Baloran The BumbleBee (The 3B) is a new digital 3D laser Synthesizer and MIDI/CV controller for standalone and Eurorack
The French boutique manufacturer Baloran is known for its flagship synthesizers. First, Laurent Baloran introduced the River, an epic hand-built analog polysynth.
More recently, he published The Pool, a hybrid desktop tank-like Synthesizer that combines the best parts of analog and digital synths. The Pool Synthesizer is sold out. If there’s enough demand, a new batch will be released. However, that may take some time.
Nope, Laurent is still very busy and has since developed something new and interesting. At SynthFest France 2025, Baloran unveiled The BumbleBee, aka The 3B.
Baloran The BumbleBee (The 3B)
No, don’t worry. Laurent Baloran hasn’t gone the robotic way and created the yellow Transformer in real life. Baloran BumbleBee is a new performance-oriented instrument. More precisely, it’s a digital 3D Synthesizer and controller for standalone and Eurorack use.
The hub of “The 3B” is a 24HP Eurorack module that ships with an additional 8HP module. The latter features two independent 3D laser/IR (yellow/blue) using a technology called TOF (Time of Flight). Don’t worry, your fingers and eyes are safe.
It’s fully adjustable and can be fixed to a support placed on a table, Eurorack case, or mounted on a gooseneck. If the sensor is integrated in Eurorack format, the internal connection also allows you to mount it without visible cables.
Yellow & Blue Sensors
The yellow sensor transmits an image of your hand or any other objects that enter its cone of vision, along with the precise distance between the object and the sensor. This image allows the engine to determine the X and Y coordinates of the hand or object. Plus, the sensor also transmits the Z height with millimeter precision.
Then, you have an identical sensor in the blue section that transmits the coordinates X2, Y2, Z2, as well as gate G2. This sensor configuration allows you to have two completely independent hand plays.
Between the two sensors are two buttons, A and B, which are very sensitive pressure sensors that convert pressure into voltage, available on sockets A/X2 and B/Y2. They can operate as two independent sources or as single source controller by both knobs.
Another essential part of the sensor-capturing system is the height information of the hand (Z). You can choose from different modes to operate it: Theremin, selected semitone, range note, microtonal with Scala file support, multi-SEQ, expressive envelope, and morph LFO.
The first modes create a kind of quantized Theremin-like instrument. When I tested it at the booth, I liked the multi-sequence mode.
Synthesizer & Controller
What can you do with the data captured by the sensors? There are several options. The simplest is to use the internal Synthesizer engine. Yes, Baloran The BumbleBee is a complete digital Synthesizer.
Each sensor features a 4-voice 16-bit 96k synth engine with classic waveforms and wavetables, a multimode filter (Ladder, OTA…), and an ADSR envelope. Although it’s only playable in monophony, the polyphonic feature helps avoid abrupt transitions when changing pitch.
On top of that, each sensor in Baloran The BumBleBee also hosts an independent sequencer that can be activated in the different playing modes.
Alternatively, you can route out the data via MIDI CC data or the CV outputs. On the MIDI side, each sensor outputs either note-on/note-off information, control changes (CC), MPE, or bends.
For modular use, you have eight CV outputs with every coordinate (X, Y, Z, and G), allowing you to modulate up to eight parameters with your hands. There is also a CV input and gate input for synchronising your module with external gear.
Plus, you have jumpers on the back of the module for switching between gate and s-trig and for modifying the power of the module: +12V -12V or +12 -12V and +5V
Baloran The BumbleBee First Impression
I was able to get a closer look at The BumbleBee and try it out at SynthFest France. It’s an enjoyable module that allows you to interact deeply with your modular synth.
The option to use it as a standalone synth is a great bonus. Even without this sound functionality, it would already be a very fun-to-use module.
Baloran The BumbleBee (The 3B) is available now for pre-order for 432€ as an Eurorack module and 588€ in a standalone boxed version with dedicated USB and MIDI outputs on the back.
More information here: Baloran
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