Cyma Forma ALT is a new analog Synthesizer with a pin-matrix-based modulation engine designed for rich soundscapes. Soon on Kickstarter!
Ok, ok, now I know that you like knobs and faders on your keyboards and synths. What came from synth news yesterday from France was probably less for you. Here’s a second synth news chance from France. I’m sure more people will like this because it’s classic synth nerd stuff.
I noticed Cyma Forma on social media, a new Paris-based company that is currently developing its first Synthesizer. ALT is the name of its fruit, and it will be coming to Kickstarter in May.
Cyma Forma ALT
ALT is a new, intriguing analog Synthesizer. The instrument triggers my curiosity primarily through its different layout. Many sliders are placed in two rows, which is rarely seen in modern synths. There are also knobs on the interface.
According to French developers, ALT features five voices, each with different waveform shaping possibilities. The five voices are not grouped in two or three oscillator blocks, like in usual synths. In ALT instead, you have an oscillator for each voice, giving you five independent oscillators.
Each oscillator offers frequency and amplitude control on sliders, and waveshape, and stereo pan controls for spatial sounds. Cyma Forma says they provide a harmonic quantizer with scale support. Once chosen, you can play melodies with the faders, or with quantized pitch modulation. I wonder if you can play the five voices simultaneously like a traditional polyphonic synth.
The signals then travel into a stereo filter inspired by the legendary, aggressive-sounding Korg MS-20, which has lowpass and highpass settings. The parameters cutoff and resonance are also implemented with sliders. From here, it goes into a stereo delay. Cyma Forma promises it has a wild character with infinite feedback.
Pin-Matrix Modulation
A special feature and highlight of the synth is the built-in pin matrix. Synths that immediately come to mind include the recent Analogue Solutions Ample, EMS VCS3, Maplin 5600S, and more. It’s not confirmed, but from the available photos, it looks like the pin matrix is analog, not digital, like the Erica Synths Syntrx.
This is used to connect modulation sources with destinations. In this ALT synth, you can work with four adjustable modulation sources that can be patched into up to 17 destinations. On the mod sources side, you get two LFOs, a random step generator, and an envelope follower. Classic envelopes seem missing, suggesting that this is more of a drone synth than a classic polyphonic synth.
Further, ALT features light and sound sensors that can interact with the synth engine.
First Impression
Drones or classic synth, that is the question I ask myself. If it can do both that would be very exciting. The design arouses curiosity. I’m looking forward to the first demos and the price on Kickstarter.
Cyma Forma ALT’s release date and price are TBA. You can support the development by pre-ordering it through the Kickstarter campaign starting on May 22nd, 2024.
More information here: Cyma Forma
I like to see and hear it in action.