Marvel at the modulus.002, a cloud-connected analogue/digital hybrid polysynth

Not quite the Casio from my childhood, eh?

That’s putting it mildly. Hailing from Modulus (the company) in Bristol, the modulus.002 is a beast of a synthesiser—in fact, it’s an analogue/digital polyphonic hybrid that allows up to 12 distinctive voices with the option of being multitimbral. It also has a dozen “quick recall banks” ideal for live performance, a 16-track/32-step sequencer, and an animator for in-depth control sequencer.

I didn’t think we made synths like that in the UK.

Funny you mention that. The modulus.002 is actually the first such polyphonic (and multitimbral) analogue synthesiser fully created and manufactured here since the late 1980s, at least according to its maker. Unlike nearly everything else out there, this one’s completely homegrown.

That sounds like a bullet point from a press release.

Try a whole paragraph! But seriously, if Modulus is proud to be bringing serious synth creation back to the UK, then we’re happy for them. Ultimately, however, that’s not what will make this heavy-duty hardware worth adding to your studio or stage setup.

So what makes this one distinct, then?

Would you believe us if we said an Ethernet port? Truly, though—it could prove to be a marvellous addition, as linking the modulus.002 up to the Internet lets you transfer your profile, sequences, and more to the cloud, and then pull that all down to another modulus.002 (yours or a collaborator’s).

And what about that screen?

The modulus.002 indeed also features a 4.3in display—with wide viewing angles promised—that proves context-sensitive in use. Twiddle any knob and the specific controls are displayed on the screen, offering you ample control that’s available in a moment’s notice.

Does it cost as much as my home studio setup?

Quite likely! The modulus.002 is priced at £2,995 and available now, but between its extensive aural capabilities and technological niceties, it looks like a worthwhile investment for synth devotees. Hopefully it sounds like one too.

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