The Hyve Touch Synth is a DIY analog synthesizer that responds to human touch. You can even create a custom body with 3D printing!

There’s a certain joy that overtakes a musician when they’re playing an instrument. That feeling is amplified (pun intended) when that musical instrument is built with your very own hands.

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At least that’s the idea behind the Hyve Touch Synth, a DIY synthesizer that is gaining traction on Kickstarter. Created by Skot Wiedmann, this unique instrument can be built from scratch or delivered pre-assembled.

 Hyve Touch Synth: Express Yourself Through Expressive Sound

The Hyve is a 60-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer. It uses high-resolution sensor technology to turn every peculiar movement into a distinctive sound. This “expressive musical instrument” is extremely sensitive to touch, controlled by pressure, horizontal, and vertical movement.

The bottom half of the synth represents a piano keyboard, while the top half features a hexagon grid. The notes on the Hyve allow the user to explore harmony and tone in a sonically pleasing way.

Widemann made sure that his synthesizer concept is accessible to all levels of experience. There are three different styles that the Hyve comes in.

The Premium is an assembled version, ready to be played right out of the box. The Maker kit comes with a pre-assembled circuit board, but the rest of the parts still need to be put together. The Hacker is for the truly experienced maker, coming with just a bare circuit board and touch interface.

This instrument also acts as a promising tool for STEAM education, giving students a project that they can enjoy long after completion.

3D Print Your Own Back for the Hyve Touch Synth

Additionally, users will be able to 3D print their own custom parts. You can create a personalized back casing for the synth out of wood, cardboard, cork, or 3D printed materials.

According to the Hyve team, they will unlock the design files for this component once they reach 250 backers for the Hacker kit. Not only are these files 3D printable, they can also be used with CNC milling and hand cutting templates.

Whether you want to solder your own circuit board and 3D print a case or just unbox and play, this synthesizer aims to please everyone.

So, for those of you who want to hack and print your way to musical glory, look into backing the Hyve Touch Synth on Kickstarter.