SynthFest France 2026: BLL Instruments Axia is a new guitar Synthesizer with a touch fretboard based on the previous Elyra.
Two years ago, the young developer Thomas Billiou from BLL Instruments introduced Elyra, a unique digital Synthesizer that can be played like a guitar. The white, very cryptic interface was unusual: you didn’t pluck traditional strings; instead, you used touch gestures to play them.
Elyra has been on the market for over a year. However, it seems too niche and experimental, as seen at Schneidersladen, where it is available at a discount of almost 50%. At SynthFest France 2026, the developers at BLL Instruments will present the Axis.
BLL Instruments Axia
Axia is the second instrument from BLL Instruments, based in Nantes, the city of the SynthFest France. The developer has not yet shared any official information about the Axia, but it appears to be the evolution of the Elyra.
The biggest, immediately noticeable difference is the shape. Instead of a wooden board-like design, the Axis is now shaped like a wooden guitar. I like this better compared to the Elyra. It makes more sense since it’s supposed to be a guitar Synthesizer.
In the center, you can recognize the Elyra’s interface, albeit with a few minor changes. The display has been repositioned, and the Axis now also features an aluminum knob.
I assume the same 16-voice virtual-analog and FM Synthesizer, developed in collaboration with Kodamo, still serves as the engine. As a reminder: the original Elyra features two oscillators with various shapes, dedicated oscillator envelopes, and a 2- or 4-pole filter.
Additionally, you have envelopes (filter, amp), LFOs, and effects, including distortion, overdrive, bit-crush, chorus, stereo delay, and reverb. Plus, it has a multi-track sequencer with up to 256 steps per step and memory for up to 1024 patches.
The biggest difference compared to the Elyra is how you play the Axis. Instead of pressing touch buttons on a cramped interface, you play on a touch fretboard where you can play the same chords as on a guitar.
First Impression
The way BLL Instruments is now presenting its guitar Synthesizer makes more sense to me than the Elyra. I’m looking forward to SynthFest, where he’ll surely showcase the Axis to me in a video. Stay tuned for it.
BLL Instruments Axia price and availability TBA.
More information here: BLL Instruments
i’m waiting for an 88 key guitar.
Elyra failed because of a complete lack of marketing and business sense. Axia will fail for the same reasons.
Both of these actually are interesting instruments. The engineering is impressive. The problem is that Elyra did not have a single decent demo, was not market at all, has inadequate tech specs on the website and doesn’t even have a manual. BLL has 76 YouTube followers — 76!
There’s no way I’m spending a lot of money on an instrument from an unknown company that I have zero confidence will stay in business.
Engineering, logistics and marketing are different skills. No amount of engineering matters if you don’t have any business sense.
maybe Team Up with Ibanez or another Big Brand. Ibanez built the Roland synthguitars Back in the 80s.