BASTL Instruments built the original Softpop as a chaotic, cross-modulating sound machine, and the SP2 takes that wild DNA while making it genuinely playable and integrated with the modular world in ways that feel natural rather than forced.
At its core, the SP2 is a fully analog semi-modular synth with a triangle-core VCO, multimode filter offering lowpass, bandpass, and highpass responses, and a flexible looping envelope that can also function as an LFO. The sequencer is where things get interesting: eight 8-step patterns can be chained in real time, and you can independently sequence pitch, modulation depth, slides, and gates. The quantizer lets you define eight custom scales that lock your melodies in place, and everything responds to MIDI clock and CC data. Six vertical faders control the main parameters (pitch, envelope time and shape, filter cutoff and resonance), while three horizontal sliders handle fine-tuning, resonance, and the POP control that introduces subtle distortion and cross-modulation character. The 37-point Eurorack-compatible patchbay gives you serious flexibility for integrating external gear or diving into modulation madness, and there's a sample-and-hold circuit for stepped modulation, an audio input with envelope follower, and a light orb that responds to the sound for visual feedback. Power comes via micro USB, and the whole thing measures 173 by 112 by 41 millimeters.
The SP2 has earned respect in the community for being genuinely versatile despite its compact footprint. It handles classic monophonic bass and acid lines with character, but also excels at generative sequences, chip-tune textures, and experimental sound design. The sequencer's pattern-chaining and scale quantization feel intuitive rather than menu-diving, and the patchbay opens doors without overwhelming you if you just want to play it straight.
