The Synth Anyone Can Build

Traditional and current modular synthesizers can appear barbaric, daunting, and expensive, leaving most people to feel as if they need a take out a loan, not just for the synthesizer, but for the degree in engineering or mathematics they might think they need to operate it. Even if you're not on Morton Subotnick's level, properly utilizing the wiring and circuitry of analog synths can be daunting, and there are no entry level modular synths in the market. You’re either all in or just plain out.

The New York City-based company called littleBits wants to change all of that. For a few years, they've been creating an open source library of electronic “modules” that snap together with magnets and fill the void that separates the entry level users from the pro. These kits are perfect for prototyping as they require no soldering, wiring, programming or other construction, making them into a kind of electronic LEGO set. It's almost foolproof too, in that if you’re about to connect a circuit incorrectly, the magnets deflect, leaving it pretty hard to mess up a combination.

LittleBits has now furthered their idea and partnered with Korg to create magnetic synthesizer modules. Starting at $150, the basic kit includes one power source, two oscillators (tone generators), one mixer, one filer (based off the MS-20), delay (based off of the Korg Monotron line), one four-step sequencer, one random/noise generator, a multiple (split one signal into two) and a speaker/audio out for headphones or connection to computer. I was able to start jamming out loops in no time.

The kit is completely open source, and because the parts connect via magnets, no patch cables are needed, meaning no mess of wires, which really may be the best bit. Having used it for awhile, it’s clear the magnet system makes for easy experimentation, which makes LittleBits’ synth more accessible.

In 2013, with synth apps a dime a dozen, that might not sound like much. But the downside to all the software-based synthesizers is the lack of touch, character, and instant gratification in creating a completely unique sound that may never be fully re-created again. Most every musician knows what a Moog will look like and how the bass on it will shake a stadium. Not many will recall an ugly plug-in that they used quickly to finish out a project.

Sure, you can buy a keyboard to attach to your computer and sit through assigning knobs and load up patches to expand upon, but this kills a little of the uniqueness and learning experience in the process of sound creation. There is no uncertainty of “what will happen if I connect this to this?” and physically move the units around. One should be immersed in the instrument, not the computer.

The littleBits kit may appear as a mere toy compared to something like a Synthesizers.com or Eurorack modular synthesizer, but the tiny modules pack a kick and the knobs give nice control and precision while composing sounds. My hope is that a MIDI or CV component is added, so you could connect and control the kit with other equipment and vice versa.

As littleBits's Paul Rothman told our colleagues at Noisey recently, their new synth was intended to subvert the logic of the analog synth.

The intention was that we would have both kids and adults being really into this, whether or not they are brand new to music or electronics or analog synthesis or they are people that are familiar with it. I know the people in our office and in Korg’s office who are very familiar with synthesizers and things like that have a lot of fun playing with the kit because it is a totally different way to play with a synthesizer. It’s very free and loose and you can try things you normally wouldn’t think about with a conventional instrument.

It would be an overstatement to say that among the many recent musical developments that have overtaken New York lately, and North Brooklyn in particular, few have been as ground-shaking as the resurgence in modular synthesizers. But it wouldn't be far from an overstatement.

Luckily for wannabe analog synth heads, there's a growing and supportive community eager to instruct in the Ways of the Synth. Still, there is one piece missing that keeps modular systems out of most people's homes: most people have no idea how to use them or what they even are. While littleBits's synth isn't the end-all, be-all of modular synths, it's fun to use, and it's a concept that hopefully will inspire more user-friendly music machines.