Happy Xmas from Soulsby Synths...

... and there's a special present for miniAtmegatron owners!

Here's a preview of the Odytron port for the miniAtmegatron. Turn the miniAtmegatron into a totally different synth engine! The Odytron emulates the features and sound of a classic analogue synth in 8-bit. The synth has 2 filters, 2 oscillators, ring mod, white noise and much much more.

Here's a very rough and ready video demoing it.

The controls are virtually the same as the normal miniAtmegatron. Key differences are:

• Distortion and Phaser knobs control oscillator frequency offset.
• Amp LFO knob controls the overall amplitude output offset.
• Portamento/Wave crusher function only controls portamento
• Waveform function cycles through several combinations of oscillators, noise and ring mod
• Filter function cycles through, off, soft filter, hard filter (more resonant)
• LFO shape function cycles through several routings of the square, saw and S&H to oscillator freq and filter cutoff
• Xmassy sequence in the sequencer, which auto-increments through patterns

I'll write all of this up properly when it is launched officially next year!

To install:

1. Install Arduino IDE. Run it up once, then close it.
2. Download Libraries 2.6. Then put the contents in /*documents folder*/Arduino/Libraries/
3. Download the miniAtmegatron Odytron arduino sketch. Put the contents in /*documents folder*/Arduino/. Then double click SsMinOdytron.ino
4. Remove the miniAtmegatron shield from the Arduino Uno.
5. Attach the jumper onto the Arduino Uno, as shown in the instructions.
6. Reattach the miniAtmegatron shield.
7. Plug in the USB. Goto Tools->Board->Arduino Uno/Genuino. Goto Tools->Port->COMM** (your Arduino Uno).
8. Click upload button (top left, second icon in).
9. That's it. If you want to use the miniAtmegatron with MIDI, you'll need to remove the header again.

Merry Xmas! If you run into any issues with it, just put a message on the forum.

Black Friday deals

If you didn't make it to SynthFestUK this year and missed out on the Atmegatron mega deals, do not worry as they're back for one day only! Head over to the webstore to get the bargains.

• £120 B-Stock Atmegatron (40% off A-Stock price)
• £180 Odytron Special Edition (20% off)

miniAtmegatron back on sale at the webstore

There's new stock of miniAtmegatrons at the webstore. There's a new video for them here and the link to the webstore is here!

Soulsby Synths T-Shirt now in stock!

The official Soulsby Synths T-Shirt is now on sale. There's a range of sizes available. The T-Shirt is black cotton with 3 colour screen print on it. Get yours today!

Available from the Soulsby Synths Webstore.

Soulsby Synths at SynthFest UK

Soulsby Synths will be at SynthFest UK this Saturday (1st Oct). Booth E12

For Atmegatron/Odytron owners there will be free Atcyclotron and Strings overlays available, so come and say hi!

If you're thinking of buying an Atmegatron, there will be B-Stock Atmegatrons and Odytrons for sale at big discounts.

There will be the full range of Soulsby products on demonstration plus a preview of the Odytron software for the new Oscitron module.

New version of Easy Uploader

There's a new version of Easy Uploader on the downloads page. It now features buttons for loading and saving patches. The Odytron and Atmegatron factory sounds are also there for download. There aren't any factory patches for other software versions at present, although this may change. Submissions very welcome!!

News for May

London Synthesizer Expo 2016

KMR audio are organising a synthesizer expo. Soulsby Synths will be there, as will plenty of other synth manufacturers. And most importantly there's also drinks and nibbles!
Friday 13th May
KMR Audio, 1375 High Road, N20 9LN London, United Kingdom
Parking opposite and near Totteridge and Whetstone station on Northern line
Further details here

Noise Kitchen Synth Meeting 2

Soulsby Synths are returning to Brno! We can't wait for the return of Bastl's 2 day synth event. There will be synths, live music, parties and workshops. It's an excellent holiday (erm I mean business trip!) and I really recommend coming.
Friday 27th - Saturday 28th May
PRAHA / Fórum pro architekturu a média
Husova 18a, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic
Further details here

Recent media coverage

Synthlib podcast: provides a lot of background about product development and how the Atmegatron works.

Future Music review: there's a really in depth review of the Odytron Special Edition in this months Future Music. Available online and at all good newsagents!

DivKid Superbooth interview: I demo the upcoming Oscitron Eurorack module and the Strings audio engine for the Atmegatron (now available from the downloads page).

Polyphony comes to the Atmegatron

Strings: The first polyphonic engine for the Atmegatron

There are big changes on the Soulsby Synths Downloads page today, the first of which is a brand new Atmegatron software version called Strings. It is a 4-voice polyphonic audio engine packed with new and interesting features. Some of these are:

• 16 waveforms, which can be individually assigned to each voice
• Waveform Cycler
• Oscillator detune
• Pitch LFO and envelope
• ADSR envelope and gate mode
• Arpeggiator
• 2 phasers
• monophonic mode

Check out this video to hear it in action. There are many clocked parameters such as Phaser, Arpeggiator and Wave Cycler, which when combined can create complex timbres. It is available from the downloads page.

The Easy Uploader: upload Atmegatron software with a couple of clicks!

The other big change on the download page is the new Easy Uploader for Mac and PC. This software allows different audio engines to be uploaded to the Atmegatron with a couple of mouse clicks via the FTDI programmer cable. No more need for installing the Arduino IDE, source code or libraries. The tutorial demonstrates the simple upload process.

Of course if you do want to hack the Atmegatron source code, it is still all available at the Soulsby Synths Github.

Last few Odytrons left

It won't be long now until the Odytron Special Edition has completely sold out, so place your order soon to guarantee one! The Odytron is a limited edition Atmegatron with Odytron artwork and software and presets preinstalled. They come bundled with 3 overlays and a programmer cable, so perfect for trying out the new Easy Uploader!

The Odytron is £225 (inc VAT) available from the web store and selected distributors

Mon 7th March - demo and talk at Music Hackspace

On Monday (7th March) I will be demoing the Atmegatron, Odytron, miniAtmegatron and new Oscitron modules at the Music Hackspace in Hackney. If you're London based, it'd lovely to meet you!

Soulsby synths talk and demo

Details
Date: March 7
Time: 19:00 - 22:00
Cost: Free
Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/soulsby-synths-talk-and-demo-tickets-22460075691

I'll also give a short informal talk on the development of the Atmegatron and will have the original prototype there as well as some other synths in progress

The Odytron is released today!

New warm sounds from the 8-bit Atmegatron

The much anticipated Odytron Special Edition is released today. The Odytron is a limited edition Atmegatron, pre-loaded with the brand new Odytron software and factory presets, as well as having unique Odytron paintwork. Only 150 units have been manufactured.

The Odytron is £225 inc VAT (approx $339) and currently only available from the webstore.

The Odytron software simulates the specification of a classic analogue synth but in an 8-bit environment. The result is a fascinating combination of analogue warmth and 8-bit grit. Features include: 2 independent oscillators (duophonic), 2 filter algorithms + bypass, 2 envelopes, LFO, ring mod, wave sync and numerous modulation methods.

Despite the sound being radically different to the original Atmegatron software, the Odytron is 100% Atmegatron compatible and comes bundled with 3 overlays and a programmer cable. This means that it is essentially 4 synths for the price of one. The overlays for the alternative synth engines are: Atmegatron (the classic software), Atmegadrum (drum machine) & Delayertron (delay effects synth).

Odytron software now on downloads page

Existing Atmegatron owners can download the Odytron software from the downloads page for free and can also purchase optional extras: vinyl overlay, programmer cable and instructions.

I'm home!

Back from LA, after a very exciting first NAMM. Will do a proper post about it in a day or 2. The new stock of overlays have arrived. Normal service at the webstore can resume and I'll start dispatching orders tomorrow. Many thanks for your patience!

Odytrons will be start to be dispatched from 1st Feb. Software will also go online then too.

Soulsby Synths at NAMM 2016

Hall C, Booth 5000, 21st-24th Jan, Anaheim, CA

We are very excited to be exhibiting at NAMM this year and will be demonstrating a whole range of new products. We are part of the WMD Superbooth and are exhibiting alongside some of the worlds best indie synth manufacturers. If you are attending this year, we would love to see you! Here's some of the new products we'll have on display:

The Oscitron - Eurorack module

Soulsby Synths’ first Eurorack module is a wavetable oscillator. It features the biquad filter algorithms and wavetables that gives the Atmegatron its classic sound. In addition it provides an audio input to capture user wavetables. There are many parameters for capturing and processing the wavetables. The Oscitron will be launched later this year and there will be preview videos demonstrating its full range of features.

The Odytron Special Edition Atmegatron

The Odytron is a limited edition Atmegatron, preloaded with Odytron software and presets. The audio engine provides the features of a classic analogue synth, but in an 8-bit environment. It comes with a programmer cable and 3 overlays to use with alternative software. Available from the 1st February.

miniAtmegatron case

The miniAtmegatron DIY kit was launched last year and received an enthusiastic response. The offical miniAtmegatron case is simple to assemble and provides excellent protection for the PCB and Arduino. They are available from the Soulsby Synths webstore (click drop-down to select case).

See you there!