Soft Memo, Double Q, BALSAM: Synth Journal
Soft Memo, Double Q, BALSAM: Synth Journal · Source: Herbs and Stones, Destiny Plus, GLX Audio Co
In this edition of Synth Journal, we check out Soft Memo, a new patchable multi-effects box from Herbs and Stones. Also: Pamela hits the disco, Double Q lets you control your modular using hand gestures, and BALSAM is a stunning 8-voice modal synth.
Synth Journal
Herbs and Stones Soft Memo: A Hybrid Multi-Effects Unit You Can Patch
Got the memo? Herbs and Stones have announced another one of their wondrous and delightfully quirky music-making boxes. Soft Memo is a new hybrid stereo effects unit in a desktop format. Patchable effects are still quite rare, at least outside of the Eurorack universe. Offering 1/4” inputs and outputs, Soft Memo can be a standalone FX unit for anything you throw at it, but also pairs wonderfully with a modular or semi-modular setup.
The effects are digital, but can be controlled using analog CV. There are eight programs, ranging from various delays and reverbs to more unusual things like a lo-fi reverse processor, a drifting stereo pitch shifter, and a dual stereo ring modulator.
In addition, Soft Memo offers two analog feedback paths, each consisting of analog VCAs and resonant analog VCFs. For modulation, there are two voltage-controlled complex LFOs and an envelope follower. Plenty of opportunities for creative patching!
Herbs and Stones Soft Memo will begin to ship around mid January. You can pre-order the patchable hybrid multi-effect for €569 from the manufacturer’s website.
Destiny Plus Double Q: Control Your Modular Using Hand Gestures
Double Q by Destiny Plus is an intriguing-looking box that lets you control your modular system using hand gestures. According to the developer, it’s based on a neural processor that has been trained to track 30 points on the hand. A high-resolution camera picks up the movements of your hands, while the processor analyzes them and translates them into up to 16 CV signals. In a way, it reminds me of ROLI’s Airwave controller, but infinitely cooler and with analog CV outs for modular patching.
The 16 CV outputs can be configured to output unipolar or bipolar voltages. In addition, Double Q outputs NRPN and MIDI CC data via USB-C. There’s also a recording function that lets you record up to 10 minutes of hand movements, as well as a bunch of randomization options. And it even comes with its own sound engine named ‘Double Luck’, although they don’t tell you how it works.
If you’re always looking for novel ways to control your modular and interact with sound, Double Q should be right up your alley. The developer says that it’ll ship at the end of January 2026.
ALM Pamela’s Disco: Sync Your Eurorack to your DJ Set
After a good workout, it’s time to hit the disco! Or better yet, do both at the same time! Building on the hugely successful Pamela’s Workout series, ALM has released a companion module that lets you sync up your modular system to the master tempo of a PRO DJ-LINK network, allowing you to incorporate modular performances into your DJ sets.
Pamela’s Disco is a 4HP module that receives PRO DJ-LINK data via Ethernet and converts the tempo data into standard clock signals. In addition to DIN Sync style clocking outputs, there are beat and bar trigger outputs and a manual Resync button.
Pamela’s Disco is available now for €169.95.
GLX BALSAM: Stunning 8-Voice Modal Synthesizer
Inspired by the long, floating, polyphonic portamento sounds of classic polysynths like the CS-80 and OB-8, BALSAM by GLX Audio Co is a fascinating hybrid 8-voice modal synthesizer that lets you manipulate the pitch of each voice individually using sliders. It’s all about 8 voices that seemingly drift out of tune, only to reunite and form beautifully sounding chords and textures. Think of it as the THX sound turned into a synth.
Each voice consists of two detunable virtual-analog oscillators, a sub oscillator, and noise. These are then shaped by a stereo analog state-variable filter and stereo analog VCA. For modulation, the synth offers an LFO and a couple of envelopes, which can be routed to various destinations using a slider-based mod matrix.
The Controller section lets you arrange the eight voices in a scale of your choice. BALSAM even includes an 8-channel polyrhythmic sequencer. It’s really quite fascinating, and it sounds stunning!
Sadly, the first production run of BALSAM is already sold out. But you can join the waitlist for the second batch, which will be released in the spring of 2026. In the US, BALSAM costs $2249. International pricing isn’t yet available at the time of writing.
This might also interest you
