Superbooth 2025: Frap Tools Magnolia is the company’s first keyboard synth, an 8-voice analog through-zero FM Synthesizer.
Day 2 of Superbooth 25 is over, and the final day is Saturday. I took the opportunity to check out the new Frap Tools Magnolia, a west-coast polyphonic analog Synthesizer. I interviewed Simone Fabbri, founder and lead designer of Frap Tools.
The full feature set is also now known:
- 8-voice polyphony with bi-timbral option and different modes: single, morph, dual, and split)
- flexible voice allocation (1-7, 7-1, 2-6…)
- West Coast meets subtractive synthesis
- two oscillators (carrier + modulator) with waveshapers, flip sync, wavefolders, and linear TZFM (through-zero frequency modulation) in a keyboard synth (based on the Brenso complex oscillator)
- second oscillator with PWM and fine (east-coast)
- 24dB/oct resonant high-pass and lowpass (derived from the Cunsa quad filter) with FM option
- unique modulation concept with toggle on/off modulation with a button, LEDs on every source and destination…
- three loopable DAHDSR envelopes and three LFOs with advanced features
- per-part arpeggiator and per-part 16-step sequencer
- 512 preset memory slots
Update from May 4, 2025
One day after the teaser of the Magnolia FM Synth, Frap Tools has released the first picture of the Synthesizer. This is one of the two prototypes on display at Superbooth 2025.
Here’s one of the two Magnolia pre-production units that you’ll try out at Superbooth 2025! We have defined the structure, but some details still need some polishing, so the final product might look slightly different. More news and audio examples coming during the next days!
Here is the first video with the first sound demos. They sound “bellissima” as one would say in Italy. Very complex, fine, but also fat.
Article from May 2, 2025
For many years, the Italian company Frap Tools has made high-quality Eurorack modules with sophisticated designs. In 2023, I had the pleasure of interviewing the team extensively.
This year, the company celebrates its 10th anniversary with something big and surprising. At Superbooth 2025, Frap Tools will introduce Magnolia, the company’s first analog keyboard Synthesizer. Here are the first details, and yes, happy birthday.
Frap Tools Magnolia
Strictly speaking, this isn’t Frap Tools’ first keyboard they’ve developed. The team also worked on the Nonlinear Labs C15 and crafted the wooden enclosure. However, Frap Tool is completely breaking new ground with the Magnolia synth.
They have not shared all the details yet, only that Magnolia will be an 8-voice analog through-zero FM polyphonic Synthesizer. This analog technique is often found in Eurorack oscillators but never in classic hardware synths. It’s nice that someone is now doing this.
According to Frap Tools, it’s a working prototype, not a finished product. They say that the analog core can create all the sounds you know from their modules Brenso (complex oscillator), Cunsa (quad analog filter)….
Not much is visible in the pictures. You can see an Oscillator 2 knob, which indicates that there are two oscillators, a TZFM knob for the thru-zero FM, cutoff and resonance controls, and sliders for an ADSR envelope with hold and delay.
There is also a button with various modes (single, morph, dual, and split) that could point to the filter routing. Below, there is also a button that changes the voice operation from polyphonic to mono or legato.
Frap Tools describes Mangnolia as a West Coast polyphonic Synthesizer capable of classic analog subtractive synthesis. At their booth at Superbooth 2025, visitors can explore two pre-production units.
I’m very excited about the Magnolia. It could be one of the highlights of Superbooth 2025. I’ll make a video at the booth and share more about it with you. Stay tuned.
More information here: Frap Tools
Interesting!
I think dreadbox Artemis have thru zero oscillators too
not that I know 🙂
According to the manual, Artemis has TZ.
TZFM is quite common but not always mentioned and simply called FM.
for example: Take 5 & Teo 5 also use thru zero FM.
indeed but I think what the Magnolia can do is TZFM stuff from the west-coast side available in their Brenso complex oscillator.
What other polyphonic analogue synths offer it? I can’t think of any.
Oberheim TEO-5 also has through zero. sounds like it might have a few other tricks up it’s sleeve though
Always exciting to see a new analog polysynth, looks very well laid-out and a refreshing new take! Had no idea Frap Tools played a role in the C15, as an owner and Italian-American I’m pleased to learn this:) Best wishes to the maker on the Magnolia, looking forward to seeing the progress on this…
That display is a crime against humanity in 2025.
The synth itself looks alright though.
true!
Like my Juno 106.
but 40 years Later.. oh No..
That looks lovely
Beautiful design, the display gives me some UDO vibes but perhaps not as much “playability” as UDO? But that might just be my take as it’s a much more streamlined interface.
I know many say they think the interface is beautiful. I find it not only visually disjointed and offputting, but it also seems to me a very ergonomically inefficient design. The controls, such as the sliders look tiny. Why? Why make it difficult to grasp these? The knobs are small and oddly positioned. The text is tiny. Also the interface is unnecessarily spaced out meaning a lot of hand travel for no good reason. So for me a really terrible front panel.
it’s a protoype not the finished product, including the front panel.
I’m getting the feeling this is the final look. lol. It’s going to feature in all the “Ugliest Synths Ever” lists.
Also hoping that the final synth is less spaced out.
Maybe only a 4 octave keyboard, and overall smaller panel.
Excited about it nevertheless, it already sounds amazing even tho they say it is not finetuned yet.
As I listen to yet another new synth, I think about the UDO, Polybrute, TEO, Diva, Cherry Audio and Pigments and think, what’s the point? It reinforces my assertion that the only people that believe there is anything new under the sun live in the world of marketing.