Vancouver-based boutique synth maker Crows Electromusic has unveiled Lore, a pocket-sized analogue synth built for exploratory sound synthesis, ambient, drone and noise music.
Featuring individual controls for each function, Lore gives direct control of two independent triangle-core oscillators and can be switched to an FM synthesis mode to unlock a wide range of complex tones.
Following the success of their 2023 release OVUM, Crows Electromusic designed Lore with two key goals: push the boundaries of compact synth design and enable harsher, more aggressive sounds. The result is an intuitive, hands-on instrument that encourages sound exploration, with no prior synthesis knowledge required. All in a tiny form factor measuring under 3 x 3 inches.
Equipped with 100% analogue circuitry, two crossfading oscillators, and a switchable FM mode, Lore delivers a wide spectrum of tones, from pure tones to those shimmering, metallic, grinding textures.
“The left oscillator can be sent to the audio output, where it will create harmony or dissonance with the right oscillator, or it can be switched to modulate the frequency of the right oscillator,” says the firm. “This is a simplified and analogue version of the kind of FM synthesis you’ll find in digital synthesizers like the DX7 and its descendants.”
As mentioned, each unit is hand-built and fully analogue, with no digital components, screens, quantization, or key-combinations to memorize — everything is immediate and at your fingertips. The synth is fully standalone as well — simply plug in your headphones via the 3.5mm jack and start playing. There’s also a line-out included for you to connect to an amplifier, audio interface, or external effects.
In addition, the Lore is housed in a green, translucent petroleum-free bioplastic enclosure and powered via USB, making it as portable as it is versatile. The unit does not contain a battery, though it can be powered by any USB power bank.
Lore is available now for $59 USD/$79 CAD.
Learn more at Crows Electromusic.
