spotykach is a dual-deck performance looper for slicing, sculpting, and reimagining sound. feed it any audio - from a synth pad to a field recording - and push it through three distinct modes: reel (tape-style looping), slice (rhythmic fragmentation), and drift (granular textures). small edits lead to entirely new sonic
landscapes, from subtle atmospheres to complex, non-linear rhythms.
inspired by reel tape (1960s), digital slicing (1990s), and modern algorithmic chaos (2000+), spotykach is designed for hands-on live performance and studio experimentation. it celebrates the "happy accident" - the beautiful stumble that turns a loop into something unexpected.
the name: in ukrainian culture, spotykach is a traditional home-brewed liqueur, famous for making the drinker stumble. the instrument is named for that stumble - the off-kilter, generative moment where accidents become music.
origins: developed over four years by synthux community members vlad litvinenko and roey tsemah. first shown at superbooth 2023; released as a finished instrument in 2026.
features:
three modes per deck - one instrument, infinite workflows. reel (tape looping with reverse and overdub), slice (rhythmic re-sequencing), and drift (granular pitch/time drift) give players radically different textures from a single recorded phrase.
12 touch pads shaped like spliced tape strips - immediate, tactile control. no menu-diving. playing feels physical and intuitive.
semi-modular and eurorack-ready. 7 cv inputs, 2 gate i/o per deck, midi i/o, and analog clock sync mean spotykach integrates into any rig - standalone desktop or the heart of a modular system. *note that spotykach is not a 3u module - it is designed to sit in front on a system rather than be in one.
midi connectivity - midi prs input and output for clock and control using midi controllers and foot switches.
built-in dual modulation engine. two on-board modulation sources with various waveforms and envelope followers per deck keep loops evolving without external gear. modulation is eurorack level and can be used to modulate external gear!
open-source firmware on daisy seed. hackable, updatable, community-developed. a growing library of alternative firmwares exists from day one.
complete package included. custom travel case, patch cables, midi trs converter, usb-c cable, and micro sd card - everything needed to play out of the box.
specifications:
format: standalone desktop (semi-modular eurorack compatible)
decks: 2 independent stereo recording decks
modes per deck: reel - slice - drift
touch pads: 12 (shaped like spliced tape strips)
cv inputs: 7 total (3 per deck + 1 crossfader)
modulation sources: 2 (each with attenuator + 3 modes incl. envelope follower)
gate i/o: 2 inputs + 2 outputs (1 per deck)
clock: clock input + tap button
audio i/o: stereo in/out - 48khz / 24-bit, ac-coupled
headphones: stereo headphone output
midi: midi in + out (trs)
sync: analog, midi, and eurorack sync
signal levels: line level up to eurorack level
sd card: 32gb card included. save and recall files on the card
power: usb-c (min. 1a) - can run from phone battery pack
alt. power: 15v dc barrel (1a)
firmware: open source, daisy seed board, usb-c updatable
made in europe
