09 May by Lasse Eilers |

4,0 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Morphor Echon 6 · Source: GEARNEWS

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Every once in a while, a synth comes along that does things a bit differently. One of the most unusual synths debuting at Superbooth 25 is Morphor’s Echon 6 – a six-voice analog polysynth based on BBD resonators.

Morphor Echon 6

BBDs – analog bucket brigade devices – played a key role for the Belgian company Morphor from its beginnings. Their first Eurorack module was Plectrum, a BBD-based Karplus-Strong module. They also later released BBD-based chorus and delay modules. At Superbooth 25, Morphor unveiled the prototype of its first complete desktop synth. Born from polyphonic experiments involving six Plectrum modules, Echon 6 is an analog polysynth based on BBD resonators.

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The synth features a fully analog audio signal path with digital control. Similar to Karplus-Strong synthesis, Echon 6 consists of an exciter section feeding into a 1024-stage BBD resonator, which is essentially a very short delay line with feedback. However, while traditional Karplus-Strong synthesis uses short bursts of noise to excite the resonator, Echon 6 has a much more complex exciter section capable of a wider range of sounds. In addition to noise, there’s a VCO with continuously variable waveshapes. You can also use an external input signal. A crossfader lets you blend the three sources.

The resulting signal is then fed into the resonator section through a 12-dB input filter. The resonator also offers a second filter in the feedback line for additional sound shaping.

For modulation, Echon 6 has an exciter envelope and four LFOs. Other available sources include the mod wheel, velocity, key follow, and polyphonic aftertouch, which can be mapped to various sources using a mod matrix. The synth is even MPE compatible.

Moreover, Echon 6 is up to 6x multitimbral, with individual outputs for all six voices or parts. It also features a unison mode with comprehensive control. The patch memory holds 72 presets and 144 user sounds.