscillator and noise engine with waveshaping (PW, fold);
* adjustable four note polyphony
* dedicated multi-mode digital filter;
* multiple routing options for Filter and Output

Filter Section
Signal produced by the MOTOR Voices is further shaped by two multi-mode analog filters. While the filter control section is shared, all filter parameters for each voice can be adjusted separately, including cutoff, drive, resonance, envelope amount, envelope shape, type etc.

The ability to control each voices filter separately is very rarely found in traditional instruments and it offers a huge amount of sound shaping possibilities.

The Digital Voice (DCO) uses a separate digital filter (with shared controls), however it can be easily routed to pass through either of the two analog filters.
* four filter modes: 24 dB Low Pass, 12 dB Band Pass, 12 dB Hi Pass, 24 dB All Pass with self-oscillating resonance
* analog drive circuit
* multi-mode analog filter envelopes (ADSR, AD, AR, DADSR, ADSHR) with adjustable CURVE parameters
* keytrack engine with gradual control over amount, direction, and GLIDE

The MKII offers a flexible MODULATION SECTION with:
* two destination slots each (A, B) assignable to any parameter
* MOD Shape selector and detailed editing menu with extensive wave-shaping options for each LFO
* independently adjustable clock sources and subdivisions per modulator
* multi-mode modulation envelopes (ADSR, AD, AR, DADSR, ADSHR) with adjustable CURVE parameters
* additional CROSS MOD and DRIFT/DETUNE master effects with accessible front panel knobs

Built-in PERFORMANCE INTERFACE:
* eight non-velocity sensitive KEYPAD for inputting notes, sequences, patterns
* four rotary PITCH ENCODERS for editing note values and microtonal pitch adjustments
* innovative CLUTCH function (temporary parameter editing buffer)

MIDI & CV control
* MIDI IN & MIDI OUT connectors for sending and receiving Note and Clock info
* multiple mod wheel and channel pressure slots assignable to any parameter with depth control
* three assignable CV inputs (3.5 mm)
* three assignable Trigger Inputs (3.5 mm)
* USB for MIDI in/out and for file transfer to MICRO SD card

I/O
* single TRS 1/4" OUTPUT Jack with adjustable Split Voice Routing (can be used as MONO Out)
* two Separate SEND/RETURN loops jacks (3.5 mm TRS) for each MOTOR voice (pre-VCF, post-VCA)
* headphone output
* single MONO 1/4" INPUT Jack for Input Signal processing

Product Dimensions (L x W x H): 8.3 x 11.4 x 2.17 inches / 21 x 29 x 5.5 cm
Product Height with knobs: 2.96 inches / 7.5cm
Product Weight: 7.17 lbs / 3.25 kg