Synthux Academy Spotykach is an upcoming hands-on playable dual looper device with creative features and full-CV control.
Last night, while doomscrolling through the latest synth YouTube videos, I noticed a new release. At first, I thought it was a random Make Noise desktop synth jam, but then, when I looked more closely, I noticed it was a new thing from Synthux Academy.
As a reminder, Synthux Academy is a synth community of developers and users who develop new instruments, offer them open source, and finance them through community funding. After the Audrey II feedback synth, they are currently developing the Spotykach, a new desktop looper instrument.
Synthux Academy Spotykach
Spotykach is a looper currently in full development. The name comes from a sweet, strong, and unpredictable homebrewed Ukrainian alcoholic drink. More on that later in the article. Vlad Litvinenko is the originator of this new device, which combines a looper with an Euclidean sequencer.
Before I dive into the first known features, I would like to say that the preliminary design looks eye-catching and great. Particularly noticeable is the LED ring in the middle on both sides, which provides feedback on all knobs. I hope the design stays the same and is only changed minimally.
According to Synthux Academy, this is the first Spotykach prototype, and the developers say that this development will cost around 50,000€ on engineering, development, and components. Thanks to the Audrey II purchases, investing the money in this upcoming product was possible.
Nick Donaldson from Infrasonic, the leading developer of the Audrey II synth, made the first prototype with some PCB improvements. Vlad Litvinenko is responsible for Spotykach’s DSP code, which has not yet been completed.
The Synthux Academy Spotykach will use a Dasiy Seed2 DFM2, an embedded platform with an ARM Cortex-Mz-MCU, 96kHz / 24-bit audio hardware, and 64MB of SDRAM,
Preliminary Features
Spotykach will offer two looper decks, left and right, each offering sound-on-sound recording and a fully customizable engine. First, you can modify the behavior of each deck. It can be a looper, a slicer, or a delay. You can set the behavior of both desks.
More precisely, you can define how they transport your signals to the output section: either in mono signals, stereo spread, or both are mangled in interesting ways.
Then, you can also tweak each deck hands-on with various parameters: loop position, loop size, envelope, pitch/speed, and more. Exciting is the ability to work with modular signals. Both loop position, size, and envelope have dedicated CV inputs, plus you get a 1v/oct input.
Creative features like reversing the slice or freezing will also be onboard. Each side has a distinct modulation engine with different modulators. Deck A has an envelope follower, S & H, and a square wave generator, while Deck B has an envelope follower, sine, and sawtooth LFOs.
Spotykach Mangling
A highlight of the new Synthux Academy looper will be the Spotykach feature. It’s available on a slider, and the more you add it, the more it creates a generative vibe for the playback of your audio.
The developers say it reworks your audio in real-time, reverses it, or even brings back old recordings. The loopers act like they are drunk. On top of that, you can CV control all this madness. Do not forget the orbit and drift parameters that manage the sequencing part of the decks.
Spotykach will also host effects like reverb, delay, and flanger inspired by the playability and workflow of the push effects from the teenage engineering operators.
Further, it will feature touch pads that can be used in different ways, but mainly to create temporary connections, such as modulation. This can also be captured in the sequencer and played back.
Synthux Academy Spotykach also has clock connectivity with a tap and built-in attenuation and amplification functions that set the signals to line or Eurorack levels.
According to the developers, it will be powered by USB-C. Better yet, it only requires 5V over USB, so you can also use it with power banks and any mobile phone charger.
Synthux Academy Spotykach First Impression
A sound demo is unavailable because the firmware is not yet finished. Either way, this looks like a fascinating new dual looper project. I already like the straightforward design of the device. If the whole thing sounds as it looks, then this could be a big thing for Synthux Academy.
Until then, the developers need your feedback on what they can improve or add. Feel free to comment on the video or visit the Synthux Academy Discord channel.
Synthux Academy Spotykach availability and price are TBA.
More information will be available here: Synthux Academy
This looks like a fun device. How would this compare to Morphagene ? A device I was always interested in but never took the step to get into euro tack..
can’t be said that this point as the firmware is not finished and thus no sound demo. A little patience 🙂