An Engine of Aural Innovation
Crowning a victor in the seemingly endless gauntlet of attrition between digital and analog synthesis, Gamechanger Audio proudly brandishes a third way, testing its namesake mettle with an uncompromising vision of sonic pioneering. Enter: Motor Synth MkII — an electro-mechanical desktop synthesizer that dares to reimagine the boundary between the electrical and the digital. An innovative system of electromotor oscillators utilizes optical sensors and infrared lasers to read waveforms and produce subsequent sounds across two motor voices. A suite of complex sound-shaping tools includes a DCO as a third voice; a proprietary virtual-analog oscillator, a noise engine, digital and analog multi-mode filters; and an endless array of parameter customization. While it’s outfitted with eight tactilely satisfying performance buttons, synthesists at Sweetwater appreciate the comprehensive control options for the Motor Synth, including 5-pin MIDI and Eurorack-compatible CV inputs. Now, let’s hit the gas and drive straight into the heart of this motor-powered machine!
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How does it work? Making sound from light
Being the first of its kind, the Motor Synth MkII employs a unique architecture for sound production. Custom-built, brushless DC motors power the 8-oscillator system of reflective discs, each of which features three concentric rings engraved onto their surfaces, representing the three waveform options: sine, square, and sawtooth. Infrared lasers and sensors are dedicated to each track of the reflective surface, picking up the reflected beam and reading as an optical waveform — cutting-edge tech developed by Gamechanger specifically for this synth. The eight electromotor oscillators are paired in groups of four, providing two distinctly controllable voices. Waveform choices are selectable, as is pitch, accomplished through scaling the reading of the reflected beams for jumping up or down in octaves. Each disc's speed affects each note's local pitch, and a supplementary system of electromagnetic pickups track electromagnetic fluctuations of the rotating inner coils for each motor, resulting in the fourth waveform option: “M” or motor.
Synth into gear: eight motor oscillators, two voices, one output
Each Motor Voice can be independently controlled via two lanes of adjustment, including volume, waveform selection, scale, amp envelope, and pitch envelope. Five multi-mode amp envelopes include ADSR, AD, AR, DADSR, and ADSHR options, each having a fully adjustable curvature parameter for precise sound modeling. These same shaping functions and malleability can be utilized with the multi-mode filter envelopes. In contrast, the pitch envelope system can be tailored via “Acceleration” and “Brake” values for the attack and release of each note. Four distinctive analog filters are available with each Motor Voice: 24-decibel lowpass, 12-decibel bandpass, 12-decibel highpass, and a 24-decibel all-pass, which features self-oscillating resonance. If these weren’t enough tools for your aural arsenal, there’s even an all-analog pre-filter drive circuit, perfect for kicking your sound into sixth gear.
Powers of three: physical, electrical, and digital
In addition to the two innovative electro-mechanical Motor Voices, the Motor Synth MkII is outfitted with a third voice in the form of a Digitally Controlled Oscillator (DCO). This allows you to supplement your sound with greater depth, textural variety, and more, even capable of being controlled independently from the Motor Voices. Suppose you don’t want to use it as a noise engine. In that case, the DCO utilizes a virtual-analog oscillator with four waveshapes: pulse, saw, triangle, and sine, and each can be carefully attenuated via pulse-width modulation or wave folding to yield rich, layered harmonics. In addition to its Hard Sync toggle, its volume can be independently and physically adjusted. At the same time, its amp and pitch envelopes, alongside a dedicated multi-mode digital filter, are modified and shaped via the LCD display. You can also separately manage DCO routing for filter and output.
Unmatched control, unbridled exploration
With such immense opportunities to craft, produce, shape, and modify the stunning sonics of the Motor Synth MkII, Gamechanger Audio made sure it was as accommodating to play. Its sleek surface includes eight buttons that can be freely assigned to any note value, with an adjustable four-note polyphony. Flexible modulation options include three sources that can be adjusted for shape, rate, clock, and assignable A or B destinations — these can be virtually any parameter on the Motor Synth. You can even give each destination depth for added character. Cross-modulation, drift, and detune can be further used to explore the scope of the Motor Synth’s convention-defying architecture.
Harness the power of motorized madness
Going beyond the eight non-velocity sensitive keys, the Motor Synth MkII accommodates integration in almost any setup. Its 5-pin MIDI I/O and USB-B connector let you easily take the wheel on the synth’s expansive repertoire of sounds. If you really want to redline it, you could even use a MIDI merger with three controllers to play and manage each synth voice — motorized or digital — individually, including the parameters associated with each one. You’ve also got three trigger inputs and three CV inputs to take the high-octane output to the world of Eurorack modulation. You’re also given dedicated send/return ports for each Motor Voice and a 1/4-inch audio input to use the Motor Synth as a vocoder. Plus, the arpeggiator engine can be used via external controllers or surface controls, with ample room for modification, including advanced ratcheting control, velocity adjustment, and probability, with even more room to maneuver the robust onboard sequencer.
Reactive playback, real-time recording
The innovative Clutch key is one of the most compelling features of the Motor Synth’s performance possibilities. This serves the role of a temporary buffer, allowing you to make changes to any parameter, note value, voicing assignment, filter frequency — genuinely anything you can think of — for the duration of time in which the Clutch key is engaged. Its unique ability to blend real-time modification without affecting parameters creates compelling opportunities for the personalization of both studio and live performances. The Latch function toggles the indefinite “on” state of any triggered note, allowing undulating drones and distinct harmonic resonance. This can be used in conjunction with the Clutch to generate wildly expansive soundscapes that can then snap back to their “original” settings with ease. Since real-time recording is a must, the Motor Synth’s extensive recording functions not only cover MIDI and audio output but also eight dedicated lanes for motion tracking, each of which can utilize four distinct recording modes. The end result is ensuring complete control and capture of your sound.
Gamechanger Audio Motor Synth MkII Features:
- Cutting-edge electro-mechanical system utilizes custom-built brushless DC motors, optical discs, and infrared lasers to form 8 motor oscillators
- Optical waveforms include sine, saw, and square, alongside an electromagnetic inductive wave generator for a 4th “M” option for 2 distinctive Motor Voices
- Each voice features its own lane of waveform, scale, amp envelope, pitch envelope, and filter attenuation for fine management of Motor Voices
- Supplementary DCO provides a 3rd voice for added depth, texture, and harmonic enrichment
- All-analog filters for Motor Voices include ADSR, AD, AR, DADSR, and ADSHR, as well as a pre-filter drive circuit for high-octane textures
- Multi-mode filters can be individually fine-tuned via Curve parameters for precise sound sculpting
- Acceleration and Brake settings evoke unique attack-/release-triggered pitch envelopes
- Dedicated key track engine allows for fine control over direction, glide, and amount
- Virtual-analog oscillator and noise engine enable deep customization of DCO, including wavefolding and pulse-width modulation
- Filter and output routing options can be managed to play DCO and Motor Voices separately or together via Sync toggle
- Latch functionality toggles indefinite note suspension to craft unruly drones and compelling harmonics
- Deep modulation includes A and B lanes, freely assignable to almost any parameter for 3 diferent modulators, the depth of each can be independently set
- Drift, detune, and cross-mod let you carefully mix voices, with
- Innovative Clutch feature lets you temporarily buffer all parameter changes for extensive sonic shaping without affecting base values
- 1/4-inch audio input can be used for morphing the Motor Synth’s unique voicing architecture into a vocoder
- 3 trigger inputs and 3 CV inputs enable deep modulation and integration with Eurorack systems
- USB-B port and 5-pin MIDI let you connect and control from virtually any controller or DAW, including up to 3 distinct control sources to separately attenuate and play each voice
