Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard is a new wild patchable pocket-sized stereo multi-FX processor packed with modulation and modularity.
The pocket-sized Bastl Instruments Kastle Synthesizer series is popular among electronic musicians. They cost little but offer a lot of semi-modular, explorative synth fun for on-the-go. The last release was the Kastle Arp, a semi-modular generative arpeggio synth. It’s a fun little synth, and I also made a little video.
The Kastle Arp was probably the last on this platform. Today, Bastl Instruments introduces the Kastle 2 FX Wizard, and as the name suggests, this is the second generation.
Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard
Kastle 2 FX Wizard is the first in the new second-generation Kastle series. Like its brothers, it’s still battery-powered, but now it has a USB-C port instead of the flimsy microUSB—finally!
But the first Kastle v2 is not a Synthesizer. Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard is a patchable stereo multi-effects/FX processor (44kHz/16-bits) on steroids with various effects and modularity.
At its core is a digital stereo engine with three effect families, each with classic and experimental types, allowing to explore traditional mangling and the extreme side.
Three Effects Blocks
The delay FX category (blue/green)includes a clean stereo delay, a flanger with stereo chorus capabilities and some spicy extremes, and a freezer to capture and hold moments in a fun modular way.
Then, the amplitude FX family (bright colors) offers an auto-panner with ring mod option, a dirty digital crusher with feedback, and a rhythmic slicer, creating dynamic transients from any drone.
The third block offers pitch-shifting effects, including a dirty pitch-shifter that shifts signals up in tonal or rhythmic patterns, a replayer that reverses and adds pitch-sifting artifacts, and a nuanced shifter. The latter adjusts the pitch up or down to achieve detuned sounds and feedback pitch slopes.
A flexible, colorful palette of effects. The shifters, in particular, bring some exciting sounds in here. All these FX extravaganzas are available in stereo, and you can customize the stereo field for each effect. There is also a filter for brightening or darkening the sound.
Modulation Fun
The real fun starts with the patch points. In the Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard, all effects can be modulated using mini patch cables and the patch matrices. It hosts a syncable LFO with triangle and pulse outputs, reset input, and attenuverting modulation.
Besides this, Bastl Instruments added a fun, creative pattern generator for modulating parameters alongside an envelope follower for dynamic effects that react to incoming audio. This is great for ducking effects. Plus, the effects react to triggers or clocks, giving them more of a unique flavor.
By adding modulations, you can move the built-in effects in new directions, ranging from subtle sound shapings and refinings to extreme manglings. I’m pretty sure the latter will be the highlight of this small FX box when it gets dirty, glitchy, etc.
Interface & Backside
Even though it’s the Bastl Instruments Kastle 2, the interface is very classic Kastle 1. It has two buttons, a switch, nine mini-patch matrices, and seven parameters: time, feedback, amount mix, filter (feedback), stereo detuning for each FX mode, and more.
Many of the parameters also offer attenuverting modulation option. Exciting, the FX mode also has a CV input, allowing you to change modes with CV. This is going to be very very wild.
On the backside, the Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard offers a stereo input with gain control (up to +12db, up to 6 Vpp signal), stereo output/headphone, and analog sync in and out. And of course, the new USB-C port for powering the unit an firmware updates. Alternatively, you can power it with three AA batteries.
Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard First Impression
This is a lovely release. I have always been a big fan of the Kastle series. After semi-modular synths and drums, an effect was missing. The FX Wizard fits perfectly into this gap.
The effect types are very colorful. It’s welcome that Vaclav and the team also go the experimental route here rather than just using the bread-and-butter stuff. The modulation options make the whole thing even more attractive and unpredictable.
I’m happy that there is now a Kastle 2 generation with USB-C. That means we can look forward to new Kastle synths in the future.
Bastl Instruments Kastle 2 FX Wizard is available now for pre-order for 192€ (incl. tax). The first batch will start shipping by the end of November 2024. It ships with ten patch cables, stickers, and more.
More information here: Bastl Instruments
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