Analogue Solutions Filtopia Is a Synthesizer With 5 Filters!
How many filters are too many for a synthesizer? If you said six, then Analogue Solutions’ new Filtopia is what you need – because it’s got five. Perfect for filter sweeps and vowel sounds!
Analogue Solutions Filtopia
Analogue Solutions is a boutique synthesizer company. While the word “boutique” may conjure up images of small and dainty synths, that’s not Analogue Solutions at all. The company has never been afraid to go big, whether that’s the Colossus, their EMS Synthi 100-style monster, or TC-5000, their version of the alien-calling ARP 2500.
The company’s latest is just as audacious, although this time they’re going for number of features rather than size of the instrument. I’m talking about Filtopia, a tabletop monophonic synthesizer with five filters.
Filters Ahoy
Filterbanks are not unheard of in synthesizers, but because of their specialized use, they tend to show up as modules in Eurorack or other big synths. One example is Behringer’s 914 Fixed Filter Bank based on the Moog module. Most normalled synthesizers can get by just fine with one or two lowpass jobbies. But that’s where this new synthesizer differs.
As the name suggests, Filtopia is a utopia of analog filters. Wired in parallel, you get a lowpass/highpass multimode filter, three bandpass filters, and a bandpass/lowpass filter. Each is slightly different with its own set of controls, including amounts for envelopes and LFOs, and a knob to send it to the sequencer. They’re all resonant, by the way. That means it’s possible to create formants that mimic the human voice.
Additionally, you can pipe external signals through the filter bank via the audio in jack.
Other Parameters
Although the USP for Filtopia is undoubtedly the filter bank, the instrument is very capable in every other aspect as well. To start, it’s got three VCOs, which can be routed to “some or many” of the filters. There are also two sub-oscillators, audio-rate noise sources, and true ring modulation. Getting excited yet?
The synth also features two stereo VCAs with high headroom and spatial separation, according to the company. One VCA allows you to send signal to the onboard solid-state delay block, capable of retro-style space, depth, and feedback loops.
In terms of modulation, there are three ADSR envelopes and two LFOs.
Additionally, there’s an eight-step CV sequencer with per-step pitch customization and performance controls. Unfortunately, there’s no MIDI out for the sequencer.
Filtopia offers both CV patch points, including sync in for the sequencer, and MIDI in/thru five-pin DIN connects on the rear.
Pricing and Availability
Filtopia is available directly from Analogue Solutions for £1799. They’re only making 200 of them. At the time of publication, there were only four left, so you had better hurry if you’re interested.
More Information
- Analogue Solutions Filtopia product page
- More about Analogue Solutions
- More about synthesizers
- Buy synthesizers at Thomann*
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