Isn'tses Dark Harvestator Experimental Noise Synthesizer

The Dark Harvestator is a new psychogeographic noise synth from Isn'tses (Tim Drage & Lisa McKendrick). Inspired by the disturbing history of the "Anthrax Island" Gruinard in Scotland and the mysterious group Dark Harvest who protested against the contamination of the island. It is a standalone PCB-art synth circuit which can create a wide range of textural noise, tones and chaotic bleeps.

The synth generates a digital signal which is then put through an analog CMOS distortion and EQ control to give it an extra saturated character rather than a standard digital/chiptune sound palette. There are 5 knobs, three to control the sound parameters, one EQ knob to shape the tone, and a master volume control. Maximum volume is quite a hot signal so it works well as an input for modular or semi modular synths, or you can turn it down to a more suitable level for your mixer, amp, guitar pedal or soundcard inputs.

There is a 3-way on-off-momentary toggle switch for playable switching + randomising between different kinds of sounds. This basically switches between very random noise and more continuous tone/drone noise and also randomises the parameters of the sound every time it's switched. You can leave it switched to one or the other while playing, or momentarily press the switch for more sporadic cut-up style playing. There is also a pushbutton button which resets the chip to change between two distinct modes depending on the toggle switch position, effectively selecting between either a more noisy sound or a more bleepy sound.

Overall the sound is very noisy, harsh and brutal, evoking crackly wartime sounds, radio interference, the rage of the sea and the Bacillus Anthracis mutating. As with all our synths it is instantly playable and tactile and you can achieve a range of sound from fairly subtle chaotic tones, bleeps and drones or truly savage harsh noise.

The audio output is a mono 3.5mm jack. It's best to use a mono cable (eurorack patch cable for instance), if you use a stereo lead it will work but audio will probably be heard only in the left channel.

The Dark Harvestator has a power indicator LED, and three noise activity LEDs which flicker and change in intensity according to the sound. PLEASE NOTE that LED colours of the synth you receive may vary from the photos and videos in the listing. We are currently using a yellow/warm white colour. Other electronic components and knobs may vary slightly in appearance, style or colour too but will all function the same.

The synth runs off a standard centre-negative 9v DC guitar pedal power supply - not included. A 9v battery clip - not included - can be optionally soldered on by the user for portable use, or if you can't solder you could buy a battery clip to DC jack adaptor, ask us for details of that if you need.

The synth is perfect for harsh noise, drone, industrial, power electronics, breakcore, chiptune, circuitbent, EDM and other experimental electronic music, and works great played thru effects or other synths with inputs. It's great raw material for sampling or DAW manipulation too.

The Dark Harvestator incorporates CCBY licenced code from Rob Stave's 'ArduinoComponentSketches' library