At Superbooth 2026, FRAKnoise showcased the Melancholytron, described as “a synthesizer that always sounds melancholic”.
It’s inspired by the Mellotron, but really leans into the melancholic sound.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
“The Melancholytron project is first and foremost a book about melancholy. About the quiet, reflective emotion that has accompanied artists, thinkers, and musicians for centuries. Melancholy is not simply sadness. It is a more ambiguous state: a bittersweet awareness of time passing, of beauty touched by loss, of moments that cannot quite be held.
Alongside this book you will find a synthesizer, also called the Melancholytron. It was created as a companion to these pages. Rather than explaining melancholy, it allows you to hear it , and perhaps to play it. Each sound in the instrument is an attempt to capture a particular shade of this elusive feeling.”
Pricing and Availability:
Melancholytron is available to pre-order at the project site for € 625.00 without keyboard and € 825.00 for the keyboard version.
Because a Mellotron was too versatile?
Melancholy and drones fall into the same genre basket for me.
Some of his play demo sound like Boards of Canada!
Is this a newfangled ROMpler or … ?
Only if can acquire a copy of THIS 2 x 4 side panel edition.
Gloom, despair, and agony on me…
Seems like an expensive gimmick. I might be more inclined to save some money and program similar sounds with the gear I have, to be honest. That is $1,320.00 in Canada, for a two octave synth and that is before any import duties or HST. I think this will be a challenge though I always am glad to see new ideas come out.