Kodamo MASK 1: Prototype revealed at SoundMIT 22

14 Nov 2022 by Rob Puricelli |

4,6 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Kodamo MASK 1 · Source: Kodamo

Bit Masking Visualisation · Source: Kodamo

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Kodamo MASK 1: The long-awaited new synth from makers Kodamo, implements their innovative “bit masking synthesis” architecture. Debuted over the weekend, does this innovative new synthesiser mark a new paradigm in digital synthesis?

Kodamo Mask1: Behind The Mask

We first became aware of Kodamo thanks to the EssenceFM, a super powerful FM synthesizer. This product caught the imagination of many, not least myself, with its intuitive touch screen and vast FM capabilities. For some while, they have been threatening new products and at SoundMIT in Torino, they unveiled the MASK 1.

So what’s bit masking synthesis then, when it’s at home? Bit masking involves splitting sine waves into multiple slices and then rearranging them in a multitude of different combinations. This allows the user to create some wild waveforms shapes with which to play. You can use these slices to recreate traditional waveforms as well as ones of your own design.

Bit Masking Visualisation

Features

Gleaning details from a video produced by Les Sondiers, MASK 1 will ship with two oscillators that will utilise 200 bit masked waveforms in addition to a noise generator. These pass through a digital 12-state variable, four-mode, self-oscillating filter.

Modulation is covered by two multi-wave LFOs routed to 15 different destinations. Each voice has its own set of seven envelopes that include pitch, ADSR and delta envelopes. Kodamo has also introduced a feature that allows the synth to slur between notes held in a chord. They say that this introduces “great melodic expressivity while playing chords simultaneously“.

MASK 1 uses a 61 key, velocity and channel aftertouch Fatar keyboard mechanism. The prototype also features the large, square buttons seen on the EssenceFM. Other notable features promised by the developers are sound layering, splits, an arpeggiator, a built-in looper and polyphonic portamento.

Kodamo MASK 1

When and How Much?

There is no available on-sale date for the Kodamo MASK 1 but the show pre-order was displayed as €1790 ex VAT. Additionally, there is also no mention of the Infini, which premiered at SynthFest France earlier this year. The Infini synth uses FM, Formants and Bit Masking. We can but hope that Infini is still in development, alongside MASK 1.

Thanks go to Les Sondiers for their video.

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