On to the programmable arpeggiator/sequencer. A single on/off switch controls the arpeggiator. You might expect more options, but that's really it. It's a basic 'as played' pattern, meaning notes will be repeated in a 16th pattern in the order in which you hold them. There are no other patterns, no octave settings, no time divisions and no repeats. There is, however, an SH-101-style sequencer. Hold the Arp/Seq button and input notes from either the touch-sensitive keyboard or MIDI. The sequencer will record the notes at 16th note intervals. You can insert rests too if desired. When you're done, hit a note and the sequence will play back from the beginning, transposed according to which note you play. Both the arpeggiator and sequencer can be clocked either to the internal tempo, MIDI clock or the analogue Sync input. The arpeggiator, it is fair to say, won't win any prizes, but a simple step sequencer is useful to have and can spark new ideas.
A distortion and delay effect are the final piece of the sonic puzzle. The distortion is a waveshaper, so can sound quite extreme unless used carefully. There is only a single control for amount. The delay is a digital delay with dry/wet, time and feedback controls. The delay can rage from around 0.02 to 750 ms, making it useful for modulation effects such as chorus and flanging (you can automate the delay time in the modulation matrix), as well as normal delay duties. It can also sync to clock at various subdivisions of either internal, MIDI or Sync tempo.
If you are happy to do some sound design on the computer and you want an inexpensive and portable package, the Craft Synth 2.0 will do you well.
Conclusion
There's a lot of fun to be had with the Craft Synth 2.0. The synthesis engine is surprisingly deep. If judging this synth purely by its sound design potential, it would get a resounding thumbs up. Wavetable synthesis is a gateway to all kinds of unique and interesting sounds that would have an analogue synth flummoxed. It seems to excel at sharp leads, cutting bass sounds, Detroit-style chord stabs and thick detuned unison sounds. There is plenty to like about the sounds this thing makes.
A hardware synthesizer is more than just sounds, though. The physical interface is important and this is where I feel the synth struggles to deliver. The density of the knob layout, the very small printing on the front panel and the colour choices mean I was constantly squinting to see which button and encoder combo I needed for a particular parameter. To make things worse, a number of parameters have specific lists of items to choose from, but because there is no screen, you are left scrolling in the dark. Choosing things like key, scale, specific chords and oscillator modifiers can feel like pot luck. Then there's the inability to assign velocity, mod wheel or aftertouch without using the software editor. All these problems combined, for me at least, result in the sound design being more pleasurable on the editor than it is on the synth itself. That could be a problem for some. One positive is that the editor is excellent, the layout is good and, when using it, sound design becomes easy and rewarding, but you have to decide whether that is a compromise worth accepting.
If you are happy to do some sound design on the computer and you want an inexpensive and portable package, the Craft Synth 2.0 will do you well. I can imagine it being useful in a live rig, where you program your sounds back at the studio, then take the synth out to a gig. It won't break your back or your bank, and if it does get beer split on it, then it won't be the end of the world. A synth of this price is always going to compromise somewhere. Perhaps Modal Electronics tried to cram too much in, resulting in a necessary reliance on the accompanying app, or maybe they've come up with a deep synthesizer with just the right combination of price and features to appeal. The answer, of course, will depend entirely on the buyer.
Alternatives
Wavetable synthesizers at this price are thin on the ground. The brand-new Korg NTS‑1 is a build-it-yourself synth which comes as a kit. The synth engine is a single monophonic voice taken from the Prologue and Minilogue XD, which means it can do wavetable synthesis, but retains the user-programmable oscillators of it's older siblings. It is even smaller and cheaper than the Craft Synth 2.0.
Alternatively, if you save a few more pennies, the Arturia MicroFreak (reviewed by Simon Sherbourne in SOS June 2019) will give you a larger synth with more hands–on control, a two-octave velocity-sensitive keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch and multiple synthesis types including wavetable, additive, karplus strong, superwave, FM and granular formant. It is a more fully featured (but less backpackable) synth, but will cost you more than double the price.
MODALapp
Connect the Craft Synth 2.0 to a computer or mobile device via USB and you can use MODALapp to control every aspect of the synth. Not only is there a fully featured patch editor and librarian, but firmware updates are done here also. MODALapp is free and available for OS X, iOS, Windows and Android. If you are lucky enough to own any other Modal synths, it will also perform the same functions for those too.
The app is comprehensive and rather well designed. The patch editor is logically laid out, and very easy to get to grips with. The patch librarian offers useful functions such as patch renaming (not possible on the synth itself) as well as options to backup, reorder, initialise and randomise patches. Various settings are also on offer such as MIDI channel, MIDI filters, clock source, pitch-bend range and so on.
Some functions, which I would regard as essential to good sound design, like assigning velocity, mod wheel or aftertouch, can only be done using the app. This is rather a major flaw because it means that, regardless of your thoughts on using computer patch editors, you'll have to. I can't think of the last time I made a patch which didn't use either velocity or mod wheel. It is rather impossible, therefore, to finish a patch without loading up the editor.
Oscillator Modifiers
Here is a full list of the Oscillator Modifiers, which allow you to cross-modulate and effect the two oscillators in different ways.
1. Phase Modulation: Yamaha FM-style phase modulation where Wave 1 phase is modulated by Wave 2.
2. Window Sync: Wave 1 oscillator sync with internal sync pitch.
3. Ring Modulation: Classic ring mod, Wave 1 and 2 are multiplied together.
4. Triangle Wavefolder: Applies variable gain to Wave 1 which results in wave folding.
5. De-Rez: Reduces the sample-rate, for a more lo-fi sound.
6. Rise-Over-Run Phaseshaper: Modifies the phase and resulting waveform from Wave 1, allowing PWM-style sounds as the waveform is modified.
7. Glitchy Sine Waveshaper: A subtle bit-crushed sine-wave waveshaper applied to Wave 1.
8. Window Amp Sync: An alternative to Window Sync.
9. Frequency Modulation: Wave 2 modulates the frequency of Wave 1. Similar to Phase Modulation, but more extreme.
10. Hard Sync: Classic hard sync as found on many synths. It uses an internal oscillator to sync Wave 1 to, rather than using Wave 2.
11. Min Modulation: A type of amplitude modulation. It compares the amplitude of Wave 1 and Wave 2 and outputs whichever is lowest.
12. Sine Wavefolder: Same as the Triangle Wavefolder, but wraps waveforms using a sinusoidal response instead.
13. Bit-Crush: Classic bitrate reduction. Great for 8-bit chip tune sounds.
14. Scrunch Phaseshaper: Messes with the way the wavetables are read.
15. Lo-Fi Phaseshaper: An alternative version of above.
16. Vocalized Sync: Combines Window Sync and Phaseshaping to create formant-like tones and strange sync sounds.
MIDI Spec
When the Craft Synth 2.0 is plugged into a computer via USB it is fully class-compliant, so no drivers necessary. The touch-sensitive keyboard, arpeggiator and sequencer will send MIDI notes, and the encoders will send MIDI CC. Likewise, the synth will respond to incoming notes and MIDI CC so you can fully automate it from an external sequencer. A full list of the MIDI CCs that the synth responds to is available in the excellent manual.
The sequencer, arpeggiator, delays and LFOs will sync to MIDI clock automatically if detected. The global MIDI channel can be set from the synth itself or from the MODALapp. You can also recall presets using MIDI Program Changes. Overall, Modal should be applauded for a good MIDI implementation, something which many electronic instruments in this price bracket don't manage.
Polychain
Up to four Craft Synth 2.0s can be chained together to make a four-note polyphonic group. It works through the MIDI din connectors and requires each Craft Synth 2.0 to be attached via MIDI In and Out to the next in the chain. The master unit is at the front of the chain and, with a secret button combination, all the units will snap into the correct mode, allowing you to control all four from the master. I only had one review unit so didn't get to try it, but I'm having fun imagining the 32–oscillator mayhem that would be possible.
Pros
- A very capable wavetable synthesizer.
- Backpack friendly.
- Excellent editor/librarian included for free.
- The price.
Cons
- A reliance on the editor app for some basic functions means you'll be using it whether you want to or not.
- Despite having eight oscillators, it's monophonic.
Summary
The Craft Synth 2.0 is a big upgrade from the original Craft Synth. The synthesis engine is hugely improved, bringing wavetables, FM, phase modulation, effects and more. It feels, in fact, like a completely new synthesizer. The price-to-synth ratio is high, but it is not without compromises.