Archive for May, 2026

Queen Elmyra Drone Synthesizer Now Available To Pre-Order


Neutral Labs has launched a Kickstarter project to fund production of the Queen Elmyra synthesizer, an 8-voice synthesizer designed for drone, experimental sound design, and modular-style routing.

The instrument features up to 24 digital oscillators, with control via touchpads, MIDI, or gate inputs. The front panel includes 69 knobs and faders, along with 96 patch points, and all parameters are CV-controllable. It can also be configured as eight independent mono synth voices.

Queen Elmyra includes analog tube circuitry for saturation and distortion, as well as a multimode analog filter that can be modified by inserting components such as diodes or capacitors directly into the front panel. A set of stereo digital effects is also included, with flexible routing that allows for both stereo processing and chained mono signal paths using patch cables.

Each voice can function as a modulation source, enabling cross-modulation between voices and control over parameters in the distortion, filter, and effects sections. The instrument is designed to integrate with modular and semi-modular systems.

While oriented toward experimental sound design, the synth also supports more structured use cases. Its digital oscillators eliminate the need for manual tuning and can be quantized to various scales. Modulation sources and sequences can be synchronized to clock or MIDI, or operate freely.

Features:

  • 8 wavetable-based voices with up to 3 oscillators per voice
  • Suite of per-voice effects with 2 effect slots per voice
  • Quantized, microtonal and chord modes
  • Analog stereo tube saturation/distortion
  • Analog stereo multimode filter with adjustable resonance flavour by plugging components into the front panel
  • Dozens of stereo effects (delay, reverb, chorus, phaser, filters, distortion and more)
  • Analog and digital effects chain is fully patchable (stereo or dual mono)
  • Every parameter is under CV control (96 patch points)
  • Sequencer per voice
  • Each voice can be turned into a modulation source in various modes
  • MIDI In and MIDI Thru
  • Clock input, reset input, clock output
  • Balanced stereo outputs, headphone output, individual voice outputs
  • Set of patch cables and multiples included
  • Bamboo and steel case, 410 mm x 265 mm, 3.9 kg

Production of the Neutral Labs Queen Elmyra is being funded via a Kickstarter project, which is already fully funded. It is available to project backers starting at about $1,761 USD.

*Note: Crowdfunding projects involve risk, which is documented at the project site.

Vintage Drum Machine For Korg ‘logue Devices

Developer Gerard Braad has introduced the NT-78 Vintage Drum Machine Bundle for Korg ‘logue devices.

This reproduction of a Vintage Drum Machine is created by GladiTek and Regroove using the RS1 Synthesizer engine. The bundle brings a ‘vintage style’ drum machine to the NTS-1, Drumlogue, MicroKorg2 and NTS3 KaossPad.

The demo shows the RS1 Drum engine running on the NTS1 mkII.

The bundle includes:

  • NT-78 for Korg NTS1 mkII (Logue OSC)
  • NT-78 voice cart for RS1 Modular
  • NT-78 for Drumlogue (Logue OSC)
  • NT-78 for MicroKorg2 (Logue OSC)
  • NT-78 for NTS3 KaossPad (Logue OSC)

The NT-78 Vintage Drum Machine Bundle is available now with an intro price of $7.80 USD (normally $15)

 

Melbourne Instruments Nina v3.0 Adds 45 Synthesis Models From Mutable Instruments Braids


Melbourne Instruments has released Nina firmware version 3.0.0, an update that adds the complete Mutable Instruments Braids synth engine.

The Nina synth’s new Macro Oscillator Mode firmware update adds 45 synthesis waveform models, using open-source code from Émilie Gillet’s extremely influential Braids synth module. The new mode dramatically expands Nina’s sonic capabilities, unlocking a wide range of synthesis options.

All 45 synthesis models run across 12 polyphonic voices, each of which can be additionally shaped by a dedicated, overdrivable analog filter. This means that you can now layer Braids oscillators and analog VCOs across four multitimbral parts, morph between presets and sequence everything.

You can preview the update via the video, embedded above, by sound designer PROTOVOLT.

Features:

  • Analog VCO emulation
  • Additive and digital synthesis
  • Vowel/Formant synthesis
  • 2-operator FM
  • Simulation of string and wind instruments
  • Wavetable synthesis with smooth XY interpolation
  • Filtered, colored, and pitched noise
  • Granular synthesis
  • Electronic drum sound simulation

The Nina Macro Oscillator update is available now as a free download