Hans Zimmer Debuts ‘The Largest Modular Synthesizer In The World’
New synth maker SynTesla shared this video, highlighting their work for Hans Zimmer to create “the largest modular synth in the world”.
The system, aka Giorgio III, is a massive 5U modular synthesizer, created by SynTesla (Pierre-Jean Tardiveau) in collaboration with Yusynth (Yves Usson) for Zimmer’s 2025/2026 world tour. The system is completely uncompromising and over the top, or as SynTesla describes their synths, ‘Unnecessary, Therefore Essential’.
Here’s what Tardiveau has to say about the custom modular synth:
“This synthesizer is undoubtedly the largest modular synth in the world, consisting of 12 cabinets measuring 5 x 5U + 1 x 3U in height. Only 10 cabinets are installed on stage, with two others serving as back-up behind the scenes.
This monster represents 10 months of hard work in total.
23 types of modules were designed and produced in large numbers. To give you an example, the synth is composed of 3 separate units of 4 voices each, for a total of 12 voices, with 2 VCOs, 2 DCOS, 2 filters, 6 DADSRs, 6 VCAs, 1 resonator, 4 LFOs, buffered multis, logic, attenuators, attenuverter, mixers, wavefolders, gate delays, summing mixers, etc. etc…
The modules were manufactured in France by Syntesla and designed by Yusynth and SynTesla. They were assembled in Los Angeles at Hans Zimmer’s studios and then shipped to Germany for final assembly on the tour stage.
Hans-Zimmer-Pierre-Jean-Tardiveau-in-front-of-Giorgio-III-the-largest-modular-synthesizer-in-the-world
When the synth arrived in Oberhausen, Hans Zimmer had never seen it before (he was rehearsing in London while it was being assembled in LA), and I can promise you that his smile in the photo is not fake (neither is mine).
The electrical part of the cabinets was also designed and built by SynTesla. It includes an oversized power supply with a capacity of 10 amps, an active filter that provides perfectly stable and clean voltage, and a power distribution board in SynTesla and DotCom format, as well as an integrated voltmeter and ammeter. The whole system has several levels of safety.
This made it possible to connect each cabinet to a solid-state relay socket controlled by DMX from the lighting console. The robustness of the device allows the whole or part of the system to be switched on and off in sequence, depending on the pieces being played on stage.”
Zimmer is featuring the modular system in his ‘Next Level’ live concert series. Here’s a video, via C3|Nik, catching it in action:
Tardiveau has been sharing previews of his work on Facebook, but the SynTesla site is currently a placeholder.
“I’m extremely honored to have been chosen, along with my fledgling company, to work on a monumental project with one of the biggest names in the music industry,” notes Tardiveau. “This is a rare opportunity for me, a real boon for SynTesla, and I’ve chosen to devote myself fully to it. This will mean postponing the opening of the SynTesla boutique and the release of related products by several months.”
We’re looking forward to seeing what SynTesla has in store for synthesists.
Watch the videos, and share your thoughts on Hans Zimmer’s Giorgio III modular synthesizer in the comments!
