Superbooth 2026: Twisted Electrons FLEXFM is an upcoming 8-voice hybrid groovebox with sampling, FM synthesis, and analog filters.
Alex from Twisted Electrons has consistently pursued his own exciting paths with his instruments over the past few years. For example, the BlastBeast is a vintage FM groovebox based on the YMF-262 FM chip.
Twisted Electrons will also be presenting something new at Superbooth 2026: the FLEXFM, an upcoming hybrid groovebox.
Twisted Electrons FLEXFM
FLEXFM is currently in development, and the unit you saw at Superbooth 2026 is a hand-built prototype. According to the developer, FLEXFM will be an 8-voice hybrid sampling 4-operator FM groovebox.
A glance at the screen reveals that 8 voices correspond to 8 tracks, so you will have one voice per track.
Each voice/track will feature a 4-operator FM Synthesizer with 32 engines per operator. You can choose between these 32 engines or create your own engines, using a matrix. The knobs have LED rings that give you visual feedback on the FM operator configurations.
Interesting, alongside the FM part, you can also have a sampler with live sampling capability via the line input.
Then, each voice will feature a multimode analog filter with cutoff and resonance controls on the hardware. According to Alex, it’s the same filter as in the TwistFM polysynth.
Each voice features four multi-wave LFOs, so you can have a lot of modulation freedom. Neat, you can even draw your own waveforms for the LFO with the joystick. On the effects side, you have reverb, delay, and a compressor with dedicated parameters.
Beats & Patterns
The FLEXFM groovebox will focus on beats and pattern generation, but the developer also confirmed that there will be some musical goodies onboard, such as a chord generator, and scales.
To really get the groove going, there will be a step sequencer for each voice with pattern morphing capabilities via the joystick. Alex said: There will be some morphing algorithms. There is also operator masking per step, which adds a lot of flexibility to a single step.
The sequencer also offers functions such as probability, sub-steps, nudges, drills, and more.
On the connection side, it will have individual outs for each voice, a stereo main output, a headphone socket, MIDI I/O, USB, and more.
First Impression
A very exciting hybrid groovebox with some unique features. The sound, based on the initial demos, is very appealing. Gritty and full of character.
Twisted Electrons FLEXFM price and availability are TBA.
More information will follow here: Twisted Electrons
Me like groove boxes. I wonder how this holds up against lets say a Digitone.
different concept: more vintage FM (probably on vintage FM chips), sampling and analog filters
Curious if this is similar to the Sonicware Liven MEGA SYNTHESIS? I’m dying for a Sega Genesis/Mega Drive groovebox, but the UI from the Liven series wasn’t pleasant.
Is this real? That image is scammy as heck. I’d be very interested to know what the “mulhole fall” button does 🤡
this picture comes from the developer instagram page. I will replace them with real ones tomorrow or so
What are you talking about? The inscription under the knob says “multiple” and “fall”, two different functions under one knob, the lower one most likely accessed via a combo with the blue “shift button.
Love my MegaFm from them. it’s a never sell synth for me and I have sold nearly every piece of gear.
Hi, do you have any more updates? Did you learn something about the release date at Superbooth? Do you think we can expect preorders to open in sept/oct like for TWISTfm?
no, the unit shown was an self-built first prototype
This one looks like it has potential, particularly if the workflow is good.