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Erica Synths Syntrx II

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Item: SYN0008299-000

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Modern analog synthesizer with the spirit and feel of the iconic EMS Synthi AKS from the 1970s. All product info

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Erica Synths Syntrx II

Analogue synthesizer with patch matrix

2 oscillators with variable waveforms
Hardsync
Oscillator FM
Modulation oscillator with variable waveforms
Highpass/Lowpass Filter
FM filter
Trapezoid Generator
Tunable noise
Random / Sample & Hold
Ring Modulator
Delay / Reverb Effect
Audio input 1 with envelope follower
Audio input 2 with switchable level
Storable patch matrix
254 memory locations
Joystick controller with recorder
Output mixer with panning
Analog VU meter
Piano Roll Sequencer
2 CV inputs
1 Gate input
MIDI In & Thru
Headphone output

Syntrx II Playlist

The Erica Synths Syntrx II at a glance

The Syntrx II from Erica Synths is the improved version of the predecessor Syntrx from the same company and at the same time a descendant in the best sense of the famous EMS Synthi AKS from the 1970s. Soundwise as well as functionally close to the original of that time, the Syntrx II is nevertheless capable of much more. A closer look at the storable patch matrix reveals that pretty much everything can be modulated and a maximum of flexibility is given. Typical analog sounds, but also a lot of experimental sounds can be expected here. The usual high quality instrument comes across very structured and orderly and looks really premium with the anthracite-colored case including dark wood side panels. The final vintage touch is provided by an analog VU meter that can optionally display the output level or control voltages.

The functions of the Syntrx II

The two analog oscillators 1 and 2 are tuning stable and largely similar in design. They cover a wide range of over seven octaves and differ in the selection of waveforms and or oscillator 1 can also be animated with PWM. Oscillator 3 is less extensive than the others, but can also be used as an LFO. However, all three oscillators are equipped with variable waveforms. The filter combines Highpass and Lowpass characteristics and comes surprisingly close to the sound of the old synth AKS. The noise generator can be influenced in sound character, which is an advantage, among other things, when noise is not only applied to roughen basses, but also used for analog percussions. Two different audio inputs allow feeding external audio signals into all sound shaping processes. Whether triggering the trapezoid generator with a drum machine, ring modulating your own voice or filtering a sample, this synthesizer offers a wide range of possibilities for creative use of external audio signals. In the center of this analog synthesizer you find the practical patch matrix, an analog VU meter with two different display options and the random voltage generator which gets its samples either from oscillator 3 or the noise generator. On the right side of the control panel you'll find - quite typical for the EMS Synthi series - the trapezoid generator, which fulfills the function of an envelope. The iconic joystick is also not missing and shines with an additional recording function. Ring modulator and delay can be installed anywhere in the signal path and sound excellent. The end of the signal path is formed by the two-channel mixer, which can distribute each of the two channels in the panorama.

Complexity through modulation

Modulation is an extensive topic in the Syntrx II. First of all, almost every connection must be made via the patch matrix. This also applies to standards such as envelope modulated VCA. Intensities are set in three steps in the patch matrix and via the level controls of all sources. In this way, a host of classic analogue sounds with 1-3 oscillators, powerful bass lines, complex FM sounds and especially those sounds that one would place in the experimental realm: noisy tremolo sounds that end in a dense reverb trail, Dalek-SciFi sounds, meandering sounds that push and slow each other down because different components interlock, drone-like clusters full of life of their own...

One would not do justice to the Syntrx II to reduce its modulation sources to oscillator 3, random and the trapezoid generator, as almost every section of this synthesizer is capable of generating an event. A highlight here might also be the joystick, whose movements can be recorded and can affect almost every parameter. At the latest this predestines the Syntrx II for performance-oriented experimental musicians who appreciate the haptics of an EMS synthesizer or harbor desires for it.

Even the two audio inputs can be quickly and easily integrated into the sound shaping, so that an input guitar and a drum machine are ring modulated with each other, while one of the two signals opens the VCA and the overall work is garnished with the delay effect.

Storable connections

The digital patch matrix is the heart of the Syntrx II, in contrast to the forefather Synthi AKS there is no longer a mechanical PIN matrix. On 254 memory locations all connections between the 16 sources and destinations can be stored; by the way ONLY the connections are stored, not the parameter settings. Here you can define if an oscillator should be routed directly to the mixer and/or at the same time be an FM source for the filter and be routed to the ring modulator. Or or oscillator 3 modulates the PWM from the other two oscillators. In addition, it is possible to temporarily overwrite the memory locations and with the next call you have the previous state again.