Brooklyn-based Landscape has announced the availability of its Moon four-channel passive-analog drum synthesiser, which “reimagines rhythm and control” and is aimed at producers, composers and modular synth enthusiasts looking for experimental sound tools.
The compact device is a “Mini-Noon” (one of Landscape’s earlier products featuring eight channels) — and features unique circuits, fully knob-based controls, and offering distinct sonic characteristics.
It’s called “passive” because it is controlled entirely from incoming control voltage (CV) and gate signals from external synths or modular systems. CV serves as both the energy source and a compositional driver, producing sound highly dependent on the rhythm and shape of the incoming signal.
Each channel responds dynamically to the voltages it receives, with attenuation controls across inputs and between channels. This introduces instability, interdependence and emergent behaviour — ideal for experimental sound creation.
Moon is a collaboration with Eli Pechman from Mystic Circuits.
The developers recommend certain pairings for getting the most from the Moon. Top picks are the Arturia Beatstep Pro and Eurorack modular systems, followed by sequencers and CV sources including the Ableton Push 3, MPC One, OXI One, Polyend Poly 2 and Squarp Hermod.
Available with a 1-2 week shipping wait, for $420.
Specifications
- Dimensions: 21cm x 15cm x 2cm / 8.25” x 5.9” x 0.78”
- Weight: 0.45 kg. / 1 lb.
- Materials: Gold plated interface PCB (2mm fiberglass) + 18mm Birch plywood case + metal shaft potentiometers with plastic knobs
- CV Inputs: 6 x 3.5mm jacks
- Audio Inputs: 2 x 3.5mm jacks
- Audio Outputs: 6 x 3.5mm jacks
Recommendations
Strongest recommendations:
- Arturia Beatstep Pro
- Eurorack modular systems
Sequencers/Control voltage sources that work well:
- Ableton Push 3
- Acid Rain Technology Constellation
- ALM Busy Circuits Pamala’s Workout
- Arturia Beatstep Pro & Keystep Pro
- ET Levit8
- Expert Sleepers ES-9 & FH-2
- Five12 Vector Sequencer
- Frap Tools Falistri
- Lorre Mill Double Knot
- Make Noise 0-ctrl
- Making Sound Machines Stolperbeats
- Mannequins Just Friends
- Meng Qi Voltage Memory
- monome teletype + meadowphysics
- Motu Ultralight as CV interface
- MPC One
- Music Thing Turing Machine + Pulses mkii
- Mutable Instruments Marbles & Stages
- OXI One
- Polyend Poly 2
- Qu-Bit Contour
- Schlappi Engineering Angle Grinder
- Sequentix Cirklon w/ CVIO
- Shakmat Four Bricks Rook
- Sixty Four Pixels CV.OCD
- Social Entropy Engine
- Soma Ornament-8
- Soma Pulsar-23
- Squarp Hermod
- Tiptop Audio Trigger Riot
- vpme.de Euclidean Circles v2
- Westlicht Per Former
- WMD Metron
- ?various audio rate oscillators
