Bonedo-Synthesizers Unleashes the Frap Tools Magnolia: A Synth to Shake Your Maracas!

Frap Tools is back at Superbooth 2025 with their latest creation, the Magnolia. This synth is nothing short of a good-old pub brawl kind of rowdy, equipped to bring electronic soundscapes to new heights. With eight voices of analog through-zero FM synthesis, it’s the sonic equivalent of tossing a toaster into a bath – in the best way possible. Bonedo-Synthesizers pulls back the curtain on this beast without the need for endless chatter; their focus is purely on the sound. Magnolia is surely ready to shake up the world of synth enthusiasts, promising robust sound profiles and rich audio textures.

The Frap Tools Magnolia flaunts an intriguing setup with two oscillators per voice. Oscillator One leans west coast with through-zero linear FM, offering everything from gentle sine waves to aggressive metal-like distortions. It’s as if it snuck out of a punk gig and joined the party in your studio, bringing its unpredictable grit along. In contrast, Oscillator Two is more east coast, prioritizing PWM and unique sawtooth wave symmetry that sharpens the upper harmonics like a finely tuned blade. The filters – both high pass and low pass – each resonate at 24 dB per octave, essentially dressing the sound in layers of tonal depth. When oscillator modulates filter frequency at audio rate, the madness begins. It’s akin to watching a riot through a kaleidoscope; all sorts of thrilling chaos ensue as you twist and tweak your way through the soundscape.

The Magnolia is decked out with three loopable six-stage ADSR envelopes and three LFOs, ripe for cross-modulation. Each rubbery band stretch of an envelope adapts to the tiniest fluctuation, ensuring that every note carries its own rebellious charm. These six-stage ADSRs are like those late-night kebabs: they’ve got layers and pack a punch. Integrating a polyphonic aftertouch, this synth lets you smuggle in a bit of personal touch, controlling the cutoff frequency with per-key accuracy. Like pressing a dodgy key that occasionally makes more than just sound, the Magnolia delivers a tactile sonic experience that’s simultaneously consistent and unexpected.

Aside from its core features, the Magnolia brings in a myriad of functionalities for the adventurous synth nerd. It’s bi-timbral, offering an arpeggiator per part and allowing for intricate sound-shaping that can blend two different patches seamlessly. Give a nod to the grid of white and red LEDs that visually guide modulation paths, making this a visual treat as well. Changing the sound becomes an intuitive dance rather than a laborious chore; it’s the kind of synth that invites you to play rather than programme. Bonedo-Synthesizers captures this playful essence through their sound-first videos, leaving you with an itch only a hands-on session with the Magnolia can scratch.