Modal Electronics has given its portable virtual analog MPE synth SKULPTsynth a small “SE” facelift with a new interface, better built-quality & new sounds.
If you are looking for a powerful, fat virtual analog Synthesizer for little money, you cannot ignore the Modal Electronics Sculptsynth. The small, compact 4-voice virtual analog MPE-capable Synthesizer is a real sound beast.
With its two flexible oscillator blocks, excellent modeling filters, and many modulations option, the instrument offers a wide range of rich sounds. Now the SKULPTsynth goes into a second round. More of a facelift than a new generation
Modal Electronics Skulptsynth SE
SKULPTsynth SE is the successor to the original SKULPTsynth that I reviewed for you in 2020. The developers have neither changed nor improved the engine. It still has a deep 32-oscillator virtual analog sound engine with 2 oscillator groups with up to 4 oscillators per voice, a morphable 2-pole resonant filter, 12-slot mod matrix, effects, arp & sequencer. It runs on the latest firmware that also supports MPE.
The new SKULPTsynth SE remains as handy and practical as its predecessor. But the front panel has changed. It now comes with traditionally colored, black & white touch keypads, easy-to-read front panel descriptors, and improved built quality says Modal.
Yes, that’s right, the front panel has become easier to read. It’s less chaotic than the first. The new version also ships with 127 brand-new professionally designed patches that fit perfectly in different music productions. Important know is that the new SE version is fully backward compatible means you can load any patch from the original unit.
The new Skulptsynth SE also gets along perfectly with the free cross-platform MODALapp that makes sound editing and sound management very easy and straightforward. It remains battery-operated and has the same connections including the micro USB. It’s a shame a USB-C update would have been very nice.
At first glance a nice little update for the SKULPTsynth. An engine update would have been nice, but so they don’t make current users of the original version unhappy. Clever move.
Modal SKULPTsynth SE will be available in mid-May 2021 for £169.99 (UK, incl. VAT), 199.99 € (incl. 20% VAT), and $199.99 (US excl. VAT).
More information here: Modal Electronics
Modal Synths are available at our partner
Perhaps the biggest news would be about the price drop…
Something a bit puzzling from the specs:
Weight: 1.43 kg / 3.15 lbs (without batteries)
Maybe that’s a mistake. I have a very hard time believing that it could be as heavy as a laptop.
can ask Modal, if they would provide skin plates for overlaying?