# Tiny DIY Digi-Synth That Doesn't Look Like It Sucks...

- Site: Analog Industries
- Author: Chris Randall
- Date: 2010-03-18
- URL: https://analogindustries.com/2010/03/tiny-diy-digi-synth-that-doesnt-look-like-it-sucks/

![Tiny DIY Digi-Synth That Doesn't Look Like It Sucks...](https://analogindustries.com/images/blog/shruti1_big.jpg)

I don't want to count my chickens before they've hatched or anything, but I have the distinct impression that I scooped both CDM and Matrixsynth on this item, unless my memory (which, I'll grant, is getting a bit sketchy in my advanced years) is totally out of whack.

This is the Shruti-1 by [Mutable Instruments](http://mutable-instruments.net/), a DIY kit that isn't for sale yet, but soon will be, according to the website. The digital oscillators, envelopes, MIDI I/O, and front panel are controlled by an AVR chip of the sort you'd find in an Arduino, and the filter and VCAs are honest-to-god analog in the form of a CEM3379.

The page is a bit sparse at the moment, but there are three sound samples up. Two of them in particular intrigue me to no end, as this little thing definitely seems to have an unique personality that appeals to me.

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I really like that FM, and there are several different oscillator modes to choose from. This kit seems to be eminently hackable, and I predict, should he be able to bring it to market, it will do exceedingly well. That's a big "if" though, and as we all know, it's vapor until we have it in our sweaty hands. (Note that Adam found this; I missed it entirely, which is entirely unlike me.)

## Comments (10)

**wgparham** (2010-03-18):

I was looking at this the other day. I hope it makes it past the vapor stage. It seems to definitely have a certain mojo. I don't know if it fills the ESQ-1 sized hole in my studio or not. I was thinking that several of these hacked together could be sort of a poor man's Evolver. That could be fun...

-WGP

**doofkitty** (2010-03-18):

sorry dude

http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2010/03/mutable-instruments-shruti-1.html

**Chris Randall** (2010-03-18):

DOH!

-CR

**doofkitty** (2010-03-18):

you know, being called the 'shruti-1', i expected something droney like a shruti box - a diy version of which with fm oscillators would have been pretty cool. but the fact that this is actually a pretty full featured little synth (not just a noise box) was a pleasant surprise, and the fact that it has a built-in step sequencer and arpeggiator, meaning it can be built into a cigar box and shows thusly rocked, is even cooler!

**Michael Moncur** (2010-03-18):

Yay!

We need more DIY options that are real MIDI-addressable synths instead of silly circuit-bendy noise boxes. And it sounds awesome.

I'm tempted to build one myself even if the kit isn't sold.

**mazacultura** (2010-03-18):

Aww sweet! I love getting excited about things that may never exist! :P

I was one of those awful, awful people who tossed my ESQ-1 when it bit the dust. This may be my chance to atone.

**Andreas** (2010-03-18):

More samples here, some pretty darn cool sounding:

http://mutable-instruments.net/shruti1/listen

**synthetic** (2010-03-18):

Interesting. Certainly has more character than anything I've heard from DSI.

**mutable_instruments** (2010-03-18):

I am the guy who designed this.

There's a lot more of info about the synth than what you seem to have found - including 60+ sound samples, links to schematics and PCB files, BOM, and a complete user manual. Full source code is on github. Look at the "navigate" menu. If you know what you're doing, there's enough info here to let you know build one exactly.

While I finished the design some time in january, I am ramping up very slowly with the kit, because this is my first kit/bit of hardware and I want to be sure nothing goes wrong, so for first 5 kits or so I won't sell a kit until the previous builder is done with his and I receive good feedback. Kit #1 works successfully, #2 will be assembled during the week-end.

Video shot by the first builder: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvaNRuLK-cU&feature=youtube_gdata

**beauty pill** (2010-03-18):

Me, I'm not a tinkery, kit-buying type. I'm just kind of a musician. But the sounds are cool.

Allow for a pre-assembled option and I'll buy it. Otherwise, gonna sit this one out.

- c