VOID9 MÕNAI: The Evil OP-1 That Stole Superbooth

TL;DR: VOID9 MÕNAI is a portable multitimbral synth that Hainbach called a “cool evil OP-1,” packing sampling, multiple engines, and an SDK for third-party sound design. At Superbooth, it shared the spotlight with KOMA Elektronik’s Monoplex sequencer, Analog Sweden’s Swen2 monosynth, and a looper so insane it might just be the highlight of the show. We at Noxal have opinions, and they’re brewing as we speak.

• VOID9 MÕNAI: Self-contained, multitimbral synth with 29 keys, touch strips, joystick, onboard mic for sampling, and an SDK for custom engines. Prototype stage, targeting €1000, beta summer 2026.
• KOMA Monoplex: Melodic microtonal sequencer in 42HP, 16 steps, built-in quantizer, importable scales via SysEx. Preorder at €498, ships late June.
• Analog Sweden Swen2: Monophonic analog synth with PWM on sawtooth, Proto VCF, digital ghost oscillator, two subs, three envelopes, two LFOs, and a generative sequencer. €699, available June.
• Synthux Academy Spotykach: Tabletop dual looper inspired by 1960s reel-to-reel, the “craziest looper you ever did see” (our words, but they’re accurate). Details TBA.
• KOMA Haloplane: Electromagnetic synth with micro-loop sampler and wavetable engines, field rotation parameter, CV control. Price and release TBA.

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VOID9 MÕNAI: The “Evil OP-1” You Didn’t Know You Needed

Let’s cut to the chase: VOID9 MÕNAI is the black star of Superbooth, and I mean that literally — it’s a matte black, self-contained instrument that Hainbach, whose ears we trust more than most, called a “cool evil OP-1.” At Noxal, we’ve always admired the OP-1’s portability and charm, but we’ve also wanted something with a bit more… teeth. MÕNAI delivers that with a snarl.

It’s multitimbral, meaning you’re not stuck with one sound engine at a time. Sampling is built in, complete with an onboard microphone for capturing field recordings or your cat’s opinions on modular. The 29 keys are piano-style but with a twist: there are unique function buttons, two touch-sensitive strips, and a two-axis joystick that makes expression feel less like programming and more like play. The SDK for third-party sound engines? That’s the kicker. It opens the door for a community-driven ecosystem, which is either brilliant or a recipe for chaos — we’re betting on brilliant.

Currently in prototype stage, VOID9 is targeting a beta release this summer at around €1000. That’s not cheap, but for a device that aims to replace a laptop, a field recorder, and a groovebox, it’s a compelling argument. We’ll reserve judgment until we get our hands on one, but the tea leaves say this is one to watch.

KOMA Elektronik Monoplex: Sequencing Without the Credit Card Debt

KOMA Elektronik’s Komplex Sequencer is the kind of gear you see in modular demos and think, “That’s beautiful, and I can’t afford it.” The Monoplex is the answer to that prayer. At 42HP and €498, it’s a microtonal melodic sequencer that brings the core functionality of its big brother down to a price that won’t require a second mortgage.

You get 16 steps with control over gate width, glide, speed, direction, and clock division/multiplication, all with CV patch points. That’s not revolutionary in itself, but the built-in quantizer with chromatic, major, and minor modes, plus the ability to import your own scales via SysEx, is where it shines. There’s even a MIDI-note capture mode that lets incoming notes define the active scale on the fly — perfect for those of us who like to improvise but have the memory of a goldfish.

Preorders are open now at KOMA’s site, with shipping in late June. At this price, it’s a no-brainer for anyone wanting to dive into microtonal sequencing without breaking the bank. We at Noxal approve.

Analog Sweden Swen2: The Monosynth That Refuses to Be Boring

Analog Sweden’s Swen2 is the evolution of their swENIGISER, which itself was a tribute to the Orgon Systems Enigiser. That’s a lineage that suggests either reverence or stubbornness, and after spending time with the specs, I’m leaning toward the former. It’s a monophonic analog synth with a single VCO that offers PWM on the sawtooth wave — a detail that’s more exciting than it sounds, because it opens up textures most monosynths ignore.

The signal path includes a 12-mode Proto VCF, a mixer to blend filtered and clean signal, three envelopes, and two LFOs (one digital, clockable to the generative sequencer). There’s also a digital “ghost” oscillator that tracks the VCO, plus two sub oscillators: a sine and an SH-101-style. The sine goes straight to the VCA for sub bass that’s thick enough to spread on toast. And every point in the path can be driven hard for grit — because clean is for people who don’t own distortion pedals.

At €699, available directly from Analog Sweden in June, Swen2 is a solid contender for monosynth of the year. It’s not trying to be everything to everyone; it’s trying to be mean, and it succeeds.

The Craziest Looper and Other Superbooth Sundries

Synthux Academy’s Spotykach is, by their own admission, their most complex device yet. It’s a tabletop dual looper inspired by 1960s reel-to-reel tape and 1990s-style digital looping — a combination that sounds like a fever dream. We didn’t get full specs at Superbooth, but the demo was enough to convince us that this is the kind of gear that makes you rethink how you loop. It’s not just a tool; it’s a conversation starter.

KOMA also showed the Haloplane, an electromagnetic synth played with two stereo pickups. This time, it’s paired with a micro-loop sampler and wavetable synthesis, plus a field rotation parameter that shifts the seven playing fields around. CV-controllable, multi-mode filter, audio effects — it’s Chromaplane’s weird cousin who went to art school and came back with ideas. No price or release date yet, but we’re watching.

And then there’s the looper that made us say “the craziest looper you ever did see” — and we meant it. We’re not naming names yet, but if you were at Superbooth and saw a tabletop device that looked like it could time-travel, that’s the one. We’ll update when details emerge.

We’d tell you more about the crazy looper, but we’re still recovering from the coffee we spilled when we saw it. Time to recalibrate the studio’s caffeine-to-voltage ratio.