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At Knobcon 2025, held Sept 5-7 in the Chicagoland area, muSonics previewed their latest creation, the Four Voice polyphonic synthesizer in MU format.

The muSonics Four Voice is a fully-modular system, with internal normalization. It builds on the company’s previously introduced Vanilla Synth, a MU format synth, inspired by classic Tom Oberheim designs.

The Four Voice essentially combines four Vanilla Synth voices in a single case, with a few additional models to handle polyphonic control.

The muSonics Four Voice features four of the company’s Vanilla Synth voices, plus some new modules, like the Polyphonic Envelopes module, that let you play the system as a polysynth

Like the Oberheim Four Voice that it takes inspiration from, the muSonics Four Voice is built from four completely independent synth voices.

This means that each voice has its own dedicated set of controls, and that creating a polyphonic patch requires adjusting the setting on each of the voices. This is more work than tweaking a computer-controlled poly design, but the result is that each voice has slight variations, creating a very rich and interesting sound.

It also means that you can configure the voices with distinct sounds and use the system as four multi-timbral voices and in other combinations.

Unlike the Oberheim Four Voice, the muSonics Four Voice is fully modular, and made up of individual MU modules. This means that you can treat it as four individual modular synthesizers, expanding the sonic possibilities immensely.

And you can treat the system as a large modular system, using modules from multiple voices to create complex patches to expand your sound design options.

The muSonic Four Voice is a dotcom-style Moog format design, meaning it offers the traditional look and usability of ‘man-size’ modules, but with modern power and CV/Gate standards and connectivity.

Large controls let you precisely dial in sounds. Clear layout makes it easy to understand the signal flow. And knobs are sized hierarchically, with the largest knobs reserved for parameters that you’re more likely to want to adjust in performance.

It’s clear that muSonic’s Suit and Tie Guy has put a tremendous amount of thought into the design. All this would be meaningless, though, if it sound great – which it does.

A video overview, via CatSynth TV, with muSonic’s Matt Baxley:

The system that muSonics introduced at Knobcon is a prototype and the format may change. Suit said that he’s considering reducing the width of the case and making the system a little taller, so that all controls are in easy reach of one hand.

Details on pricing and availability are still to come at the muSonics site.

Eternal Research has announced that its triangular instrument, The Demon Box, will be “ready for the world” and on sale for preorders.

Years in development, the Demon Box uses 33 inductors grouped in three triangular channels of 11 inductors to transform electromagnetic frequencies. The Demon Box can be used on its own to create unique sounds or it can be incorporated into a larger setup including as an audio-visual controller. The instrument is perfect for sound designers, composers, artists, and other creatives who want to find new ways to conjure and explore sound. It also offers ample opportunity for visual applications like video synthesis, DMX lighting, and coding platforms like Max, Jitter, and TouchDesigner.

Eternal Research founder Alexandra Fierra explains, “The Demon Box is a physical manifestation of a bigger idea. It’s an idea in contrast to the idea that all the organizing principles we’ve hitherto devised are music, and all that is not part of that is noise.” She adds, “Our goal is to bridge the gap between science and music, to turn the forces that made the electric guitar and MIDI possible into an instrument for the 21st century.”

Demon Boxes can mesh with nearly any set up, thanks to their comprehensive connectivity: three mono audio ins, three mono audio outs, a triphonic audio output, 3 control voltage outputs, and MIDI out sending CC and note data via a DIN port and USB-C. Each channel comes equipped with parameter controls, enabling you to mix both the EMF channels and external gear to your liking in real time.

According to Eternal Research’s head engineer Bryn Nieboer, “Stereo is limited. Three channels allow you to sculpt and navigate with panning, phasing, and effects layering, to create an immersive, triphonic sound that sets the Demon Box apart.”

The Demon Box ($999.00) is available for preorder now at this link, and is expected to ship later this autumn. Eternal Research is offering a special discount of $100 off the $999.00 original purchase price of The Demon Box that runs September 5- 13, 2025. The offer can be used once per Demon Box transaction with the code DEMON33.

The Demon Box and other Eternal Research projects will be part of this year’s Knobcon in Chicago on September 5-7, 2025. They will be available for Knobcon attendees to explore at the Eternal Research booth B400.

Synclavier co-inventor Cameron Jones

Knobcon organizers let us know that this year’s Guest of Honor will be Cameron Jones, co-inventor of one of the most important synths ever created, the New England Digital Synclavier.

Jones will deliver the keynote speech at Knobcon’s annual banquet.

Here’s what they have to say about Jones and his role as this year’s Knobcon Guest Of Honor:

“We are delighted to announce Cameron Jones as our esteemed guest of honor. Join us at the annual banquet for his keynote address and to help us honor him.

Cameron Warner Jones is the co-inventor and principal software architect of the Synclavier, the groundbreaking digital synthesizer and music workstation developed in the late 1970s. Jones, co-founder of New England Digital, designed the Synclavier’s real-time software engine, interface, and iconic button panel, helping create one of the most advanced instruments of its era—combining FM and additive synthesis, sampling, and sequencing. He later revived the technology through modern apps and hardware, ensuring the Synclavier’s legacy lives on.”

Knobcon’s annual catered banquet will be held Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 7 pm in the Sapphire Pavilion. Tickets are available as an add-on for Knobcon attendees for $75. Seating is limited.