Knobcon 2026: Frequency Factory previewed Dreamcatcher, a new dreamy multi-engine granular Synthesizer currently in development.
Last year at Knobcon 13 (2025), Frequency Factory showcased the first prototype of the Dreamcatcher, a multi-engine synth featuring granular synthesis. What makes it special is its highly tactile, knob-heavy interface with no screen.
Knobcon 14 (2026) took place last weekend, and the developer was back on site with a new prototype of the Dreamcatcher synth.
Dreamcatcher is an upcoming synth with a granular engine that can process live input, sample into it, and then granulate or use the built-in sound content.
It also includes a 2-operator FM oscillator and a wavetable oscillator to join the granular engine, plus modulation and effects.
The version the developer brought along at Knobcon 2026 is still a prototype, but a new one. At first glance, the features haven’t changed much, but the hardware got some additional controls and new knobs.
He added a new keyboard tracking functionality to the comb filter, effectively turning it into a pseudo-instrument—a sort of small physical modeling synth.
There was no information on when the Dreamcatcher will hit the market or how much it will cost. It looks intriguing, sounds nice, and looks like a lot of fun thanks to its hands-on interface. I’ll keep you posted.
More info will follow here: Frequency Factory
Article from September 12, 2025
Last weekend, Knobcon took place in Chicagoland, where several new Synthesizer products premiered – for example, the first Terrain hardware Synthesizer. News that generated a lot of interest.
There was more synth news. The new company Frequency Factory showed off the prototype of the Dreamcatcher Synthesizer.
Frequency Factory Dreamcatcher
Sean Popejoy, the developer, brought one of the first prototypes of the Dreamcatcher to Knobcon. According to Frequency Factory, the final Dreamcatcher Synthesizer will have a different look and design.
As you can see in the picture and the linked video, the prototype is a very knobby, colorful desktop Synthesizer.
At its core is a granular engine that can process live input and utilize built-in samples. If this developer info is correct, it will also be possible to import custom samples in the final version.
Density, size, position, and spread parameters control the granular engine. Additional routable randomization for the density, size, and position will also be available.
A 2-operator FM oscillator and a wavetable oscillator join the granular engine. The FM oscillator will offer different shapes and resolutions, while the wavetable offers controls like position, size, pitch, and xfade.
It is not yet known whether you can use all three oscillator engines together or only individually. On the right, you’ll find a tweakable comb filter for extra harmonic fun and a classic filter to tame unwanted frequencies.
There is also a reverb + delay combo with an allpass filter design and a random parameter, allowing you to create randomly generated reverb environments.
Sean Popejoy didn’t specifically talk about the modulation engine. Still, you can see that the Dreamcatcher prototype has an ADSR envelope and two LFOs with depth and rate controls, plus a mini mod matrix. Additionally, there is an arpeggiator.
First Impression
It’s hard to say much about the Dreamcatcher Synth right now, since it’s an early prototype, except that it’s an exciting project I’ll keep an eye on for you.
Frequency Factory Dreamcatcher is fully in development—price and availability TBA.
More information here: Frequency Factory
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