Abyss is a 4-voice analog synthesizer from a small Greek brand Dreadbox. It’s a pure evolution and a huge leap – at least compared to the other Dreadbox desk synths Hades and Erebus. The architecture is fully analog. It offers one VCO and one sub per voice. The instrument can be switched into one of the following 4 modes: polyphony, unison, chords or multi channel. The additional white noise generator gives it a peculiar hiss. VCOs have an autotune function. Abyss possesses 4 LFOs with vibrato, variable speed depth and delay control. The filter was taken from Murmux series and it has a dedicated ADSR envelope generator.
A significant number of effects was put into the “box”. The engineers decided on having the delay from Erebus but they also combined it with their Reflector module which can stack chorus and flanger effects upon delay. OTA drive circuit formed the basis of the VCA in order to produce those harsh overtones. There’s also a 4-stage analog phase shifter. The effect section features 2 analog LFOs with 4 waveforms and a Wave Shaping Modulator unit for a waveform post-editing.
You can buy Abyss for $1100 and Dreadbox promise to release it in April. The price equals a couple of Korg Minilogues and is even higher than that of Behringer DeepMind 12. Anyway they have nothing in common, Abyss is a semi-modular synth which will be produced in a limited number.
Let the NAMM 2017 video below introduce you into the details: