Six genuine analog oscillators in a wooden box for under $300—that's the Daydreamer Synth 1, a paraphonic synthesizer that refuses to compromise on character or accessibility. Built entirely from open-source schematics and code, this hybrid instrument pairs analog VCOs and VCAs with digital control, delivering warm, slightly gritty tones that seem to breathe across ambient soundscapes, warbly leads, and evolving pads. The diode ladder filter responds with musical resonance, capable of pushing into self-oscillation, while the built-in PT2399 bucket brigade delay adds depth and movement to every patch.
What makes the Synth 1 truly different is its philosophy: no menu diving, no auto-tuning, just immediate hands-on control. Yellow LED indicators show which oscillators are active as you play, and the paraphonic architecture lets you stack all six voices for thick unison bass or spread them across multiple notes for complex chords. You can switch between mono and poly modes, adjust glide behavior, and modulate both pitch and filter with the digital LFO. The microcontroller translates knob positions into control voltages, keeping the audio path purely analog where it matters most.
At 40 × 16 × 7 cm, it's small enough for any desktop setup and connects to any MIDI controller via 5-pin DIN. The open-source design means you can download schematics and source code to modify, learn from, or build your own. This is an instrument for players who want visible voice allocation, tactile immediacy, and the feeling of real analog circuits responding to the room around them—all without the typical price tag.
