Critter & Guitari - Organelle S

Organelle S is a portable multi-purpose weapon from the US-manufacturer Critter & Guitari. A synthesizer at heart, the ultra-flexible box can also be a sampler, drum machine, sequencer, vocoder or effects unit and be fed by the user with his own patches.

Compared to its predecessor Organelle M, the casing of S is much more handy as it leaves out the built-in speaker and battery compartment, which results in about seven centimeters smaller dimensions (26 instead of 33cm) and less weight (500 instead of 750 grams). What remains is the extensive connectivity, which, in addition to stereo mini-jack I/O, a TRS MIDI duo, headphone output, pedal connection, 9V power connection (negative inside), also accommodates 2 USB ports (including WiFi functionality via included adapter), an HDMI port and a mini SD card slot in the sturdy black metal housing.

On its upper side, there is a built-in microphone, as well as various controls, in addition to the stylish two-octave walnut keyboard. Besides the volume knob, there are four rotary encoders and one rotary knob with push-button for quick access to control and navigate parameters of the OLED display. A similar concept is already known from the Teenage Engineering devices OP-1 and OP-Z, but Organelle allows for deeper editing of core-parameters. The device can be fed with open-source Pure Data patches even without great coding skills, turning it into a synth/sampler, drum machine, pedal/FX box, vocoder or guitar amp. If required, your own programming skills can also be used in conjunction with tools like Supercollider and Monome.

The user library now contains more than 500 exciting patches, including user creations based on synth or modular classics (Minimoog, Rings, Clouds etc.) or pursuing their own approaches such as Snowgrains (subtractive monosynth meets granular synth). The patches can even be combined into so-called super patches via the ORAC mega patch, which pass on both audio and MIDI information to each other. Using the HDMI port, patch design can even be done without a computer via a connected monitor. Everything fits conveniently on the included 8 GB Micro SD card, guaranteeing virtually endless options for sound shaping.

Features:

• Portable digital creative synth with built-in microphone
• Can function as synth/sampler, effects unit, vocoder, drum machine or guitar amp
• Open-source, programmable preset architecture
• Large user-based patch database
• Pedal In
• Mini SD card slot (incl. 8 GB card)
• Two-octave wooden keyboard (walnut)
• Four controllers for real-time parameter control
• HDMI port
• 2x USB port
• Stereo I/O (mini jack)
• MIDI I/O (TRS-A)
• OLED display
• WIFI adapter
• Power supply: 9V center positive (US socket adapter required!!)