UB-1 Micro Portable Analog Synthesizer

Inspired by the raw analog vibe of Oberheim's Matrix series, this tiny powerhouse packs CEM 3396/3397 chip clones into a form factor smaller than your phone, delivering beefy tones that punch way above its size.

Dual digitally controlled oscillators offer saw, triangle, square waves with PWM, plus a sub-oscillator and noise generator for thick layering, all feeding into a classic 4-pole 24dB low-pass filter. Shape sounds with dedicated envelopes for filter and amplitude, plus two LFOs modulating osc tuning and cutoff; arpeggiator adds three patterns with hold. Hands-on control comes via 16 touch-sensitive keys, six function buttons, and a crisp OLED display, with duophonic playability, 32 presets (expandable via SynthTribe app), mono audio out doubling as headphone jack, TRS MIDI in, and USB-C for power from a bank or phone plus full MIDI CC. At just 1.42 x 5.12 x 3.66 inches, it's built for pockets, desks, or rigs.

Owners call it a "powerful little animal" with solid, gnarly edge that sits perfectly in mixes—great value at under $50, though some note limits like no direct PWM mod and a raw tone distinct from glossier OB-Xa clones.