Distropolis Prismatic Spray II is a new portable, playful, dual-engine stereo hybrid bytebeat Synthesizer.
One of the most experimental synthesis methods I’ve encountered in the last 1-2 years is certainly bytebeat synthesis. It’s a synthesis in which you can create a whole track bit by bit, from a simple mathematical algorithm.
My first encounter with it was with the DOD Circuits BT-110 hardware Synthesizer, which I saw at SynthFest France 2024. There are other hardware synths that can do this as well. The Distropolis Prismatic Spray II is the latest addition.
Distropolis Prismatic Spray II
Prismatic Spray II, as the name suggests, is not the first but the second version of this portable bytebeat synthesizer. Unlike the first version, Distropolis Prismatic Spray II is a stereo bybeat synth powered by two fully independent bybeat synthesis engines.
The interface also features color-coded knobs and buttons designed to simplify operation. A much faster display refresh rate also gives you a more fluid visual experience with the new version.
Prismatic Spray II gives you access to over 60 bytebeat incantations. The idea behind the synth is to create bytebeat equations and, once done, to loop specific sections of it.
The start and end points can be adjusted after the loop has been set. There are also more in-depth loop adjustments.
Distropolis promises that the synth becomes an almost granular-sounding instrument at the tightest settings. The new engine also allows you to pan a bytebeat incantation between the left and right engines. A pitch glide feature is also now onboard.
According to the developer, the new dual synth engine is tuned to a Western 12-tone chromatic scale so that you can play it like any other synth – no horsing around with cycles and hertz.
The new pitch scaling option attempts to keep the byebeat tempo consistent while changing the pitch. Part of the engine is also a digitally controlled analog filter, recallable in the settings and controllable via MIDI.
Playability
The new Distropolis Prismatic Spray II is adjustable through about 6 octaves from the purple knob on the front panel. MIDI pitch bend goes from +/- 2 semitones, and the full range of MIDI notes is available when using MIDI via USB-C or TRS-A.
Further, you can save up to 60 crispy bytebeat creations in the internal memory. On the connection side, it has a USB-C port for power and MIDI, a TRS MIDI socket on a type A connector, and an audio output.
First Impression
I was never good at math, and I guess Byebeat won’t be my strong suit either, haha. But the Prismatic Spray II looks like a fun synthesizer if you’re into experimental synthesis or even crisp, lo-fi sounds.
Distropolis Prismatic Spray II is available now for 240,95€ in various colors: white, clear, blue, red, gray, and black. The developer is shipping from the US. This means the price doesn’t include shipping, fees, and import taxes.
More information here: Distropolis
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