Red Means Recording and the Solar 42F: A Machine for Sonic Nebulas

Beneath its tactile skin, the Solar 42F exhales a sound that is anything but conventional. Red Means Recording quickly dispels the notion that this is a typical ambient drone generator. Instead, the Solar 42F is a nebula of tension and aggression, its microtonal oscillators colliding in clusters that evoke the soundtracks of lost science fiction worlds. Here, tuning is an act of surrender—embrace the cacophony, and the machine reveals its true voice.

The oscillators, all saw waves, can be tuned into wild dissonance or fleeting harmony, creating textures that shimmer with alien resonance. This is not the gentle fog of ambient pads, but a storm of frequencies that dares you to find beauty in chaos. The Solar 42F’s sound is a living entity, drifting in and out of tune, always on the edge of something unknown. It’s a machine that scores the void, not the sunset.

No machine this bold is without its quirks. The Solar 42F’s approach to tuning is unapologetically loose—oscillators drift, and the concept of tempered pitch is left behind in favor of microtonal exploration. Red Means Recording notes that the manual itself admits to this instability, encouraging users to meet the synth on its own terms. Embracing this imperfection is key to unlocking the Solar’s magic; fighting it only leads to frustration.

The cartridge-based effects system is another idiosyncrasy. While capable of loading different algorithms on each channel, the process is described as confusing and, at times, more trouble than it’s worth. Many will find themselves reaching for external effects, letting the Solar focus on its raw, untamed core. Other quirks—like the lack of multiples, limited CV options for filters, and a keyboard that resists deep menu diving—further define the Solar’s character.

Yet, these very limitations are what give the Solar 42F its soul. It is not a machine for every gig or every player, but for those willing to surrender control, it offers a singular experience. Its hands-on nature, wild design, and refusal to conform make it a brave outlier in the world of synthesizers—a machine that is as much about the journey as the destination.

No written description can fully capture the Solar 42F’s magnetic resonance or the way its drones bloom and fracture in real time. Red Means Recording’s video is a portal into this world—a place where sound is sculpted live, and each patch tells a new story. To truly feel the Solar’s gravity, one must hear it in action, let its microtonal ghosts swirl through the speakers, and experience the tactile dance of hands and light. The Solar 42F is not just played—it is inhabited. Let the video be your guide into its sonic nebula.