Sonicware ELZ_1 play 3.0: major free firmware update for the multi-engine synth

September 16, 2026 Synth Anatomy Hardware, News, Synthesizers 1

Sonicware ELZ_1 play: major free firmware update 3.0 brings a redesigned preset browser, better menus, and more to the multi-engine synth.

Today, Sonicware released the ELZ_1 Core, the desktop version of the ELZ_1 play multi-engine Synthesizer.

Alongside this new hardware, Sonicware also unveiled a major free firmware update 3.0 for the ELZ_1 play, featuring some new additions and changes.

What Is Sonicware ELZ_1 play?

The ELZ_1 play is a multi-engine Synthesizer with three oscillators, each with 18 selectable colorful oscillator engines. They include a super oscillator and distinct granular engines with sampling. 8-bit oscillators, physical modeling nd more.

With firmware 2.0, they also introduced a wavetable oscillator with 16 Waldorf-licensed wavetables and Serum table import.

It also includes a multimode filter, 4-mode envelopes, LFOs, and a multi-FX processor with 49 algorithms, including five granular processors added with firmware 2.0.

Like the ELZ_1 core, the play also features a 4-track multi-track audio looper that records the internal engine and external signals.

Sonicware ELZ_1 play 3.0 (v3)

The new firmware is a free update for existing users. It doesn’t add new oscillator models or FX algorithms; the focus is on the workflow.

Firmware 3.0 introduces a redesigned patch browser with sound categories, so you can search by the kind of sound you need and tag them to find them again. It also includes a favorite function to assign the ones you need to a shortcut for instant recall.

Furthermore, it adds three performance macros, each capable of controlling up to three parameters at once. A new redesigned edit UI is also part of this free update and keeps deeper programming close at hand,

Here is a little demo of the ELZ_1 play with an iPad processor