This blog is long overdue, especially after the slightly unsettling news from the last blog in August. I'm grateful for all the kind words and offers of support you have sent me in response. Currently I feel much better, my health has improved and the business is more stable now, even though I had to make some tough decisions to reduce costs.
I was silent these last months as I've been consumed by the work on our new module, which certainly is my most ambitious project yet. The WAEVE82 is a complete 8 voice synthesizer and brings you the sounds of the 80's wavetable synth hits plus a LOT more in a (relatively) tiny package. You can hear its sound in my track on the new AEther Waves vol. 7 album. This year was not very easy while I mostly dealt with health issues. However I'm looking forward with a positive attitude! The community is going strong and as long as people want to make music with AE Modular I'll be happy to keep building modules. I'm also very impressed by the way the 3rd Party makers are bringing out new modules. This is such an important part of establishing an alternative format in the modular synth world. While most of my focus this year was on the WAEVE82, I'm planning a few more adjacent products around it for next year. Mainly I'm planning to release this also as a Eurorack module (a first for tangible waves!). I'm also working on a new V-Case which will include complete IMDI connectivity and will be perfect for hosting the WAEVE82 plus one or two other modules. The prototype looks like this: 
New Product!!
WAEVE82 is now finally ready for order! It is an eight-voice polyphonic wavetable synthesizer module
designed for the AE modular ecosystem. It combines the unmistakable charm of early digital wavetable instruments with a modern, performance-oriented workflow and a clear, page-based interface that invites exploration. Its conceptual DNA is inspired by the PPG Wave 2 synthesizer of the 1980s — iconic instruments known for glassy timbres, animated spectra, and futuristic character. Yet, the WAEVE82 is not a clone. It draws inspiration from that lineage but follows its own path, with a unique audio engine, expanded modulation options, modern randomization tools, and a streamlined interface tailored for the AE modular format. At its core, WAEVE82 provides:
If all of this sounds complicated to you, then don't fear - there is a comprehensive 60 page(!) manual available for download once the module ships! You can hear it on the new AEther Waves album in the track "Five WAEves". This module is now available for purchase in our shop. (Shipping will start in the second half of January) Third Party Products
Wonkystuff has been very active lately with a new online shopfront and a host of new modules.Check out the store for all the new modules. Below are the most recent notable ones.
mmo 
https://wonkystuff.co.uk/mmo.html
mmo is a fairly faithful recreation of the minimo except for a buffered output, and the use of the ubiquitous ICSP programming header seen in many other boards. You will still need a suitable programmer in order to update the code (not included). Something like the USBAsp is great — See Programming ICSP Modules The minimo is a whole new open source eco-system and the mmo is your bridge between it and your AE Modular! https://minimosynth.com/ k-lfo 
https://wonkystuff.co.uk/k-lfo-1.html
The LFO part of the beloved kæstle modules, now available as a standalone µModule! This module has the same behaviour as the LFO of its bigger siblings ( kæstle, kæstle drum, kæstle ARP):
pgn/8 
https://wonkystuff.co.uk/pgn-8-1.html
Inspired by the Czochralski Cells instrument by Destiny+, this module creates pulse/trigger/gate outputs based on simple input signals. Primarily aimed at generative approaches, the pgn/8 produces complexity from simplicity. By applying different LFOs (or signals with phase differences), different patterns of triggers and/or gates can be generated, leading to emergent rhythms or other generative artefacts.
Other 3rd Party Makers Even though they haven't announced new modules lately, you should still check out the amazing collections of useful and fun modules from BF Synth! They now also stock the EuclidGrid euclidean trigger sequencer made by Kyaa, a module which is the beating heart of many AE Modular racks! Of course there's also the 555VCO which is one of most beautiful sounding, pure analog oscillators available for the AE Modular system.
Unfortunately many of the brilliant modules made by fauxcyrillic are currently out of stock, however, if you live in the USA then you should check out many small modules, a new Tindie store which stocks many of fauxcyrillic's modules which have been faithfully built in the states!
News and Music from the Community
The annual community album AEther Waves vol. 7 has been released on the 5th of December! Again many thanks to everyone who has committed their time and effort to make this possible! All proceeds from sales will again be sent directly to Musicians Without Borders to assist with their efforts to bring music and hope to people in regions torn apart by war and violence.
Among the praise for the great tracks on the album there has also been some controversy about the use of AI to produce the album cover. While there has not been a consensus among the community to replace the current cover, there is clearly a wish to not use AI again in the future! If you would like to discuss this topic please chip in here: https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/3677/new-release-aether-waves-vol Speak no Evil by running in is an eerie ambient soundscape but also shows beautiful visualisations in this youtube video.
Let it Breathe by Maydonpoliris is a complex composition featuring the interconnection of AE Modular with the Roland S-1 synthesizer. Absolutely worth checking out!
Rubber Knee Traversing by 101 demonstrates the power of the SQ-64 sequencer as it controls the AE Modular. Great sounds and head-bobbingly good!
Generative Music by Saltatempo is a patch which plays by itself as it generates complex patterns from modulation. Check it out!
Colours of MOOG filter by Ales Vibes is a beautiful demonstration of the new BOB filter by tangible waves. The sounds are out of this world and it's well presented!
reflex by tIB is a new album featuring the immersive soundscapes which frequently feature in tIB's creations. Very worth checking out!
https://therapyinterferingbehaviour.bandcamp.com/album/reflex 
That feel by Ales Vibes has been hidden for months until it was just recently "unveiled". Here the AE plays together with other mini synths in a beautiful "Berlin School-ish" soundtrack. We definitely love that feel!
Wonkystuff Live Streams! These are live sessions where John explains how he uses the AE system with (mostly) the Wonkystuff modules to make music. Really interesting stuff!
Vanilla Face by CONIVM (aka pt3r?) is a great album made with the AE Modular and the Polyend Tracker. Featuring face melting basslines, earthquake inducing drumbeats and eerie, otherworldly sounds. Fantastic to play late at night to show your neighbours some love ;-)
https://conivm.bandcamp.com/album/vanilla-face 
DIY
Busbuddies great and small!
Check out how the Busbuddy from Symbolic Circuits can be used to easily create any rack you want! A tiny one row rack https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/3680/busbuddy-case Or a huge Monsta Buddy! https://forum.aemodular.com/thread/3423/busbuddy
Meetings and Events
The last Zoom meeting of the year was just a week ago and was again really nice to catch up and discuss all things AE Modular!
Next year we'll continue with (roughly) monthly meetings, however all the meetings will be on Saturday evenings/afternoon for most of the world and Sunday mornings for Australians. This just makes it easier to have those meetings not interfere with work commitments. We'll try for the first Saturday of each month and see how we go throughout the year. The next meeting will be on Saturday 7th of February 2026 (Sunday 8th for Aussies). 
We hope you all have a great festive season, holidays or whatever you do to celebrate the end of the year!
Keep Patching! |
AuthorRobert Langer, founder of tangible waves. Here, I will share some thoughts, background infos and news about AE modular and tangible waves. Archives
December 2025
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