Zynthian is a community-driven project which is completely open source, with free software on Open hardware. It is completely configurable, and fully hackable — an open platform for sound synthesis and processing where free means freedom.
Zynthian is a new class of musical device, and is a powerful multitimbral synthesizer and audio processor, capable of managing up to 16 audio chains simultaneously. An Open Hardware device (currently based on Raspberry Pi) running ZynthianOS, it is a MIDI processor and router equipped with standard MIDI ports, USB, WIFI and wired networks. It features accurate Emulations of classic instruments such as the grand piano, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, pipe organ, Hammond organ, combo organ, Minimoog, DX-7, Oberheim OB-X, and JX-10.
It also provides some amazing virtual analogue synthesizers, including the ZynAddSubFX, Helm, NoizeMaker, Surge, AMSynth, SynthV1, and PadthV1. There is a 4+GB collection of soundfonts included, and SoundFont support consists of SF2, SF3, SFZ and GIG format support.
Zynthian also comes with an array of effects such as reverb, delay, echo, chorus, distortion, EQ, compressor, wah, flanger, phaser, granulator, vocoder, and auto-tune. As far as MIDI filters and tools, the software offers map, chorder, arpeggiator, LFO, sequencer, quantisation, split, and velocity mapping. A powerful integrated step sequencer allows the unit to be used as a standalone groovebox, or to drive external synthesizers. Zynthian also integrates the Sooper Looper engine, which is capable of immediate loop recording, overdubbing, multiplying, reversing, and much more. Multi-track audio recording is supported too.
On top of this, Zynthian can be used as a powerful audio effects processing unit, allowing creation of a customised effect-chain for every available audio input.
