Plinky Synth V3.1 "Sick White" Limited Edition
Plinky Synth V3.1 "Sick White" Limited Edition
Demo Video
What is it?
The Plinky Synth V3.1 "Sick White" Limited Edition is an 8-voice expressive polyphonic touch synthesizer, sampler, and granular engine that specializes in fragile, melancholic sounds. Designed by mmalex and produced in collaboration with Making Sound Machines.
This version features 64 pressure-sensitive pads arranged in eight vertical "strings" — each functioning as an independent monophonic strip tuned in musical fifths from left to right. Every voice offers up to four oscillators (pulse, supersaw, or wavetable) or granular sampler grains, white noise, two ADSR envelopes, and a resonant 2-pole low-pass gate controlled by touch pressure.
This special edition ships in a striking white finish with metallic particle back panel, gold-plated audio I/O, full-solid-metal knobs, and a custom 3D-printed enclosure. It functions as both a standalone desktop instrument and a 24HP Eurorack module.
Why This Edition?
The "Sick White" edition addresses the growing demand for a premium, collector-grade Plinky combining boutique aesthetics with community-driven hardware refinements. While Plinky v3's open-source design delivers exceptional musicality, DIY builds often face challenges with screen stability, unclear port labeling, and non-functional USB expansion ports. This version resolves all of those:
- 3D-printed screen bracket for precise display alignment
- Laser-etched text on inner back panel for instant I/O identification
- Corrected USB expansion circuit — fully functional
- Refined LED holes — smaller, softer illumination, carefully selected for color accuracy
- 100% functional testing of all I/O ports before shipping
What Makes It Special?
- Limited "Sick White" finish — custom white panels with metallic particle back panel
- Gold-plated I/O — pristine signal integrity on all audio jacks
- Full-solid-metal knobs — satisfying rotational precision
- Custom 3D-printed enclosure — available in standalone and Eurorack-specific designs
- Full firmware compatibility with Making Sound Machines version — same acclaimed sound engine
- West Coast-inspired architecture — low-pass gates, granular engine, expressive touch control
Key Specifications
- Voices: 8-voice polyphonic
- Interface: 64 pressure-sensitive touch pads (8 strings × 8 pads)
- Oscillators: Up to 4 per voice (pulse, supersaw, wavetable, granular)
- Noise: White noise per voice
- Envelopes: 2× ADSR per voice
- Filter: Resonant 2-pole low-pass gate (touch pressure controlled)
- Audio I/O: Stereo line in/out, headphone out (gold-plated)
- MIDI: TRS MIDI in/out
- USB: USB-C (MIDI + power + expansion)
- Eurorack: 24HP, CV/Gate integration
- Power: USB-C or Eurorack power
- Open source: github.com/denjhang/plinky_public