Ksoloti Gills is a new DIY desktop synth with 13 controls powered by the Ksoloti, the successor of the Axoloti modular core.
The Nord Modular was a hardware synth that used a software modular core configured with an editor. It was an exciting hybrid concept that made a lot possible. It was a very ambitious, expensive project for Nord that almost destroyed the company.
Nord’s unique hybrid concept lived in the Axoloti core until recently—a hardware board with I/O that users could program using a patcher. With it, you could create synths, effects, and more. However, there were production issues (chip shortage…), and the Axoloti was discontinued.
Thanks to its open-source designs, the project has recently been revived as Ksoloti Core by a new developer team. They have taken it to a more classic synth world with the Ksoloti Gills.
Ksoloti Gills
Like the original board, the Ksoloti Core gives you the same functionality and aims for maximum compatibility with some layout changes and added features.
You can create custom sound patches or modify existing ones using the patcher software. Once created, you can put them in the hardware and play with them without a computer.
The Ksoloti Gills now makes the whole thing even more interesting. It transforms the hardware board into a standalone desktop unit, adding tactile controls and input/output options.
It gives you a 1.3″ OLED screen, 128*64 pixels, and I2C that visually represents the patch’s parameters. Then, it hosts an encoder with switch functionality and 10 assignable knob controls.
There are also four assignable buttons and other LEDs. All these extra knobs and buttons allow you to tweak the loaded patch like on a classic synth.
Connectivity
The new I/O also ensures that the Ksoloti Core becomes a standalone synth.
- 2 x expansion jacks: 3.5mm stereo, no connection by default. can be wired to become additional analog/digital/expression pedal inputs, or analog/digital outputs
- CV expander board is included as standard in all kits (uses the 2 expansion jacks): 2 synth-level CV outputs, +/-5V or 0..10V via solder jumpers, trimmers for scale and offset, V/oct precision
- DIN MIDI in/out jacks
- 2 line inputs 6.35mm mono
- 2 line outputs 6.35mm mono
- Headphone output jack, 6.35mm stereo.
- microSD card socket
- USB-C for power/programmer connector
- USB-C for host connectivity
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First Impression
A very exciting project. I’ve been a big fan of the Axoloti Core since day 1. I’m glad to see the project is back. And this new case with extra control and I/O looks neat. The project seems to be sold out, but hopefully, new enclosures will arrive soon
The Ksoloti Gills is available now as a DIY project on Thonk. The Ksoloti Core costs £66 + VAT, and the Ksoloti Enclosure £110 + VAT.
More information here: Thonk
Axoloti is not Nord Modular and thats why it failed:
1. Patching is done not in real time you have upload to the device to hear the result.
2. An awful patcher usability it’s almost unusable and Ksoloti patcher is much worse
but follows the same concept of a VA modular synth in a hardware unit. And the project didn’t failed. It’s open-source
Agreed. Axoloti didn’t fail, it was released, worked and not only that – it was genuinely amazing.
It was a different workflow than most people are used to but it worked the way it was intended and was freakishly powerful for its price…at one point I was using it as a 8 voice polysynth that had 30 potentiometers to control parameters….for $80.
I think the proper way to look at the Axoloti was as a sort of teaching device rather than a stand alone synth though. I didn’t own a synth or know what a potentiometer even was before Axoloti…
Im happy the Ksoloti has picked up the torch.