Frap Tools Magnolia 8-Voice Analogue Polysynth

We say...

One of the most exciting analogue polys to emerge for some years, the Magnolia looks great and more importantly sounds great, bringing some West Coast 'complex oscillator' flavour to the world of keyboard synths. It's ideal for the forward-thinking synthesist!

Manufacturer's description

Magnolia is an eight-voice analog through-zero linear FM synthesizer. Besides the classic analog polysynth sounds, its design allows programming some less conventional timbres closer to the world of modular synthesizers, and especially of the so-called “complex oscillators.”

Magnolia allows to bring modular synthesis techniques in the world of analog polysynths, with all the known advantages of the latter: polyphony, immediacy of use, powerful sound, and those little unpredictable details generally known as “analog warmth.”

Magnolia is a highly playable instrument thanks to its expressive Fatar keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch and encourages sound exploration through its large and relaxing front panel.

Key Features

• 8-voice polyphony.
• All-analog signal path with proprietary design (no ICs!)
• Analog thru-zero frequency modulation.
• 5-octave, velocity-sensitive keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch and adjustable curves.
• Bi-timbral programs with Morph, Dual, and Split capabilities.
• Two oscillators per voice: an “east coast” one with PWM and a “west coast” one with linear TZFM, wavefolder, and flip sync.
• Continuously variable wave form selector.
• 18 dB/oct high-pass and 24 dB/oct low-pass resonant filters with linear FM.
• Analog pre-filter saturation.
• Three loopable DAHDSR digital envelopes.
• Three digital LFOs with continuously variable wave forms.
• Per-part arpeggiator.
• Per-part 16-step sequencer.
• 200 memory slots for presets.
• Analog global distortion.
• Two global digital effect slots with choruses and delays.
• Hands-on modulation matrix with explicit visual cue.
• Velocity-off modulation source.
• “Polymove,” an expanded polyphonic randomization source.
• A Macro knob assignable to every parameter.
• 16 modulation sources.
• 38 modulation destinations.
• 64 modulation slots per part.
• Independent midi channels.

Modular sound in a keyboard format

We made Magnolia because we wanted to offer our iconic modular analog sound in a more straightforward instrument that could play chords and other 12-note music right away.

Inside, we put all our signature sound tools: analog triangle-core oscillators, thru-zero FM, wavefolders, analog distortion, and wild, resonant filter. It is a powerful instrument, capable of a wide gamut of sounds that range from soft, glass-like pads to earth-shattering distorted leads.

A hands-on modulation matrix allows you to connect 16 modulation sources to 32 modulation destinations by just pushing a button and twisting a knob.

We always designed from scratch every single circuit and Magnolia is no exception: it is an actual shrinked version of our popular Eurorack modules, without any stock ICs whatsoever!

Expressiveness and immediacy.

Magnolia is meant to be played, and so it must offer you many ways to dynamically interact with your sounds.

There are many physical access points, like its expressive Fatar keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch, pitch and mod wheels, a Macro knob and a Morph knob, plus two expression pedal inputs.

However, there is a total of 16 modulation sources and 38 modulation destinations, all equipped with an LED that tells whether that source or destination is active.

Three LFOs, three envelopes, and, most importantly, the Polymove: it is a refined random generator that creates a random control signal for every voice and every destination within that voice. If you’re in search for a quick way to animate your sounds, from subtle variations to complete chaos, look no further!

Forget about operators!

Most of us think about frequency modulation as carriers, operators, and weird formulas. While this is an accurate depiction of the most refined linear FM implementation, we must not forget that, at the end of the day, FM is just an oscillator modulating another one at audio rate to create complex sounds.

That’s what you’ll find on Magnolia! Just two oscillators and a big, orange knob to tweak. It is a more raw and in-your-face way of doing FM, without precise ratios and indices, but we guarantee: it’s incredibly fun!

And what does “thru-zero” mean? It is a label that makes sense only when talking about analog oscillators, and it just says: “hey, I’m an analog circuit, but I can do real FM!”

Tech specs

• Architecture: Polyphonic, Bi-timbral Analog Synthesizer
• Sound path: In-house developed full analog voices.
• Polyphony: 8 voices
• Effects: Stereo analog distortion. In parallel digital stereo effects.
• Keybed: 61 keys Fatar keybed with velocity and polyphonic Aftertouch
• Controllers: Pitch Wheel, Mod Wheel, Macro Knob, Hold Button, Sustain Pedal input, 2x
  Expression Pedal input.
• Panel Controls: 33 knobs, 15 sliders, 50 buttons
• Connections: Stereo Headphones Output, Main Output Left & Right, USBC, Sustain, MIDI
  In/Out/Thrum 2x Expression Pedal Input
• Modulations: 16 sources, 38 destinations, 64 slots per part (with 2 parts per program)
• Monophonic Modulators: Pitch & Mod Wheels, Expression Pedal 1 & 2, Macro Knob
• Polyphonic Modulators: Tracking, Velocity On & Off, Polymove, Aftertouch, 3x LFOs, 3x 6-
  stages Envelopes