Cyma Forma ALT Desktop Analogue Synthesiser

We say..

A unique, gorgeous-looking (and sounding) analogue synth that got us pretty excited when we got to play on it at Superbooth. The pin matrix, microphone and light sensors open up some really interesting possibilities. Highly recommended!

Manufacturer's description

ALT is an analog synthesizer designed for drones, soundscapes, and complex generative melodies.

it can be played precisely, with great control over melodies and rhythms, or it can be guided to play itself, creating magical, random surprises.

it has eyes and ears: two light sensors and a built-in microphone that allow for spontaneous sound modulation based on its environment.

ALT is an exploration machine.

Voices - the birthplace of the sound

ALT has many sources: 5 oscillators, a white noise, a microphone…

oscillators have different shapes, different frequency ranges, they can be independently panned, and detuned. their frequencies can either be free, or follow one of 14 scales.

all scales can be edited and notes can be removed and brought back quickly for modal changes on the fly. there are two tuning systems to chose from: equal temperament or just intonation.

Alter - give character to your sound

ALT’s effect section includes two filters and a delay, which can also be used on external audio, like an effects pedal.

both filters are stereo, in series. they can be low-pass, high-pass, and everything in between, allowing for precise band-pass control. their resonance can go to extreme levels, self oscillating, creating two extra voices. filters have special performance buttons called ripples.

the delay is very powerful, capable of creating an infinite feedback loop that never stops growing. it has a performance button too, called more, that is quite self explanatory.

Movement - initiate motion

the modulation pin matrix is where the sound is set in motion. create movement in 19 different parameters using 4 modulation sources. the sources are two LFOs, a sample and hold called Random and an envelope follower called Outline. the LFOs have a high rate switch for FM an AM synthesis.

Outline is special, it can use the signal from the microphone, or the jack input (audio or CV), and use it to modulate anything. this allows to sync ALT with its surroundings: your voice, claps, a drum machine, a cv sequencer… anything really.

amongst the matrix destinations is a strange arpeggiator that uses the modulation amplitude levels to trigger voices in different orders.

ALT can be guided to play ever-evolving melodies and rhythms, all of this being controlled with pins.

Intuition

synthesizers are magical : they turn electrons into sound, music, emotions. it’s quite astonishing when you think about it, but they are often tricky to operate.

ALT has no screen, no menu, no patching cables. its slider-based layout is simple, and lets you explore and manipulate sound with purpose and immediately understand how the slider you’re pushing affects what you hear.

sound sculpting, no friction.

Integration

ALT is fully compatible with CV and midi. it integrates with any eurorack set up, and can be used with any DAW, midi controller or cv sequencer. it receives notes, velocity, aftertouch, and pitchbend midi messages.

it has 4 midi modes : voice splitting, monophonic transpose, silent tonic change, and real time scale edit for chord progressions.