SOMA LABORATORY Flux

Soma Flux at a glance

With Flux, Soma Laboratory once again demonstrates its innovative spirit by combining the musicality of classical instruments with cutting-edge sound generation and a unique interface. The instrument with digital sound generation has a magnetic user interface that is played without contact. This is achieved with two magnetic "bows" that are held between the player's fingers and an interface keyboard with a multi-pole magnetic field pickup. The pickup registers the placement, movement and inclination of the bows as well as the pole of the bow facing the instrument.
The right hand can be used to control up to five parameters simultaneously, including the pitch and volume of the notes. The left hand controls up to twelve parameters for timbre, modulation and rhythmic sequencing. In total, this makes up to 17 independent sound parameters, which are controlled by the bows in real time and without touching other controls on the instrument. This particularly expressive playing technique enables unique changes to the tone of each individual note.
The tidy, minimalized user interface draws attention to the essentials: the flow of music and emotions - the playing, not the programming. Flux is controlled entirely by eight touch sensors and a magnetic keyboard, which also serves as a 70cm long "slider" to control parameters such as volume or reverb mix.
The purely digital sound generation was developed from scratch, so there is nothing here that already existed elsewhere under a different name. The 37 algorithms include analog synthesis modeling, FM and Physical Modelling as well as unusual algorithms such as lo-fi synthesis based on 8-bit integer math and bit bending. All algorithms manage with a manageable number of parameters, which makes them easier to play and simpler to operate; nevertheless, they offer a wide range of sounds. Depending on the algorithm, the polyphony is between 1 and 12 voices.
The fine sensor system is able to distinguish between monophonic, duophonic and polyphonic playing. There is also a percussive mode that enables sounds with a fast, articulated attack. In addition, a sustain pedal can be connected to save the state of the timbral range of the magnetic keyboard so that sounds can be layered or the left hand can be freed up for duophonic playing. Flux can be updated with a USB stick via the USB port and additional patches can be saved on it.