At the 2025 NAMM Show, being held Jan 21–25 in Anaheim, CA, , Nonlinear Labs is previewing an update to the firmware of their C15 synthesizer that doubles the instrument’s polyphony, adds new options for expressive control and more.
The C15 is performance-oriented synth, designed for playability and detailed sound editing. The digital synthesis engine is based on phase modulation, a comb filter, and a feedback structure, giving the C15 a unique character.
What’s new in the upcoming Nonlinear Labs C15 firmware update:
The polyphony will be increased from 24 to 48 voices, at the previous sample rate of 48 kHz. Alternatively, a higher sample rate of 96 kHz with 24 voices can be used.
The C15 audio engine has been expanded to support polyphonic modulation sources. In the first step, polyphonic aftertouch can now be received via MIDI.
Pitch bend and sustain functions can now also be used independently of macro controls, freeing them up for other modulations.
A sostenuto pedal function and the ability to switch presets and banks via footswitch have also been added.
There are also a number of improvements to user-friendliness and optimizations to the operating system.
Synthesist Matt Johnson – in his latest video – is joined by Native Instruments founder Stephan Schmitt to talk about his unique hardware synth design, the Nonlinear Labs C15.
The C15 is a polyphonic instrument with a digital sound synthesis architecture. The goal of the audio engine is not to model analog machines of the past or to play back samples or complex waveforms, but to focus on creating sounds that can be dramatically influenced by how you play.
Nonlinear Labs, creator of the C15 synthesizer, have released their third major firmware update for the instrument. The company says that this greatly expands the sound design capabilities of the instrument and improves its user interface.
Key C15 Firmware Update Features:
Users can now modulate almost all parameters using the Macro Controls (185 instead of 95 possible modulation targets), and developers have extended the ranges of 17 parameters.
There is now the possibility to bypass the Feedback Mix Gate and to control the decay times of Envelope C by velocity.
With the new Loop function of Envelope C it can behave like a polyphonic LFO, that is synced to the key and can be influenced by velocity and key trackings.
Single sounds can now also use a second effect group (in total 10 effects) and both effect groups can now be operated in parallel as well as in serial mode.
It is possible to pan Parts and effects groups and route them separately to the left and right audio output.
For Split sounds, the feedback routing has been extended, so that the output signal from one Part can be an input signal for the other Part.
The Preset Search function in the graphical user interface has been completely redesigned to display all search results in a single list. Search and sorting criteria have been extended. Thus, the new search window combines many preset functions in a convenient way.
And as a usability improvement of the hardware, the two physical ribbons can now be switched between two pairs of virtual ribbons, giving fast access to up to four Macro Controls.
More information about the C15 firmware update, along with an installer is available now at this link. Find out more about the C15 synthesizer on the Nonlinear Labs website.
