Superbooth 2026: New Gear, Fresh Ideas, One City
Stay up to date with Superbooth 2026 - from May 7 to 9 the Wired Tunes team is broadcasting live from Berlin! We are on the ground to bring you the freshest information about the instruments that are already stirring excitement across the global synthesizer community.
New Gear, Fresh Ideas, One City
Superbooth is the moment when manufacturers from around the world reveal their cards. Our team is making its way through the halls of the FEZ complex in Berlin to test and cover the most interesting premieres. This year Superbooth celebrates its tenth anniversary as an independent platform for manufacturers, musicians, and everyone for whom electronic sound is a form of expression. From analog synthesizers to advanced samplers - here is what caught our attention first.
Hot Premieres of Superbooth 2026
Desktop synthesizer
Buchla Ziggy
Probably the most unexpected announcement ahead of Superbooth 2026. Buchla is a brand primarily associated with expensive and complex modular systems - the iconic Easel retails for around $5,000, while the full Skylab system reaches $15,000. Against that backdrop, a self-contained desktop monosynth priced just under $1,000 looks like a small revolution, though it remains firmly in premium territory by general market standards.
At the heart of Buchla Ziggy sits an analog complex oscillator - the very thing that has always defined the Buchla sound: a sine wave with amplitude and frequency modulation, a timbre wavefolder for adding harmonics, and a modulation oscillator capable of operating anywhere from slow LFO rates up to audio frequencies. Instead of a conventional filter, Buchla Ziggy uses a Low Pass Gate with a Sallen-Key architecture, which can work as a VCA, a filter, or both simultaneously. Envelopes are not traditional ADSR but continuously blended shapes - a deliberate design choice rooted in West Coast synthesis philosophy. On the modern side, there are digital effects (reverb, delay, flanger, pitch-shifter, chorus, distortion), patch saving, over 100 factory presets, and a small screen for navigation. Power comes via USB-C.
Important note: there is no keyboard included. You can use your own MIDI or CV controller, or add the firmowy Buchla LEM218 touch keyboard - available separately or as a bundle. For those who have long wanted to explore West Coast synthesis without diving into a full modular rig, Buchla Ziggy looks like a genuine opportunity. Audio demonstrations are not yet widely available, but community interest is already high - and nothing suggests that enthusiasm will fade once the show floor opens.
Sampler / sound processor
Torso Electronics S-4 (UPDATE)
Danish company Torso Electronics caught the community's attention with the T-1 sequencer, but it is the S-4 that represents its most ambitious project to date. The device is described as a "sculpting sampler" - a four-track sampler built around a granular engine, a suite of effects, and the ability to simultaneously function as a tape machine, live effects processor, and textural synthesizer. That sounds like a wide brief - and in practice the instrument delivers on much of it.
Each of the four tracks runs through a chain of five processing blocks: Material (tape-style or polyphonic sample playback), Mosaic (granular processing with control over grain size, rate, and pitch), Ring (a 48-band resonator plus a morphing filter), Color (distortion, compressor, bit-crusher), and Space (delay, reverb, spatial effects). There is 4 GB of internal storage with support for external USB drives, a built-in microphone, and WiFi for Ableton Link. Modulation options spanning envelopes, LFOs, and generative sequencers make the S-4 considerably deeper than it might appear at first glance.
Torso Electronics has been consistently developing the instrument through regular firmware updates. The 2.0 release shown at Superbooth 2025 brought a rewritten engine, a scene system, and global macros, while version 2.2 currently in beta adds a new time-freeze mode to the Mosaic granular module. The S-4 is aimed at musicians looking for an unconventional approach to live audio processing and creative sound design.
Polyphonic synthesizer
Elta Music Polivoks-8
Latvian company Elta Music has been working with the heritage of the Soviet Formanta Polivoks synthesizer for years - filter units, mono versions, reissues. The Polivoks-8 is a step in a completely new direction: an eight-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer inspired by that same raw Soviet-era character that has been drawing producers to it for decades.
Each of the eight voices features two fully analog oscillators with FM, sync, and ring modulation, plus a dedicated sub-oscillator per voice. The centerpiece is a dual-filter design per voice: the first is an authentic Polivoks-type circuit built around original Soviet OTA chips K140UD12 - aggressive, expressive, and alive - offering 12 dB low-pass and 6 dB band-pass responses. The second is an improved 24 dB ladder filter. Routing between the two is freely configurable: serial, parallel, or any blend in between. Available in desktop or 4U rackmount format, with 1,024 patch memory slots, bi-timbral operation, a built-in arpeggiator, a step sequencer, and an analog joystick for live performance.
Key caveat: Elta Music is presenting a prototype at Superbooth. The price has not been officially confirmed, and audio demonstrations are not yet available. How convincingly a polyphonic Polivoks translates the mono instrument's character into eight voices remains an open question - that kind of conversion does not always deliver the expected result. We are waiting for demos from the show floor.
Keyboard / looper
Auxy Svensson 49
The debut hardware instrument from Swedish app studio Auxy - and probably the most surprising in terms of concept at this year's Superbooth. Svensson 49 is not a synthesizer in the traditional sense. It is a 49-key keyboard built around playing and looping, developed together with musician and YouTuber Cuckoo, who designed the entire sound library. The instrument is conceived to remove every barrier between you and music: no menus, no modes, no manual required. You simply play.
The sounds are organized into four layers: Drums, Bass, Bread, and Butter. Each category contains carefully crafted sounds that sit somewhere between acoustic and electronic. The engine combines wavetables and samples, but direct synthesis access is intentionally absent - this is not a sound-shaping tool. Center stage belongs to the four-channel looper, which works with refreshing simplicity: the instrument automatically remembers everything you play, and pressing the Loop button starts looping with the option to overdub at any moment. Physically, Svensson 49 is a metal-bodied keyboard with solid oak sides, a semi-weighted Fatar TP/9S keybed, and a built-in speaker designed by Swedish speaker specialist Ingvar Ohman.
The expected price is around 899 EUR, with first units shipping in early fall 2026. Svensson 49 is not for everyone and makes no attempt to be - that is a conscious design decision. For someone looking for a tool to play and capture musical ideas without setting up patches or diving into menus, it could be an ideal companion. For anyone who wants full control over every sound parameter, this is probably not the right shelf.
Polyphonic synthesizer
Apaeron AFOUR
A brand new company from Malmo in southern Sweden and their debut instrument - AFOUR is an A4-sized desktop polyphonic synthesizer that generated considerable attention before Superbooth even opened. Mainly for how it looks: 44 knobs with LED rings, 27 velocity-sensitive keys, a color display, wooden side panels, and a density of controls that is genuinely impressive for this form factor. At first glance it resembles an analog synthesizer, but the company is unambiguous: "AFOUR is all digital and proud of it."
The engine delivers up to 35 voices of polyphony, and a "swarm" mode allows allocating up to 8 voices per note for instant timbral thickness. There are two oscillators per voice with FM, crossfade, and phase modulation, a mod matrix, an arpeggiator, a four-channel looper, and four independent multitimbral channels. Apaeron deliberately tuned the filters with imperfection to give AFOUR its own personality rather than emulating classics. Early audio demos circulating online sound dense and characterful - some have drawn comparisons to a Kraftwerk aesthetic.
Price and availability are still TBA - all details are to be revealed on the show floor in Berlin at booth B059. Apaeron is a completely new brand with no market history, so until we hear the instrument live and see the final price, enthusiasm should be kept in reasonable perspective. The early material is genuinely promising though.
Granular synthesizer
Oddment ODD-1
Oddment Audio is a small independent team from the US - and their debut instrument ODD-1 is one of the most thoroughly considered new granular synthesizers to appear in recent years. The project has been in development for over two years, the instrument is currently in beta, and it will be on show at Superbooth at booth W206. Shipping is planned for August 2026.
At the core is a custom microsonic engine optimized for a quad-core ARM A72 64-bit processor. The ODD-1 handles up to eight stereo samples simultaneously, each up to 60 seconds at 48 kHz, with eight independent playheads with flexible layer assignment. A standout feature is the unique "Time Path" technology - it allows stretching a sound to infinity without losing its natural articulation. There are two fully independent layers, each capable of functioning as a multitimbral synthesizer, expressive sampler, multi-track looper, or real-time effects processor. Modulation is limitless: 4 LFOs, 3 envelopes, 4 macros, and 4 CV inputs can be assigned to any parameter by simply holding it down. MPE, MIDI 2.0, USB-C audio, and CV connectivity round out the spec. Every unit includes a copy of the ODD-1V plugin that replicates the engine in your DAW.
Control is handled through 18 infinite encoders with integrated switches and LEDs, plus a 2.8-inch capacitive touch screen. Audio demos circulating online - including a detailed walkthrough on the BoBeats channel - are convincing, particularly in the range of textures and soundscapes the engine produces. The price is $999. The ODD-1 is the kind of instrument that addresses a very specific need and is designed with musical practice in mind, not just a technical specification sheet.
Groovebox / drum machine
Sonicware deconstruct MINIMAL
Japanese manufacturer Sonicware, known for the LIVEN series, is launching a new product line called deconstruct - and its first entry is Sonicware deconstruct MINIMAL. It is a compact, battery-powered groovebox built around the rhythmic character and pitch drift of legendary drum machines. Unlike the LIVEN instruments which focus on sound engines, the deconstruct series focuses on musical structure: analyzing and reconstructing rhythm for deeper musical expression.
The device offers 11 tracks: nine drum machine tracks, up to four sampler tracks, and one analog-modeled bass synthesizer track clearly inspired by the Roland TB-303. The drum section includes 16 drum kits and 10 banks with 130 factory sounds. A key feature is the "Feel" mode, which lets you switch between a clean Minimal groove and emulations of the characteristic rhythmic instabilities of the 808 and 909. It is a subtle parameter that can fundamentally change how a sequence moves. The built-in sampler runs at 48 kHz/16-bit with time-stretching, and the new USB-C port enables fast sample transfers and firmware updates. Battery operation runs on 6 AA cells, with an optional 9V PSU for stationary use.
The introductory price of Sonicware deconstruct MINIMAL is $299 / €299 (regular price will be $399 / €399), with shipping starting mid-June 2026. A solid option for anyone looking for a pocketable, inspiring beat-making tool without unnecessary complexity - with a genuine rhythmic feel drawn from classic drum machines.
Keyboard synthesizer
Modal Element One
Modal Electronics returns with a new instrument following the company's restructuring - and this time they are clearly targeting musicians rather than sound designers. Modal Element One is an 8-voice virtual analog keyboard synthesizer with 37 keys (velocity + channel aftertouch) and a 4-axis joystick, developed in collaboration with renowned designer Axel Hartmann. The enclosure is steel and polycarbonate, weighing 4.5 kg - clearly built with live performance in mind.
The engine derives from the Cobalt8 architecture, but the interface has been radically streamlined: 17 direct-access knobs for key parameters, four assignable encoders, and the signature joystick for expressive control over pitch, modulation, and a wide range of modulation destinations. Under the hood is a powerful engine: 64 high-resolution oscillators (up to 8 per voice), 30 resonant filter types including morphable options, and three independent studio-grade effects processors. A built-in arpeggiator with a simple sequencer rounds out the feature set. Bank and sound category navigation is intuitive without deep menu diving.
Modal Element One is priced at €649 / MAP $599. It is not a deep sound programming tool - it is a tool for playing. For pianists, guitarists, and musicians who want a synthesizer at their fingertips without starting from scratch, this is a genuinely interesting proposition. Advanced sound designers can access the full depth of the Cobalt engine via the companion app.
Effects unit / filterbank
Erica Synths Resonant Filterbank
Latvian company Erica Synths brings its Eurorack Resonant Filterbank module to desktop format. Erica Synths Resonant Filterbank is an analog stereo filterbank with ten bandpass filters at fixed frequencies - 29 Hz, 61 Hz, 115 Hz, 218 Hz, 411 Hz, 777 Hz, 1.5 kHz, 2.8 kHz, 5.2 kHz, and 11 kHz - each controlled by a dedicated slider with a 17 dB/decade filter slope. A global resonance knob adds character and aggression across the full spectrum simultaneously.
What sets this apart from a standard 10-band EQ is its range of complex operating modes. The filterbank can function as a morphing multimode filter, a spectral analyzer, a spectral compressor, or a clocked modulation engine where band values update sequentially like sample and hold, creating oscillating stereo effects. Configurable feedback paths allow using it as a standalone sound generator in a "no-input mixer" setup - without any audio input at all. Control: MIDI CC over every parameter, 128 user snapshot slots with morphing between them. An analog input gain stage provides up to +24 dB, making it compatible with guitars and other low-level sources.
Erica Synths Resonant Filterbank is priced at €660 ex-VAT, shipping from May 18, 2026. It is one of those products that resists a single category - and that is precisely its strength. A tool for those who want to shape sound in unconventional ways.
Drum machine
Polyend Drums
Polish company Polyend calls Polyend Drums its most ambitious project - and it is difficult to disagree. It is an 8-track hybrid drum machine combining analog circuitry, digital synthesis, and sampling in a single-piece aluminum chassis. Polyend says they wanted to build the drum machine they would want to use and own themselves.
Four of the eight tracks run fully analog voices built on modern SSI chips - each with two VCOs, a noise source, an additional digital oscillator for layering or FM, a multimode analog filter, and a VCA. The remaining four tracks use digital engines with a library of over 40 instruments and sub-mode mutations extending the palette into hundreds of sounds. Samples can be layered across all tracks. Effects run across three chains - send, insert, and master - with insert effects sequenceable per step, embedding processing directly into the rhythmic pattern. Internal audio runs at 32-bit float, 96 kHz. The X0Y fader enables continuous morphing between kits and patterns without stopping playback. A single project holds up to 64 patterns, 64 kits, and 48 songs.
Polyend Drums is priced at $2,699 / €2,699 - placing it in direct competition with the Roland TR-1000 at the very top of the market. Worth noting: the unit shown at Superbooth was a pre-production prototype without the analog circuitry yet populated. Shipping is expected in 3-4 months. At this price, expectations are high - and the sound will be the definitive test.
Groovebox / FM synthesizer
Twisted Electrons FlexFM
French company Twisted Electrons consistently follows its own distinct vision for electronic instruments - and Twisted Electrons FlexFM fits squarely within that philosophy. It is an 8-voice hybrid groovebox combining FM synthesis, live-input sampling, and analog filters in one compact desktop unit. The prototype shown at Superbooth is hand-built - the instrument is still in development.
Each of the eight voices has a 4-operator FM engine with 32 algorithms - hence the name FLEX: the user has full control over every branch of the FM signal path, extending possibilities well beyond typical FM presets. Alongside the FM engine, each track also includes a sampler with live recording via the line input. The signal then passes through an analog multimode filter - the same design as in the TwistFM - with physical cutoff and resonance controls on the unit. Onboard effects include delay and reverb, an 8-track step sequencer, a chord generator, musical scales, and other creative tools. Connectivity: individual outputs per voice, stereo out, MIDI, USB, and headphone monitoring.
Price and release date of Twisted Electrons FlexFM are unknown for now - the device remains at prototype stage. Twisted Electrons rarely disappoints on sonic character, and the combination of FM, analog filtering, and sampling looks genuinely promising. Watch for updates from the developer.
Mixer / interface
KORG NTS-4
KORG expands the Nu:Tekt series with KORG NTS-4 - a compact, 6-channel performance mixer in DIY kit format, designed around desktop setups with synthesizers and drum machines. Counting all inputs, it offers 10 input channels: four stereo and two mono on mini-jack connectors, with the mono inputs also accepting Eurorack-level signals. Each channel provides level, send, pan, cue, and mute. Main output is on a full-size 1/4-inch jack.
The standout addition is the built-in dual stereo effects processor based on SDK Mk2 - the same platform as the Kaoss Pad NTS-3 and NTS-1. The effects are user-modifiable at the algorithm level, offering possibilities you would not find in a standard performance mixer. KORG NTS-4 also functions as a USB audio and MIDI interface - clipping LEDs, a headphone volume control, and a MIDI output for syncing devices to a DAW complete the spec.
Price and availability are yet to be announced - like all Nu:Tekt products, KORG NTS-4 will be available exclusively as a DIY kit for self-assembly. For anyone looking for a compact mixer for a desktop hardware setup with the bonus of programmable effects, this looks like a potentially very interesting proposition - if the history of the NTS series is any guide.
Keyboard synthesizer
GS Music Bree6 Keyboard
Argentine company GS Music presents at Superbooth 2026 GS Music Bree6 Keyboard - the keyboard version of the Bree6 synthesizer and the company's first instrument with an integrated keyboard. It is a 6-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer with a classic, transparent architecture: one analog VCO per voice with sawtooth and pulse waveforms plus a sub-oscillator, a 24 dB/oct 4-pole ladder lowpass filter, two ADSR envelopes, a single multi-waveform LFO up to 100 Hz, and digital effects (chorus, delay). One-knob-per-function philosophy, no menu diving.
The keyboard version adds a 3-octave semi-weighted keybed with velocity and aftertouch, pitch bend and modulation wheels engineered in-house, sustain and expression pedal inputs, plus an advanced arpeggiator and a built-in sequencer not available on the desktop version. The enclosure is all-metal with natural cedar wood side panels, hand-assembled in Argentina. 512 preset memory slots. Full MPE is supported over MIDI protocol, though the built-in keyboard itself does not generate MPE data. Connectivity: 5-pin MIDI (in/out/thru), USB, balanced stereo outputs L/R, and headphone out.
GS Music Bree6 Keyboard is priced at $1,699. It is classic, hands-on analog polyphony with direct access to all parameters, built with a level of attention to detail that is impressive for an independent company from Argentina. The desktop version was already well received by the community - the keyboard version only adds to its capabilities.
Drum machine / sampler
Erica Synths Bullfrog Drums
Erica Synths Bullfrog Drums is the result of a long-running collaboration between Erica Synths and legendary DJ and producer Richie Hawtin - first shown as a prototype at Superbooth 2024, and now finally available to order. It is a 7-track sample-based drum machine with a CV/Gate sequencer, designed with accessibility and learning in mind - but equally functional in real performance setups.
Each of the seven tracks offers independent control over sample parameters: pitch, start point, sample length, attack, decay, overdrive, and stereo panning. There are 7 factory sound banks prepared by Richie Hawtin and the Erica Synths team, plus up to 16 banks for user samples. Total sample memory is 64 MB. Audio recording is possible via the line input or the built-in microphone - making Erica Synths Bullfrog Drums also a compact field sampler. The XOX-style sequencer supports ratchets, probability, microtiming, and up to 64 steps per pattern. Pattern storage: 4 banks of 16. Outputs: stereo + 3.5mm headphones. MIDI IN and OUT via DIN and USB-C. Built-in speaker included.
Erica Synths Bullfrog Drums is priced at €600 ex-VAT, with shipping from May 6, 2026. It does not aspire to be the most technically advanced drum machine on the market - and that is its strength. An intuitive interface in the style of classic 909 buttons, a logical workflow, and quality sounds curated by Hawtin make this an instrument that simply plays well.
How to Follow the News
Check the Wired Tunes blog regularly - we will be updating our coverage with every new premiere from Berlin. Follow our social media for live reports straight from the exhibition halls. Sign up for our newsletter to receive a full summary after Superbooth wraps up, including availability updates for new products in our store.
