MICRORACK have announced the launch of a Kickstarter campaign that will fund the production of what they say will be the most accessible and portable modular synthesizer platform. The range will feature a collection of compact, affordable preassembled modules that can be arranged on a breadboard, and focuses on providing an accessible, educational experience that will appeal to beginners and experts alike.
A selection of different packages will be available, from starter kits that include just the very basics through to more comprehensive bundles that combine a variety of modules. The range currently includes VCOs, filters, envelope generators, LFOs, sequencers and more, and the vast majority of the devices boast an all-analogue design. The company are keen to emphasise the educational value of the project, and hope that it will provide an inspiring and accessible platform that will lower the barrier of entry and encourage newcomers to try their hand at modular synthesis.
Users are encouraged to develop their own modules for the platform, and all of MICRORACK's own designs will be open source.Following a successful campaign, they plan to develop educational resources such as step-by-step guides and tutorials, as well as launching an online marketplace for users to browse official and collaborative modules along with community creations — their own schematics and designs will be open source, and users are encouraged to develop their own modules for the platform.
Although MICRORACK functions as a self-contained, standalone instrument platform, the company have made sure that it can also play nicely with other gear. MIDI and CV connectivity makes it possible to combine modules with all manner of other electronic instruments, and there’s also a Rack Chassis Addon unit that will convert modules into a standard Eurorack unit.
The platform has already been met with widespread interest ahead of its launch on Kickstarter. The company showcased the system at Superbooth 24, and have since collaborated with other manufacturers on a number of modules. Their Compressor, Non-Linearity, Mixer Channel, and Equalizer devices have been created in collaboration with Zvukofor, and input from multiple developers has lead to the Digital ESP32 module’s firmware being kitted out with features like an oscilloscope, MIDI-CV conversion, USB audio, and MaxMSP device import.
The Explorer Kit offers a selection of modules each accompanied by video tutorials that teach the fundamentals of modular synthesis.
Campaign & Website
The Kickstarter campaign is live now, check out the link below to check it out.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/microrack/microrack-affordable-and-compact-modular-synthesizer
More information about MICRORACK can be found on the company's website.
