Frap Tools Magnolia – Superbooth 25’s Surprise Hit?
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Frap Tools Magnolia · Source: Frap Tools
Frap Tools Magnolia · Source: Frap Tools
Frap Tools Magnolia · Source: Frap Tools
Superbooth 25 hasn’t even started yet, but the Frap Tools Magnolia may well have stolen the ‘Best In Show’ title before all the fun begins!
We are just days away from the world’s biggest and best synthesizer and electronic music gathering, Superbooth 25, in beautiful Berlin. And, as is customary, days before thousands descend on FEZ, we are beginning to get news trickling through about the cool things we will see there.
One of the coolest by far is the new synthesizer from Italian modular manufacturers, Frap Tools. Known for creating exciting and innovative modules that draw heavily on the so called “West Coast” style of synthesis (think Buchla), Frap Tools have boldly gone and made a keyboard synth. And it looks and sounds amazing!
The Frap Tools Magnolia
Magnolia is billed as an 8-voice analog, through-zero FM polyphonic synthesizer. Frap Tools tells us that their aim was to bring those West Coast sounds into a more classic keyboard interface. And listening to the latest video demo, they seem to have done that very well.
Through Zero Frequency Modulation
Through Zero FM is not often found on keyboard synths, but is very much seen in the modular world. Unlike exponential and linear FM, Through Zero FM delves into the negative frequency range when modulating the carrier. I’m not even going to try and tell you I fully understand it, but the brilliant Chris Meyer has an excellent article on it at his Learning Modular site.
Sporting a beautiful user interface, the Magnolia cuts a striking yet inviting pose that will look incredible in the studio and onstage. The layout has shades of the Alesis Ion. The knobs look very much like machined aluminium and the sliders are very ARP-esque. Plenty of LEDs adorn the surface and the 4-character screen suggests a very welcome menu-less operation.
Magnolia Tech Specs
As far as tech specs go, the Magnolia will feature 8 voices with two analog oscillators per voice, one as a carrier, the other as modulator. Oscillator 1 is defined as the “west coast” oscillator, with FM, wavefolding and flip sync. Oscillator 2, however, delivers a more traditional “east coast” function with PWM.
Filtering is taken care of with the implementation of two filters (high and low pass), which can also be frequency modulated. Talking of modulation, mod routing is designed to be a simple task. Press a mod source button, rotate the knob of the feature you want to modulate and the link is made.
The keyboard is a Fatar polyphonic aftertouch affair which fills me with joy! With this level of synthesis power, expression is absolutely essential and so it is great to see this. There is currently no mention of any MPE capability.
Availability
Two prototypes will be available at Superbooth ahead of a planned summer 2025 release. Expect some details of the synth to change as Frap Tools finalise the prototypes into production units. For example some pictures seem to show CV connectivity, others don’t. Even at this stage, I think Magnolia will be a truly wonderful instrument with a big future.
As yet, there are no details on pricing, and I wouldn’t want to speculate at all, so watch this space for more details as they emerge and be sure to sign up the the Frap Tools newsletter over at their website. Visit Frap Tools at Booth B049 at Superbooth 25, 8-10th May 2025 at FEZ-Berlin.
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One response to “Frap Tools Magnolia – Superbooth 25’s Surprise Hit?”
Sounds wonderful!