SynthFest France 2026/Superbooth 2026: Kaona Fractaos is a new 32HP, 4-voice polyphonic oscillator and synth voice module for Eurorack that uses fractal synthesis.
Fractal Synthesis – what the f… is that? I tried to answer that question in my SFF video with Gilles from Kaona Modular, even though it’s not easy. It’s very mathematical, and fractal synthesis is certainly a very avant-garde form of synthesis.
And fractal synthesis can be explored in Kaona Modular’s new module, Fractaos. It’s a polyphonic oscillator and synth voice.
Article from April 11, 2026
Classic analog designs are very common in Eurorack. The number of digital modules with more complex synthesis methods, such as granular or wavetable synthesis, has only received a major boost in recent years, thanks to increasingly powerful and more affordable processing units.
This evolution has also led developers to bring experimental ideas to the modular world. Following his unique multimode granular filter Sisyphus last year, Gilles from Kaona is showcasing a polyphonic fractal oscillator at SynthFest this year.
Kaona Fractaos
Fractaos is a new 32HP polyphonic digital oscillator and synth voice for Eurorack. What’s extraordinary about the Kaona Fractaos isn’t its 4-voice of polyphony, but its synthesis. It utilizes the more experimental, unusual fractal synthesis.
The module doesn’t use classic waveforms. Instead, it is built around shapes whose structure repeats at different scales, also known as fractals. Kaona describes that the results are more complex, moving, and almost organic.
Fractaos’s core consists of a dialogue between the main fractal shape and a fractal primitive per voice, which can modulate, bend, and cause it to drift. This provides two fractals/oscillators per voice, up to eight in total, generated in real time.
Each curve is independent and has shaping options via chaos and calculation depth controls. The relation of the fractals is also fully tweakable.
You can morph them, detune, create chords, drone, texturize, extract formants, apply resonant filtering, or even apply frequency modulation. Additionally, you can work with customizable LFO and envelope modulation, and more.
Kaona Fractaos includes a 4-voice polyphonic mode that can be played using MIDI and dedicated 1v/oct inputs. There is also a drone mode in which all eight oscillators drone. A polyphonic ADSR envelope is also onboard, turning it into a complete voice.
Settings made on the module can be stored in its internal memory and recalled at any time.
On the connection side, Fractaos has eight bi-polar CV inputs, four trigger inputs, four 1v/oct inputs, and a 3.5mm MIDI input with velocity and aftertouch support. The module consumption is +12 V: 210 mA; –12 V: 40 mA; +5 V: 0 mA
First Impression
The Fractaos oscillator is another highly unique and original module from Gilles of Kaona. It’s great to see him continuing to bring ideas to Eurorack that are rarely implemented in modular form.
Often, developers lack the courage to do so because they fear that it will fail. With Fractaos, we’ll have to see how unique the module ultimately is and whether people actually want it. In the first demo, the module sounds a bit strange
The first demo is out, and you can hear the module’s digital nature, but also that it’s not your average oscillator/voice. It’s somewhat unusual, odd, but original. I’m looking forward to talking to Gilles about the module at SynthFest France.
Kaona Fractaos is now available for pre-order at an early-bird price of 474,30€ instead of 558€. Shipping starts at the end of May 2026.
More information here: Kaona
Just to add, after having had the chance to hear this module at SynthfestFrance: I’ve never heard such a surprising, rich, and musical sound coming from a Eurorack module. It’s astounding. The sound unfolds as if there were a ton of post-processing, but it’s really just raw fractal synthesis that creates a constant, organic movement. It shifts from drones to wild harmonics to crystal-clear sounds with demonic precision… all straight from the module’s output. It’s hard to describe because it’s truly “unheard of.”
Gilles/Kaona has truly opened up a new landscape beyond granular synthesis.