In 2020 Erica Synths launched the SYNTRX, an ode to the legendary EMS Synthi A. It wasn’t what precisely you’d name sensible. It was giant, area of interest and fairly costly at round $3,000. But, I used to be unabashedly head-over-heels for it. Now Erica is taking the identical core idea and placing much more of its personal distinctive twist on the instrument within the SYNTRX II. Plus, it’s slashing the value to a extra affordable $2,179.
The distinctive 16×16 patch matrix continues to be right here, as are the trio of oscillators – one in every of which is particularly tuned for modulation – and the joystick. Though, this time you may file the joystick’s motions for on-board sequencing and modulation. There’s additionally a hoop modulator that, if it’s something just like the one on the unique, needs to be surprisingly musical. Plus a multi-color noise generator, the trapezoid envelope generator, and even an analog VU meter.
The SYNTRX and SYNTRX II, unsurprisingly, are extra alike than they’re totally different. But that’s to not say there haven’t been some vital updates. For one, they’re fairly visually distinctive. While the unique stored the identical primary format and cream-colored aesthetic of its EMS inspiration, the SYNTRX II is a darker affair that ditches the audio system and outsized tuning knobs for a extra monolithic look.
I’ll miss these tuning knobs. They had been pure pleasure to make use of. But I’m barely sadder to see the spring reverb get the boot. Instead Erica Synths is together with DSP-based reverb and delay results. I place confidence in the corporate’s potential to ship top quality results, however I used to be nonetheless surprisingly enamored with the spring reverb on the unique.
One final main improve price mentioning is the flexibility to make use of the grid as a piano-roll type sequencer. The authentic had very restricted methods to manage the precise pitch of the synth built-in. But now it’s trying a bit extra like a self contained instrument.
The SYNTRX II appears to be like to proceed Erica Synths’ sturdy historical past of constructing devices which can be simply bizarre sufficient and encourage experimentation. But it additionally makes a few of its extra experimental impulses extra accessible. Even if it’s laborious to name a virtually $2,200 synthesizer “affordable”.
