Atrium is a new instrument
where playful gestures meet dynamic systems.
new ways to compose
new ways to express
new ways to play
five voices of analogue synthesis, controlled and modulated polytimbrally. we’ve taken ideas from our decade of modular exploration, and rethought how we reach into polyphony.
each voice is shaped by its harmonic energy while three core timbre modes push into richer territory. from simple suboctave and noise waves, through frequency modulation, and landing in formant synthesis reimagined. all squeezed through a lowpass/gate combination, providing balance and occasionally emphasis.
no digital multi-effects here, just spectres in the machine. a novel configuration of three filters, two delays, and feedback. front and almost centre — this resonant body is meant to be played. sequenceable, modulatable, while feeding back not just sound, but shape for unfolding cybernetics.
and to modulate! everything mappable to everything else, tactile input extended on the fly, mapping as a performance in itself. sources are dynamically phased across voices, and stretched in relative duration. gestures captured into five recorders, extending play rather than overriding it, all twisted in time at your whim.
Atrium is deeply learnable, and for those moments of quick change, instantly recallable. extensible with usb and midi and cv input.
$1600 USD
on sale now!
orders ship within 2 weeks of ordering, from los angeles.
for international orders, duty & taxes will be paid at checkout. this simplifies delivery and avoids unforeseen customs costs.
if we don't have an option for your local power supply yet, you can use any USB-C charger capable of supplying 5V at 3A. Atrium has great PSU noise rejection, runs perfectly on powerbanks, or from a USB-C port on your computer. typical consumption is ~600mA, increasing when a USB controller is attached.
also in the box:
• 1 USB-C to USB-C cable
• 1 USB-C to USB-A cable
shipping:
• USA via UPS Ground
• Rest of World via DHL
add a note in the cart if you need anything specific!
on gestures
a deep well, Atrium, but accessible from the start. at the core a collection of physical gestures that will become trusted tools on your adventures. gestures hinting at a personal technique to be developed. the most direct forms sound notes and manipulate pitches into twisted voicings – harmonics, timbres, spectres. recording of these gestural dialogues multiplies your actions, while modulation mapping is a small window into the forthcoming systems.
on systems
composition, or simply personalization. these systems zoom you out from gestural immediacy, and into structure. sometimes you need to get organized so your creative mind can wander, but what if you were creative in your organizing? these more abstract tools solve real problems, while presenting new opportunities. redefine how you play — redefine play itself.
the next chapter, on connections, will look beyond these five walls. exploring how Atrium can be extended, as a leader or collaborator.
want to go deeper? read the player's manual and dive into practice & technique.
primarily illustrating the mechanics of the instrument – meanwhile filled with tips & tricks for getting delightfully lost in sound and play.
for the thinkers, read an interview with the designer over on lines: a contextual map.
get an inside look at the thinking behind Atrium's design, including historical touchstones, and originating impulses.
then join the broader conversation on our discord server Whimsical Maps. our team is around to answer your questions, and a friendly community of synthesists is budding before our eyes.
Features & Specifications
Summoning to this plane on All Hallows’ Eve.
Join us in marking Atrium's ritual unveiling with a night of celebratory dance in Los Angeles, helmed by the incomparable Maral. Then experience your first touch along its contours the following day, November 1, during our open showroom hours. This offering reaches its apex with an afternoon of performances by revered members of the LEAVING RECORDS family. Declare your intentions at the RSVP links: Ritual Party and First Touch.
Until then (and for those unable to join in-person) the revelations continue here, on Atrium’s dedicated site. Further multimedia will continue to unfold, and these events will be live streamed here. For now, divine new sounds with a gentle ~touch~ of the pool.
We open this portal in humble anticipation of your first adventures with Atrium.