Open Synth Platform

Imagine having all the sounds you ever dreamed of in the palm of your hand.

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Kits

Open Synth Platform

Imagine having all the sounds you ever dreamed of in the palm of your hand.

Learn More

Kits

Concept

Zynthian is a compact, self-contained, music-making computer that can be used as a keyboard expander, audio effects unit, MIDI processor / router and groovebox / micro-DAW.

Zynthian is a community-driven project and it's 100% open source. Free software on Open hardware. Completely configurable and fully hackable! Free as in Freedom. You can build your zynthian from scratch or buy an official kit.

Zynthian's software includes:

over 30 synth engines:
- accurate emulations of classic instruments:
  pianos, electric pianos (rhodes, wurly, clavinet, ...), hammond organ, combo organ, pipe organ, DX7, oberheim, Juno 60, ...
- amazing virtual analog synthesizers:
  zynaddsubfx, helm, noizemaker, surge, amsynth, synthv1, padthv1, ...
- soundfonts:
  SF2, SF3, SFZ & GIG formats are supported. 4GB of soundfonts included.
over 500 audio effects, including reverb, delay, echo, chorus, distortion, EQ, compressor, wahwah, flanger, phaser, granulator, vocoder, auto-tune...
neural network modelling for accurate emulation of non-linear gear like amplifiers, distortion, fuzz, overdrive stomp-boxes, etc.
impulse response modelling for reverb and cabinet emulation.
midi filters & tools: map, chorder, strum, arpeggiator, LFO, sequencer, quantization, split, velocity map, ...
step sequencer: zynseq is a full featured step sequencer that turns zynthian into a powerful groovebox. It features live capture, quantization, swing, humanization, playing chance and much more.
live looping sampler: the sooper looper engine, capable of immediate loop recording, overdubbing, multiplying, reversing and much more.
mod-ui: a fancy canvas environment for designing crazy arrangements of sound processors.
pure data: a visual language for sound & midi programming
multitrack audio recorder: chain's output can be recorded independently in a multitrack WAV file.
midi file recorder/player: standard midi files can be easily recorded and played back.
audio sampler engine: zynsampler is an innovative audio sampler that is being actively developed. It features crop & loop points, ADSR, pitch shifting, time stretching, varispeed and much more!

Use-cases

Keyboard Expander

Let your fingers play the sound you want.

Acoustic & electric pianos, organs, vintage synthesizers, virtual analog synthesizers, soundfonts, ...

MIDI learning is quick & easy, allowing you to manage everything from your MIDI keyboard/controller, including fast instrument changes and controlling the sound parameters you want. [Learn More]
Effects Unit

Would you like a custom FX-chain for every song?

Reverbs, echoes, delays, choruses, flangers, phasers, distortions, EQs, compressors, wahs, grains, vocoders, autotune, ... Play neural models of legendary amplifiers, distortion, fuzz & overdrive pedals. IR models for reverb and cabinets.

Create FX-chains arranging processors in series/parallel. Infinite fun with the live looping sampler! [Learn More]
Groovebox / micro-DAW

A powerful production tool in a small container

It's fully multi-timbral and it features multitrack recording, audio sampler and a powerful step-sequencer designed for live-performing and song composing.

Plug & play control with a growing list of supported midi controllers. Explore sonic landscapes and go beyond the limits with Pure Data generative capabilities.
[Learn More]

Get your Zynthian

The latest official Zynthian V5 is available as a DIY kit or fully assembled and ready to use. Up to you!

You can build your own unit and learn how it works. Don't be afraid! It's an easy task that anybody can carry out, and you get a bunch of advantages by doing this way:

You learn how it works.
You can repair your unit. Every single part is available separately.
You can customize your unit, adapting it to your needs.
You can upgrade your unit, re-using parts, reducing waste and saving money.

If you don't feel comfortable building your own zynthian unit, now you can also buy it fully assembled and ready to use.

Finally, if you are a brave maker and have time and energy, you could build your zynthian from scratch. The specifications and schematics are freely available in the github repositories and you would find several tutorials in the wiki and guidance in the zynthian forum.