NAMM 2025: Heritage Audio Synth Buddy is a new desktop passive box that allows up to 10 channels to be flexibly switched.
Working intensively with electronic instruments, one quickly encounters many instruments: synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, etc. Some have so much gear that they have a real collection. Usually, this is topped by a colorful collection of effects pedals. Yes, they are also fun and addictive.
Having so much gear in the studio is nice, but you often come up against limits, especially regarding audio routing or recording. This can be the small interface or the only FX chain for all your synths that you can only use once.
Solution: you have to chain everything together again each time. The Spanish company Heritage Audio has the solution with the Synth Buddy.
Heritage Audio Synth Buddy
The Synth Buddy is a new desktop passive stereo switcher for line signals. It offers 10 stereo or 20x TS 6.3mm inputs (10×2) for patching instruments.
Once patched, you can toggle between them with the twist of a big knob on the Heritage Audio Synth Buddy front panel. The selected signal then comes out on a 6.3mm pair (2x mono) on the back.
The idea of such a box is great but not new. Franklin Audio has had a box like this, the SS-6 Mk2 in its range for some time that does the same thing. It even looks like it but only offers six stereo channels instead of ten. A downside of the Heritage is that it isn’t a balanced DI transformer.
Heritage Audio promises an all-passive design that ensures crystal-clear line-level signals without added coloration.
Use Cases
The Synth Buddy can be used in many areas. For example, your audio interface is too small. With it, you can connect many synths simultaneously and conveniently switch between the instruments you want to record without reconnecting them each time.
Another use case is effects. Imagine you have ten instruments in front of you and a pedalboard full of effects. To try all ten instruments with the effects pedals, you must repatch and constantly throw yourself out of your creative workflow.
First Impression
It’s a super handy audio tool. If you found the Franklin Audio alternative to have too few connections, you get four more stereo channels at an even better price but without the balanced DI box functionality.
Heritage Audio Synth Buddy is available now for $199/219€.
More information here: Heritage Audio
Available at my partners
For $200, you’d be better off upgrading to a bigger audio interface or at least getting a 19″ patchbay. Somehow this product appears to be missing the mark.