A 1970s DIY modular from Elektor Magazine just got reborn

Erica Synths is reimagining a modular synth you’ve probably never heard of. In the late 1970s, Dutch publication Elektor Magazine put out something it called the Elektor Formant as a series of DIY kits. That modular system is getting a full reimagining and reboot from Erica Synths.

Intellijel put a MEMS mic in a 2HP Eurorack module

Nope, this is not a contact mic. Intellijel added an omni microphone inside a 2HP module — the same microphone type as you’ll find in phones and other mobile gadgets. And that turns out to be a good idea.

Peter Kirn - August 10, 2025

Oberheim TEO-5: Tom’s legacy, now on desktop, $1399

They’re built on the same platform, the development of which was overseen by the late Dave Smith. They cost roughly the same price and take up the same amount of space. But TEO-5 is not Take 5. Look to the Oberheim desktop instrument for the SEM multimode filter, linear through-zero FM, and its own unique effects. Here’s the synth Tom and team built.

Peter Kirn - July 1, 2025

Aircraft Designs is putting a full analog mastering suite into Eurorack

Peter Kirn - June 6, 2025

New VCV Rack modules – including JW Arrange so you can finish tracks

Peter Kirn - June 3, 2025

Memorial Day gear sales are on in the USA – and for now, outrunning tariffs

Peter Kirn - May 26, 2025

Elastic OSC is a Mutable Instruments-based polysynth voice for iOS: tested

Peter Kirn - May 5, 2025

ONE MKII viewed from the back, angle, showing new CV Input jacks.

OXI Instruments’ grid sequencer is about to get a big MKII upgrade

Peter Kirn - April 22, 2025

Knobula Monumatic module at angle and front-on view, with mode selectors for oscillator, filter controls, envelope controls, and CV and MIDI (MPE) inputs.

Knobula Monumatic, the 8-voice, multi-algorithm MPE polysynth in 12HP

Peter Kirn - April 16, 2025

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