Superbooth 2019: Gamechanger Audio demos electro-mechanical Motor Synth
Oscillations made by electric motors and reading of optical waveshapes.
With a name like Gamechanger Audio, expectations for the company’s products are high from the outset. Thankfully, the brand seldom disappoints. Its latest design, Motor Synth is their first synthesizer, and an unusual one at that.
Featuring eight digitally controlled electric motors, each generating oscillations through inductance, the Motor Synth is unique. In addition, optical waveshapes are printed on to motorised disks which are in turn read by a UV sensor and converted into audio.
According to Ilja Krumins, Chief Guitar Officer at Gamechanger Audio, there are three key advantages of the Motor Synth over other synths, besides its incredible looks.
First, the optical waveshapes have a warm quality to them. Secondly, there are “infinite glitchy glissando” effects that arise out of the limitations of the instrument’s construction – every oscillator takes a fraction of a second to get up to speed, which is part of the character. Thirdly, the inductive signal from the motors could be, according to Krumins, “the most bass you can get out of anything”.
Check out the demo above to hear a great deal of those low frequencies.
Gamechanger Audio will kick off crowdfunding of the Motor Synth later this month and it is expected to cost between €1,200 and €1,500. More information on gamechangeraudio.com.
