Melbourne Instruments

Melbourne Instruments is a company from Australia that has gained our attention for its innovative synthesiser, NINA. NINA is notable for being the world's first fully motorised analogue synthesiser. This feature has been a long-standing dream for many synth players, and Melbourne Instruments has made it a reality.

NINA boasts impressive specifications, including a 12-voice polyphony, a fully analogue signal path, MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) compatibility, and a motorised control panel with zero-wear encoders. The synthesiser also offers a deep modulation matrix with 16 sources and 28 destinations, a digital wavetable oscillator, onboard digital effects, and a 16-step sequencer. Its multitimbral capabilities allow layered, split, or overlapping sounds, including hackable open-source software built on Raspberry Pi 4 running Elk Audio OS.

One of the critical features of NINA is its variable shape triangle oscillators, which allow for a continuous morph between triangle and sawtooth waveforms. The synth includes a 4-pole transistor ladder VCF with modulatable resonance, extensive filter overdrive options, and a noise generator with several unique capabilities.

NINA's effects section includes a drive knob, and the Output section features knobs for Effect, Spin, and Morph. The synth provides chorus, reverb, and delay effects, and its unique Stereo Infinite Panning capability allows for extraordinary stereo imaging. The Morph feature is particularly notable for its ability to move between two different preset states, showcasing the motorised knobs' capabilities.

Regarding the motorised knobs, they utilise brushless motors based on a magnetic field, providing a smooth operation and the ability to mimic various knob designs through magnetic resistance. This technology is crucial for preset recall, allowing the knobs to snap to preset positions almost instantaneously.

Melbourne Instruments' NINA synthesiser represents a significant innovation, combining classic analogue sound qualities with modern functionalities and a unique motorised interface. This traditional and cutting-edge technology synthesis makes NINA a standout product in the music technology sector.