Kodamo MASK1EX, a desktop bi-timbral bitmask Synthesizer with the power of its big brother

Kodamo MASK1EX is a desktop bi-timbral bitmask Synthesizer with almost the same power as its big brother MASK1.

There’s a vast selection of synthesis methods, including analog, FM, wavetable, granular, and more. These days, it’s rare for new ones to be invented. The French one-man company Kodamo did this with bitmask synthesis in the MASK1 Synthesizer.

If this great, unique-sounding synth was too expensive for you so far, there’s now the Kodamo MASK1EX, a desktop synth with the same engine at a much more attractive price.

Kodamo MASK1EX

MASK1EX is the desktop module counterpart of the larger Kodamo MASK1, featuring the same engine as the keyboard version, albeit with some drawbacks.

Both synthesizers utilize innovative bitmask synthesis, in which a waveform is divided into multiple segments and then rearranged into new ones in various ways. The sounds that the engine generates are beautiful because they are modern but also have a grainy, vintage character.

The MASK1EX is a bi-timbral 10-voice polyphonic digital Synthesizer with two parts (1 MIDI channel + layer or split), whereas the MASK1 is a multi-timbral (5x) 12-voice synth. The oversampling of the engine is also lower on the desktop, with 8x instead of 16x.

Bitmask Synthesis

Like the MASK1, each voice of the MASK1EX features two bitmask oscillators, a colorful noise generator, two multimode digital filters (12dB/oct and 24dB), four loopable envelopes, and two 7-waveform LFOs.

Alongside these, you have mappable velocity (6 destinations), modwheel (16), and aftertouch (16). You can easily map the modulators to various destinations using the unique, button-only interface.

Then, it also features the same high-quality onboard effects, with two stereo effects in series. The first gives you phaser, distortion, bitcrusher, tremolo, and ring mod with 64 types. The second has delays, comb filters, reverbs, room simulations, and distortions (48 types).

The creative and some unique playing modes of the keyboard version are also onboard: polyphonic, monophonic, slurred, mono portamento on legato, paraphonic, hybrid poly-mono on legato, slurred paraphonic, mono retrigger, poly retrigger. 

It also ships with a powerful arpeggiator that features 26 patterns with adaptive or fixed chords, latchable, retriggerable, and pitch change modes. It’s neat; it also sends out MIDI to external devices.

Desktop Module 

Like in the keyboard version, a sequencer is not onboard; however, the built-in looper can capture a track with an unlimited duration and up to 10,000 events. You can record on-the-fly notes, pitch bends, mod wheel, aftertouch, and sustain pedal data.

Sounds can also be saved in the internal EEPROM-based memory. However, there are differences compared to the MASK1. The Kodamo MASK1EX ships with 377 factory sounds and gives you space for 200 user sounds. The MASK 1 has space for 600 user sounds.

A significant factor that lowers the price is the packaging. The MASK1EX comes without a keyboard but is a small desktop module with 23 illuminated buttons and two rotary encoders. 

On the connection side, it features a power ON/OFF switch, a DC input, 5-pin MIDI IN/OUT, USB, two balanced 1/4″ TRS jacks, and a 1/4″ jack for headphones.

First Impression

The MASK1 is one of my favorite digital synthesizers of recent years, as it not only has a unique concept but also a lovely sound character. Unfortunately, it’s always been out of my budget with a current price of 1999€

It’s great that you can now discover the engine at a much lower price. Just a downside, and I hope that changes in the future. According to Stéphane (Kodamo), there will only be one batch of the MASK1EX. That would be a shame because the engine needs a broader user community.

Kodamo MASK1EX is available now for 299€ + VAT + shipping. It’s available in limited quantities only as it’s a one-off production.

More information here: Kodamo 

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