Fascinating Prototypes that Never Made it to Market - Part One

Not every instrument makes it's way into the hands of the synth buying public. Reasons for this vary; some companies fold, others remain healthy - but simply decide to focus on different products. Whatever the reason, these prototypes exist only in small numbers:

Syntonovo Pan

In 2018, there was some excitement on synthesizer forums about PAN, a new design by Felix Visser & Bert Vermeulen of Synton fame. I for one was interested in the device (especially the teal version with light up buttons!) due to the concept of analogue circuitry under digital control - there were as many as 16 LFO's and envelopes, alongside a 3D touch keyboard! The specifications included:

• 3 analogue oscillators with FM
• SVF filter
• Filter bank
• 16 envelopes and LFO's
• Analog VCA
• Modular design, "assign anything to anything."
• Keybed with poly aftertouch & XY modulation capabilities.

As of 2024, the project seems dead, a shame. I'd recommend you not visiting the manufacturer's old domain on a work computer!

Gotharman's Zybraz

I'm generalising, but Gotharman's instruments are usually 4-16 voice hybrid synth/sampler grooveboxes with flexible digital sections (some of them are completely modular in routing), analogue filtering (with brutal, yet pleasing G-Ray feedback) and just-as-flexible effects sections with all sorts of oddities and delights.

I'll probably never fully explore the instruments I own and that endlessness may be off-putting to some; so on paper at least, a simpler Gotharman's instrument would make sense. The Zybraz is purely digital with 24-voice polyphony. The morphing oscillators and digital filters, derived from the Little Deformer 3, are a little paired back (no sample playback or extra exotic oscillator types) and there are just 8 (albeit interesting) effects.

Still, there's plenty to explore here & lots of knobs to aid that exploration. It's a shame that it wasn't popular with Gotharman's customers: "Unfortunately no one ever ordered one since it was available on my website. But here many years later there have been 2 who were interested in one." - a couple of units exist out there then, at least.

Join us next time for some more unreleased gems, including one from Pittsburgh Modular!

Posted by MagicalSynthAdventure an expert in synthesis technology from last Century and Amiga enthusiast.

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