Nakedboards Archean Synthesizer lets you explore oscillator landscapes using a patchable monophonic engine with touch and distance sensors.
In recent years, countless monophonic semi-modular synthesizers have come onto the market—at least five or more per year, especially with Behringer’s entry into the synth world and its 80HP synth series.
In my opinion, this market is well-saturated, and to stand out in 2024, you have to offer something different. You can either go towards the West Coast or try a fusion of both, or you can focus on expressiveness like the developer Nakedboards and its new synth.
Nakedboards Archean
Archean is a new, colorfully designed monophonic semi-modular Synthesizer. The interface, which looks like a landscape, is particularly striking. The labels for the synth features are just as intriguing.
The moon observes approaching objects. The meteorite makes noise. Weathering erodes sound. The Element shifts forms. Each mineral is a touch-sensitive key.
The engine is rather simple. An oscillator generates sound waves across seven octaves (16.25 Hz to 4186.08 Hz). You can work with three types of sound waves (landscapes): a signal in the form of a randomly generated landscape, a constantly and smoothly changing landscape, and a triangle wave.
Nakedboards Archean also offers a filter, an ADSR envelope, and more. However, a complete feature is currently missing. Various patch points are also onboard, with which you can break the fixed signal path and go on a semi-modular adventure.
Expressiveness
A highlight of the synth is its interaction with it. Nakedboards Archean has built-in touch and distance sensors. First, the touch-sensitive keyboard, composed of various mineral shapes, allows you to play and slide notes using the 22 touch keys.
It also supports music scales for deeper playability and can be a USB-MIDI touch keyboard.
On the other side is the distance sensor, which generates CV signals based on the distance to an object in front of the Synthesizer. This allows you to play parameters expressively, giving you a bit of a Theremin feeling. Cool, it also sends MIDI-CC messages.
It also hosts a solid amount of I/O. It has a USB port, MIDI on a 3.5mm socket, CV/gate inputs, and two audio outputs, one line and another for Eurorack systems.
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First Impression
At first glance, it looks like a lovely new semi-modular Synthesizer. I dig the interface design because it’s very eye-catching and different. The first sounds are, however, not yet super ear candy. I hope there will be more demos.
The Archean Synthesizer is available now for pre-order for $350, with an expected release in October 2024.
More information here: Nakedboards
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