Nyström Crum Hum is a new 3-voice generative experimental digital desktop Synthesizer with 12 built-in engines.
I have already written about Albert Nyström several times. He has released some exciting portable instruments: a $70 DIY drum machine and, later, the popular 4-voice Crum Drum, a generative drum synthesizer.
After so many drum instruments, there is now something for melody lovers. Nyström announced the Crum Hum today.
Nyström Crum Hum
Crum Hum is based on the same generative idea as the Crum Drum, only now cast in melody. It’s a 3-voice experimental melodic Synthesizer with 12 different sound engines that cover a wide range of varying synthesis types
- saw with lowpass filter
- square with lowpass filter
- wavetable
- wavetable 2
- FM 1
- FM 2
- chords x3
- bas + chord + melody 1
- bas + chord + melody 2
- wavetable 3
- chaotic, glitchy, noisy FM
- noise
Then, you can refine the Nyström Crum Hum sounds using the built-in multi-FX processor with delay, reverb, and overdrive. You can move to the effects by applying an LFO. Each effect offers a dedicated LFO destination. Nice, you can work with all the effects at the same time.
Generative Sequencing & Expressivity
The sounds can be played in two ways. You can launch the generative sequencer with its built-in randomized melody and chord generator. It gives you 12 different scales to choose from. Alternatively, you can play the sounds via the touch plates on the front panel.
There are no dedicated envelopes for the amp. The generator decides how short or long the sound will be played. If you play the sounds with the touch plates, you get drones.
On the connection side, Nyström Crum Hum offers a main stereo output, a micro USB port (why Nyström!), a 3.5mm CV output, and a 3.5mm Clock input. MIDI is available via the microUSB port that sends and receives MIDI data/notes and MIDI CC.
First Impression
At first glance, Nyström Crum Hum looks like a fun experimental synth that can do a lot. I hope that the microUSB port can be replaced with a USB-C.
Nyström Crum Hum will be available in December 2024 for 310€ + VAT.
More information here: Nyström
I owned the Crum Drum (DIY Kit) and was a little disappointed by its possibilities. The built quality is very good. Now I found the new Ono Sendai by Spherical Sound Society which is great for my little setups and has lots of tweaking features.
Extremely limited and actually the build quality is awful!