SonicLAB: Frap Tools Magnolia West Coast Poly

We look at the latest synth release from Frap Tools - the Magnolia is an interesting blend of features. Billed as a Through Zero Linear FM Synth with complex oscillator functions, its a mix of traditional analogue poly with West Coast complexity. (They call it a West Coast Polysynth themselves)

It's solidly built with quality components, poly after touch 61 key keybed. Its a beast!

With 8 voices, these can be split or layered between A and B patches, and also morphed per voice with true morphing.
2 oscillators per voice, 18dB resonant High pass and 24dB resonant Low pass filters, three assignable DAHDSR loopable envelopes, 3 LFOs with morphing waveforms, highly drivable VCA and filter gain staging, and twin FX slots.
Due to OSC 1 offering thru-zero FM and wavefolding,  OSC 2 with a more traditional set of features and a wide range, complex sounds are easy to create.
There's also a lot of routing options via the mod matrix and assignable parameters are all set via the front panel - there's some shift functions, but the simple display means its all pretty physical.

Some marvelous sounds are to be found and its a lovely piece of hardware. Which is kind of odd as Magnolia is generally used as term for banality - its the colour cheap landlords paint their rental apartments in - considered to be the least offensive (and cheapest) option.
This instrument is very far from that.

Yes its not the most affordable  at £3600 UK, but it feels like there's a lot of quality for your money and it can make sounds that are pretty hard to imagine in a more conventional poly.

https://frap.tools/

Frap Tools Social

• Frap Tools Enhanceses Magnolia Synth 07-Jul-26
• 8-Voice Analog Thru-Zero Synthesizer Ships 30-Jan-26
• BaF 26: Frap Tools Magnolia - Lovely sounds 27-Jan-26
• Superbooth 2025: Frap Tools - Magnolia 8 Voice Synth 10-May-25
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