Kaleidoscope

packs four independent digital synth voices into a palm-sized USB-powered box, letting you twist subtractive, additive, FM, and physical modeling synthesis into generative chaos or classic leads and drums with equal ease.

Each track shares a flexible architecture centered around digital oscillators, a resonant lowpass filter tuned to MIDI note frequencies for easy resonance play, and a comb filter that doubles as a harmonic-shaping resonator. Envelopes go beyond ADSR with 8-step pattern masks for rhythmic complexity, end-of-cycle triggers that chain between tracks like LFOs or sidechains, and velocity smoothing into attack-hold-release curves. Modulation shines through a matrix where envelopes cross-modulate everything, plus overdrive and wavefolding for grit—position the overdrive pre- or post-comb for subtle warmth or total destruction. Hands-on controls include a mod wheel, pitch bend, glide, and a crisp 128x64 OLED display navigating 128 presets, generative sequencer, and arpeggiator, all with velocity sensitivity over USB-C, DIN MIDI in/out, and four mono audio outs for multitrack routing.

Early users call it a "self-evolving modular in a box"—intriguingly weird interface that rewards experimentation, delivering musical timing and in-key chaos without endless menus, though the retro display demands some quality time to master.