Ops there was a thread, but in short:
The devil being in the detail. Looks like the possibilities of some tricks, though we need to wait for the full release.
More detailed specs :
| Synthesis type | Bitmask, subtractive |
|---|---|
| Polyphony | 10 dynamically allocated voices |
| Multitimbrality | 4 parts (5 in layered/split mode) |
| Oscillators | Per voice : |
| 2 bitmask with 256 masks each, transpose and detune | |
| 1 noise with programmable sample-and-hold frequency | |
| Filter | 1 per voice, two poles (12dB/oct) state variable, self-resonant with pitch tracking and 4 modes (low, high, band pass, notch) |
| Envelopes | 4 loopable ADSR per voice (osc1, osc2, noise, filter), 3 delta-decay (osc1 mask, osc2 mask, pitch) |
| LFO | 2 per part with 7 waveforms + noise, delay, decay |
| Arpeggiator | 27 patterns with adaptive or fixed chords, latchable, retrig or pitch change modes |
| Looper/Sequencer | up to 10000 events, unlimited duration, single track. Records notes, pitch bend, mod wheel and aftertouch. |
| Effects | Two stereo DSP in series. First offers chorus, phaser, distortion, bitcrusher, tremolo and ring mod (64 types). Second offers delay, comb filter, reverb and room simulations (32 types) |
| Modulations | |
| LFOs : | * Frequency |
| * Volume | |
| * Filter cutoff | |
| * Mask | |
| * Panning | |
| * Osc1 frequency | |
| * Osc1 volume | |
| * Osc1 mask | |
| * Osc2 frequency | |
| * Osc2 volume | |
| * Osc2 mask | |
| * Noise frequency | |
| * Noise volume | |
| * FX1 balance | |
| * FX2 balance | |
| * FX2 preset | |
| Mod wheel & aftertouch : | |
| * Filter cutoff | |
| * LFO1 depth | |
| * LFO1 speed | |
| * LFO2 depth | |
| * LFO2 speed | |
| * Volume | |
| * Mask | |
| * Frequency | |
| * Osc1 volume | |
| * Osc1 mask | |
| * Osc2 volume | |
| * Osc2 mask | |
| * Noise frequency | |
| * Noise volume | |
| * FX1 balance | |
| * FX2 balance | |
| Velocity (3 simultaneous): | |
| * Volume | |
| * Filter cutoff | |
| * Mask | |
| Play modes | |
| * Polyphonic | |
| * Monophonic | |
| * Slurred | |
| * Mono portamento on legato | |
| * Paraphonic | |
| * Hybrid poly-mono on legato | |
| * Slurred paraphonic | |
| * Mono retrigger | |
| Split | Configurable split point, balance between voices, transpose, panning and tuning |
| Layers | Configurable balance between voices, transpose, panning and tuning |
| Misc | Voice pan spread, polyphonic portamento |
| Memory | 200 factory presets, 400 user voices |
| Audio outputs | 2 balanced 1/4" TRS jack (+13dBu max), 1/4" jack headphones |
| MIDI | 2 DIN (in, out), class-compliant USB type B, SysEx voice transmit/receive, 20 CC-mapped parameters |
| Keyboard | 61-keys semi-weighted Fatar action with velocity and aftertouch |
| Keyboard response | 6 velocity curves, 6 aftertouch curves |
| Controls | 23 buttons, 2 rotary encoders, pitch bend wheel (2-12 semitones range), modulation wheel |
| Display | 4-digit 7-segment red display |
| Pedal input | Sustain, 1/4" TS jack, adaptive polarity |
| Tuning | 400-470Hz. Equal-tempered, arabic quartertones and just intonation |
| Size | 89 x 26 x 8cm including knobs and feet. Package : 100 x 35 x 25cm |
| Weight | 7.5 Kg |
| Power | 12v DC |
| Accessories | Power supply, printed user manual, cable hook, spare keycap, spare rotary encoder |
*Specifications are subject to change until the product is released
( Reference )
According to the Kodamo website — Coming March 2023 !
Is Slurred Play Mode something like Glide, or is something else going on with this.
It might just come down to a language translation issue, but Kodamo is obviously innovating with Mask 1, hence i wonder.
ADDED : With the refinements and abilities of the Mask 1, you’ve got to believe there is a computer interface for this. A four digit display won’t work, for things like setting up the modulations, looper, sequencer, etc, even with all the keys printed on the case, would it ?
the preset list on the unit 
Sounds good. I wonder what kind of mask those bits are wearing?
I NEED this synth. I may be giving up some of the precious little studio space that I have for this little guy. The tones that I’ve heard are EXACTLY what I love about digital synthesis, and the expressivity is so cool. This is making the sorts of sounds that I spend a lot of time making with other digital synths whether they’re wavetable, or some other type with some bit-crushing, or doing through chip-tune oriented software. This just spills out the exact timbres that I love in a wonderfully articulated form. Now I have to impatiently wait until these are available. 
Venetian no doubt. (to hide their decadence…)
On a more serious note, I could be wrong, but it appears to be a phase accumulator style of synthesis like the SID and DOC chips (C64 / ESQ1 / SQ80 etc.) This uses a ramp wave (or counter) and a lookup table of wave data (I’m guessing the table is called the mask, over the saw/counter). So basically like a wavetable synth, but slightly different implementation than something like a Waldorf or PPG. The synthesis sounds somewhat similar to this type of synth, and really has a nice quality to it. It may employ other things as well. I read something that led me to believe that it could also do other operations on the wave shapes, so who knows. Really excited to get one of these. Love the way it sounds!
Any news on the Bitmasker?
Yeah it does sound really nice. I don’t know for sure if that’s the care put into sound design, or if there is something inherent to the Bit Mask Synthesis method. Likely a bit of both but i think there is something to the overtones and harmonic richness that come with making all waveforms from small bits of sine waves. Nothing is perfectly flat or straight in a sine wave.
I am also finding the modes they have for the keyboard interface to the voices interesting. First obviously is the multi-timbrality. But each voice ( as i understand it ) has a play mode on the keyboard.
Kodamo Mask 1 Voice Keyboard Modes ( From the manual ) :
The play mode for a voice. Using these modes is a great way to add expressiveness to your
sounds.
Not sure why people think this is ugly and every time I see the name I am reminded of the best action figures of all time M.A.S.K. The cartoon kinda sucked tho.
The synth is gorgeous! I mean, there’s something to be said for a big field of knobs, but this is clean, simple, has a unique interface, and IMO is more about the expressive playing of the synth, than just twirling knobs. And I AM a knob twirling sound designer who can’t live without them normally. I still think this looks pretty much perfect though.
Always thought the M.A.S.K. toys were pretty cool! They came along just a bit late for me though.
I agree it’s a beauty. I can also envision this design as looking quite nice as a rackmount.
Definitely. It would look good sitting above or below an Essence, provided they had matching knobs. 
This and that 3rd Wave synth are easily the best looking modern synths I have seen.
Surprised there’s not more interest on this. I can see the Mask1 UI being divisive, but I think this is a definite buy for me.
Official “release” dropped last night ($2077 for the US folks), but as of now the good people at Perfect Circuit do not have an ETA for preorders.
EDIT: Preorders are now up at Perfect Circuit for $2290 MSRP. Unfortunately, that starts to price me out. I was hoping for a 10% discount to get this down to the $1800 range.
The world is headed into financial uncertainty–they should of released their long teased “entry level” bitmasker instead.
Fair point, I hope they’re still working on that.
Not sure when I’ll end up picking one up, but its the first bit of new gear to get me excited in a while.
