GliGli Overcycler is a new 6-voice polyphonic hybrid desktop Synthesizer with digital oscillators and analog filters & VCA.
I reported on the Overcycler, Gligli aka Fabrice Guillaume’s latest project, in June. The good news is that it has been ready and delivered since August. The first batch, however, is already sold out.
Another good news: the super affordable target price was almost met. The assembled version costs 314€ + tax, and the DIY version is 264€ + tax from GliGli’s shop.
New Overcycler Firmware
In addition to producing more units, GliGli is also working on a new firmware with new features. The upcoming firmware adds a new amplifier level parameter to level the volume of patches or add even more overdrive at high levels.
You can also explore new wave mod options. First, there is a new wave folder effect that vertically (through amplitude) folds waveforms. With the wave mod, you can adjust the pre-amplification of the wave folder.
Secondly, it comes with a bit crusher wave mod that lowers the amp resolution of the single cycle. However, it does not lower the frequency resolution.
The new firmware also adds new LFO trigger options that reset the LFOs on each key press and an option to control how many periods they run. Further, you can find various improvements like editable patch names on the computer, UI improvements, and more.
The sound designer Solidtrax has written a comprehensive review of the GliGli Overcycler on its website. He will soon release a patch library with 100 new sounds. I have linked a sound demo that should not be missed.
For me, Overcycler sounds excellent. The hybrid engine gives the synth a unique character with edges. It’s not a beauty, but the sound is very convincing. I hope that there will be stock again soon.
Article From June 25, 2024
The French developer Fabrice Guilhaume, better known as GliGli, is not unknown in the Synthesizer community. One of his biggest and most famous projects is the Teensy-based mainboard/firmware upgrade for the Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 called P600fw, taking the original synth to new levels.
His second major project is a best-seller—the Pro-800, which he developed together with Behringer. It is a Pro-600 clone with eight analog voices and many extra goodies. Good news: GliGli has something new in the works. He is currently working on his own new, exciting hybrid Synthesizer.
GliGli Overcycler
Overcycler is a new 6-voice polyphonic hybrid desktop Synthesizer, using digital oscillators (single-cycle waveforms) and per-voice VCF and VCA. This makes it a real polyphonic Synthesizer and not just paraphonic like many others.
The voice architecture gives you two oscillators per voice with sync, DCM (duty cycle modulation) on any waveform, dual waveform mix modulation, and unique “girth” modulation. The latter gives you results from a subtle veil to ring mod-like sounds.
According to GliGli, it will run at an 80kHz sample rate for a clean sound by default and will ship with single-cycle waveforms from the AKWF collection, original Prophet VS, and more stored in the internal flash chip. They are also accessible through USB mass storage. There is also a noise generator.
Analog Filters
Then, it has a per-voice analog filter based on the clone of the SSM2044 filter used in synths such as the Korg Monopoly, PolySix, PPG Wave 2.2/2.3, or the EMU SP-12/SP-1200, samplers.
The Overycler also offers a solid set of modulations. I assume this is fully digital, like the Pro-600, the firmware board by GliGli, and the Behringer Pro-800. It offers three ADSR envelopes with linear/exponential mode options, looping functionality, and three factory routings (oscillators, filter, and amp).
Besides this, it has two full-featured LFOs with various parameters and six modulation destinations. Overcycler also includes a sequencer and an arpeggiator.
On the backside, you can find a stereo output supported by the engine’s dedicated voice panning functionality. Further, it has a USB port for power, USB MIDI, regular MIDI, and a USB host port for mass storage.
The interface has a big monochrome screen, ten knobs, and a number + letter pad. This is probably the somewhat unusual thing about the synth. With these, you navigate through the menu system.
First Impression
This is a very exciting new hybrid poly Synthesizer from GliGli. I’m curious how well the mixture of digital oscillators and analog filters harmonizes here. We know from synths like the Waldorf M or the MicroFreak/MiniFreak that this can sound lovely and unique. If he can build the Overcycler and market it for that price, that would be really cool.
GliGli Overcycler will be available in the next few months as a DIY kit with a pre-populated PCB for around 250€ or fully assembled for around 300€.
More information here: GliGli
Sounds good to me! The price is good too. At first glance, the interface reminded me of certain archaic synth designs with old screens but after watching the videos it seems easy to navigate. Kinda like the ASM Hydrasynth macros. Love the wave mods and ability to load custom waves. Nice!