SOMA - Enigma
€829.00
Net: €696.64
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SOMA ENIGMA — An Experimental Synthesizer Played with Metal Objects, Explored by Intuition
SOMA ENIGMA is an experimental synthesizer controlled by placing and moving metal objects across a sensitive playing surface. Coins, screws, washers, tools — fairly ordinary things you have lying around become a way of making electronic music, with their arrangement and movement determining how the instrument sounds.
The surface detects conductive objects resting on the panel or hovering up to 20 mm above it. Even a fraction of a millimetre can change the response, so there’s room for both broad gestures and tiny adjustments. There are 8 touch sensors to switch between operating states, giving the same arrangement of objects different musical behaviour. In certain modes, ENIGMA can also trace and remember gestures over time.
SOMA deliberately leaves much of the internal workings unexplained. The manual explains the essentials, then leaves the rest up for you to explore. One thing is important to underline however, there is no randomness in the interface: the same objects, placement, movements and sensor states produce the same behaviour. That gives you something to learn and practise, with discoveries you can return to and gradually work into a performance.
MIDI note control and MIDI/CV clock synchronisation in supported modes let ENIGMA play alongside other instruments, while a scratch-resistant surface will accommodate the less refined contents of your hardware drawer.
ENIGMA asks for a curious ear and a willingness to spend time with an unfamiliar way of playing. The demo videos below should give you a good impression of what that involves — and how much there is to explore with just a few pieces of metal.
Features:
- Experimental synthesizer controlled by conductive metal objects
- Sensing surface detects objects up to 20mm above the panel
- Responds to object shape, size, position and movement
- Eight touch sensors for changing operating states
- Repeatable interface behaviour without randomness
- Gesture memory in certain modes
- Scratch-resistant industrial film on the playing surface
- DIN MIDI input: notes, pitch bend, clock and transport in supported modes
- Eurorack-compatible CV clock input, 3.3–20V
- Two 6.3mm audio outputs; automatic mono output when using one jack
- 3.5mm headphone output and volume control
- Dimensions: 340 × 320 × 40mm
- 12V DC power adapter included
- Playing objects not included
- Weight: 2kg