Since its beginnings Erica Synths has promoted experimental electronic music and has developed instruments that enable musicians to explore it.
When it comes to standalone instruments, we think, one of most encouraging instruments in experimental music was Synthi AKS, so we teamed up with engineers from Riga Technical University to develop a synthesizer with a user interface inspired by Synthi AKS.
SYNTRX [sintrex] is developed from scratch all analogue synthesizer (no part of schematics is cloned from Synthi AKS) with digitally controlled patch matrix. Unlike most of patch matrixes around, that mechanically connect signals, our 16x16 matrix utilizes 32 (!!!) 16 channel analogue switch ICs AS16M1 (made in Latvia, Alfa RPAR) and is a mixer/buffered multiple with 3 level attenuation (gain 1, 0,6 and 0,3) in connection points. It has 256 patch memory, automatic patch switching in performance mode or via MIDI messages.
SYNTRX has 3 highly accurate VCOs that track great over 8 octaves, noise generator with “colour” filter, resonant VCF, ring modulator, spring reverb, looping envelope generator, joystick controller, input amplifier with adjustable gain for microphone to line level signals, 3 VCAs, output signal filter, analogue CV/audio signal level indicator and built in speakers. Extra features, not found on Synthi AKS, are Sample & Hold circuit with individual clock, octave switch for VCO1, synchronization of VCO2, AD mode on the envelope generator, as well as MIDI that accepts CV, Gate, Modulation wheel messages and program change messages for the matrix control. The SYNTRX comes in aluminium enclosure with ash tree side panels.
We believe, it will inspire users to explore the space and travel to previously undiscovered audible realms.