Manifold Research Centre Antilope is a new, filter-based Synthesizer designed for experimental, distorted rhythms and audio processing.
Superbooth 2025 is already more than half a year in the past. However, many of the announced products remain unavailable.
The new Antilope Synthesizer from the Polish company Manifold Research Centre was also showcased at SB 25 and is now finished. Spoiler: it’s a Synthesizer for musicians who like it loud and gritty.
Manifold Research Centre Antilope
Antilope is a new, experimental desktop Synthesizer. This is already evident from the striking interface, which doesn’t look like the next Moog or Roland clone. Also, the circuit is anything but typical.
The core of the Manifold Research Centre Antilope is based on the concept of pingeable filters. Yes, the Loess Labs Quad Creek that I presented to you at the end of November uses the same core idea: the same filter technique, but a different sonic direction.
Antilope uses a dual-pingable resonant filter that produces a wide range of plucks, bongo slaps, and ghastly squeals. You can spice up these sounds by routing them through the onboard distortion and multi-FX feedback path.
MRC products are known for being loud, dirty, and noisy in a good way. This is why you can take these built-in effects and feedback path to extreme experimental levels. It results in original shapes filled with growling, beasty characters.
A three-channel pattern recorder handles the rhythm section that can be patched into the filter, distortion, and FX parameters.
Each recorder can be a stepped-voltage sequencer or a morphable AD (attack-decay) envelope, enabling both rigid beat shifting and smooth timbral changes.
Antilope’s wide range of 3.5mm CV inputs and outputs is Eurorack compatible, allowing you to integrate the synth into your existing modular system. Deeper sound shaping through more extensive modulators, etc., comes to mind.
Connectivity
Alongside the plethora of colorful CVs, the Manifold Research Centre developers also added traditional connectivity to Antilope. On the back, you can find a stereo line input, turning Antilope into an experimental-flavored stereo filter box.
Further, you have stereo outputs on two 6.3mm mono jacks, a dedicated headphone output, TRS-MIDI connectivity for clock, reset, and sync, and USB-C power for portable operation.
First Impression
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit the booth at Superbooth 25, but I’ve been following the development of Antilope for some time. I’m pleased that it’s now finished.
Antilope is a Synthesizer that will polarize opinions and won’t appeal to everyone. I’m pretty sure. It will appeal to experimental musicians interested in rich noisescapes, broken sounds, and experimental rhythms. For me, it’s a bit like a DFAM from hell.
Manifold Research Centre Antilope is now available for pre-order at $789.
More information here: Manifold Research Centre
Like the recent Whimsical Raps device it looks like its UI design was based on a drawing by a dispraxic toddler tasked with drawing a synth. Just ridiculous.
Agreed. One of the ugliest synths I’ve ever seen.