Gen Thalz Windang is a new compact experimental noise Synthesizer built around a linear feedback shift register (LFSR).
Two or three oscillators, a filter, two envelopes, and an LFO – anyone interested in and using synths almost certainly has a synth with a subtractive design. They’re also widely available in hardware.
There are also synths that defy this and follow their own path. Mostly described as experimental. Gen Thalz has released Windang, a new synth in this fascinating category that takes you into unknown sonic territories.
Gen Thalz Windang
Windang is a new compact, experimental Synthesizer from Gen Thalz. Once plugged in, the user can expect a very loud, noisy, and gritty sonic adventure.
An engine built around a digital linear feedback shift register (LFSR) circuit delivers these rambunctious tones. At its core are two triangle-core VCOs controllable from the user interface for frequency, tune, and a unique LFSR control.
They are the main source of the Windang Synthesizer, and they also control its internal register’s clock and data inputs. Then you have a built-in vactrol-based low-pass gate and a resonant low-pass filter that can self-oscillate.
To make your sound more unique, it also houses a glitch echo with a freeze amount control and two freeze modes: momentary stutter and a subtle alternative. Classic modulation is not included.
However, the register handles this by modulating the VCOs, filter, gate, and effects. It infuses the sounds with an organic, chaotic movement that remains controllable. You can describe them as pseudo-random sequences that drift between pattern and chaos.
Plus, the low-pass gate mentioned earlier brings a natural, acoustic timbre to the sound.
Hands-On Control
The Gen Thalz Windang synth features a small selection of parameters. Everything is clearly laid out without a display and menu-diving; the focus is on a hands-on experience. This makes it ideal for jamming and performing.
Both VCOs, filter, and LFSR controls are arranged in a 3×3 grid on the left, while the right has three push-buttons for the freeze effect, external input, and main output. Each is paired with a bipolar toggle that flips the button’s function.
Dedicated LFSR knobs attenuate the register’s control voltage on the way to each destination.
On the connection side, you have a quartet of CV inputs on the top for both oscillator frequencies, the low-pass filter, and freeze. So, you can perfectly integrate the synth into your existing analog synth or modular setup.
Let’s take a look at the back. It has a power supply input, a main audio output, and an external input. The latter allows you to inject external signals into the circuit. This, in turn, transforms the Windgang synthesizer into a wild, experimental sound processor.
Gen Thalz Windang is a wild, experimental trip and produces a wide range of extremely noisy digital textures. The developer says they range from rubbery pulses and slushy modulation to metallic chatter, percussive glitches, harsh static, broken-glass noise, and abrasive mirror-scraping frequencies.
First Impression
The Windang is a special Synthesizer that lets you explore sonic extremes. It’s a fabulous example showing how colorful the synth world is. It doesn’t always have to be the 100th Moog-inspired synth; sometimes it can be a crazy noise-maker like this one.
Gen Thalz Windang is available now for $365 USD with free shipping, including the US and Asia. In the EU, it’s $375.
More information here: Gen Thalz
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