Before Eurorack took over studio walls and YouTube feeds, there was the Formant, a fascinating modular analogue synth you could only build by following circuit diagrams from Elektor, the groundbreaking electronics-themed magazine from the 1970s.

Now, it’s getting a proper revival thanks to Erica Synths, who’ve turned the elusive system into a modern DIY kit.

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In collaboration with British musician and YouTuber Look Mum No Computer aka Sam Battle, Erica Synths previewed the updated Formant at a live soldering marathon that took place at Battle’s This Museum Is (Not) Obsolete museum. The mission? Assemble the entire synth in just 24 hours.

Spoiler: it took 25 hours instead. But that’s still pretty awesome.

With support from artist and synth builder JacqNoise, a team of solder-hardened enthusiasts spent a sleepless night piecing together Erica’s reimagined Formant. The project kept the soul of the original but added some very welcome modern touches: MIDI, pitch and gate transfer, 12V compatibility, and an easier back panel for rewiring.

For those who missed the big build, fear not for this isn’t just a one-off flex. According to JacqNoise, the full Formant system will soon be available as a DIY project you can reserve through Erica Synths.

While the Formant’s final configuration hasn’t been confirmed, the system shown at the Kent event was nothing short of beefy, featuring a sequencer, two VCOs, two filters, RFM, FX, ADSR envelopes, dual VCAs, LFOs and more. Basically, everything you need to build weird, wonderful walls of sound.

And yes, it looks as gnarly as it sounds.

As JacqNoise writes in her latest Instagram post: “The OG design has been challenged with upgrades like MIDI, 12V, pitch and gate transfer, a Gucci beauty case… definitely worth it for your next crown in your studio or for making the stage rattle.”

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Check out the synth below.

Learn more at Erica Synths.

The post The Formant was a ’70s modular synth you could only build from a magazine diagram. Now it’s coming back as a DIY kit – here’s how to get yours appeared first on MusicTech.