The Doppler 2-Operator FM Desktop Synthesizer

Artium Instruments The Doppler

The Doppler from Artium Instruments is a compact polyphonic desktop synthesizer based around a flexible 2-operator FM engine with onboard delay and reverb effects. Designed for plug-and-play immediacy with intuitive knob-per-function control, The Doppler is a fantastic synth for veteran wigglers and nascent synthesists alike, with a number of tricks up its sleeve for diverse sound generation. With eight voice polyphony and its integrated effects, The Doppler is perfect for exploring deep sound design from cold inharmonic bells to lush, immersive pads, with every knob tweak inviting new character into your sound.

At the left side of The Doppler, controls for the FM synth engine provide streamlined and intuitive space to explore its versatile sonic possibilities. While the primary oscillator in the 2-operator FM voice is controlled via MIDI, the modulating oscillator can be tuned in both octaves and semitones using the two stepped potentiometers provided on the panel. Whether you're tuning precisely in harmonic ratios or enjoying the dissonant warbles of tritones and other inharmonic relationships, controls for phase modulation feedback, cross modulating FM, and pink noise modulation allow for further timbral expansion. Finally, a crossfading control blends between the carrier and modulator waves, while a four pole low pass filter is provided to tame and darken the rich harmonics generated by the FM engine. An ADSR envelope is employed to control the amplitude of the carrier wave, but can also influence the FM amount using the Env Mod toggle switch. The Mod Trail knob lengthens the attack time for only the modulator, allowing it to swell in and create complexity in your timbre after the initial attack.

In the effects section, The Doppler provides both a tap tempo delay and a stereo reverb. In the delay, a red touchpad allows you to tap a tempo for the repeats, syncing the internal clock to create rhythmic echoes with a touch of warmth. The Reverb is designed to enhance the core synth engine without losing depth, with level and feedback controls for dialing in tones from cozy room sounds to cavernous cathedrals. At the back of the unit, you can directly plug in a USB MIDI controller to start playing right away, with octave buttons for setting the register of the carrier wave. While the entire engine and effects section features a stereo output, the effects can be used to process external signals as well, with a dedicated stereo input. With its high-quality design in a compact form factor fit for major studios and backpackable jams alike, The Doppler from Artium Instruments is a fantastic synth you won't want to let pass you by.

The Doppler Features

• 2-Operator FM desktop synthesizer with onboard effects
• 8 voice polyphony
• Quantized modulator wave with octave and semitone stepped tuning controls
• Modulator wave can affect both phase modulation with feedback and FM
• Additional pink noise modulation source
• Crossfade control between carrier and modulator waves
• 4-pole low pass filter
• Advanced ADSR envelope
• Env Mod toggle applies ADSR to FM depth
• Mod Trail control adds attack time delay to modulator wave for swelling-in modulation after initial attack
• Tap tempo digital delay with level and feedback controls
• Stereo reverb with level and feedback controls
• Stereo output
• Stereo input for processing external sounds through effects
• USB MIDI connectivity for direct control with USB MIDI controllers