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Kodomo has introduced The MASK1EX, a desktop synthesizer that they say offers “all the incredible sounds of the MASK1 in a small, stylish, lightweight and cost-efficient package.”

The oscillators are based on bitmask synthesis. A sine wave is split into different sections that are repeated, scaled, inverted or silenced, to build a new waveform.

Features:

• The Kodomo MASK1EX comes with 377 preset sounds and 200 user memory slots.
• Each voice offers two bitmask oscillators, two multimode digital filters, four envelopes, a noise source and two LFOs.
• Onboard stereo effects.
• Change articulation between notes depending on how you play.
• Built-in looper makes it ideal for jamming.

Specifications:

Synthesis type      Bitmask, Subtractive

Polyphony             10 voices with optimized allocation

Play modes           Polyphonic, monophonic, slurred, mono portamento on legato, paraphonic,

hybrid poly-mono on legato, slurred paraphonic, mono retrigger, poly retrigger

Multitimbrality    1 part (2 in layered/split mode)

Oscillators           20 digital bitmask oscillators (two per voice) with 8x oversampling,

512 masks each

Noise                    10 generators with programmable sample-and-hold frequency

Filter                   20 (two per voice), 12dB/oct or 24dB/oct, resonant with pitch tracking and

4 modes (low, high, band pass, notch).

Envelopes             4 loopable ADSR per voice (osc1, osc2, noise, filter), 3 delta-decay (osc1

mask, osc2 mask, pitch)

LFO                       2 per part with 7 waveforms and noise, delay, decay and 16 destinations

Arpeggiator         26 patterns with adaptive or fixed chords, latchable, retrig or pitch change

modes. Arp do send note events to MIDI out.

Looper                  Up to 10000 events, unlimited duration, single track. Records notes, pitch

bend, mod wheel, aftertouch and sustain pedal.

Effects                  Two stereo effects in series. First effect: chorus, phaser, distortion,

bitcrusher, tremolo and ring mod (64 types). Second effect: delay, comb filter, reverb, room simulations and distortion (48 types)

Modulations       Velocity (6 destinations), modulation wheel (16 destinations), aftertouch (16

destinations), LFO1 and LFO2 (16 destinations each)

Split                   Configurable split point, balance between voices, transpose, panning and

tuning

Layer                   Configurable balance between voices, transpose, panning and tuning

Misc                     Voice pan spread, polyphonic portamento, keyboard envelope rate scaling

Memory              377 factory presets, internal storage for 200 user voices. EEPROM-based (no

battery required)

Audio outputs    2 balanced 1/4″ TRS jack, pro audio level with +/-12V internal power supply,

1/4″ jack headphones

MIDI                  2 DIN (in, out), class-compliant USB type B, SysEx voice transmit/receive,

CC-mapped voice parameters

Controls               23 buttons, 2 rotary encoders

Display                 4-digit red display

Pedal input           Sustain, 1/4″ TS jack, adaptive polarity

Tuning                 400-470Hz. 6 temperaments including arabic tuning.

Size                        33 x 11 x 3cm

Weight                   458g

Power                     External 12V DC adapter, AC 100-240V in

Panel                      White, gold-plated

The Kodomo MASK1EX is priced at €299 ex.VAT. It’s currently listed as sold out.