HandySynth

HandySynth is a sample based re-creation of a custom circuit-bent Yamaha HandySound HS-200 for Native Instruments Kontakt 4 or 5.

The User Interface

 
Buy Now HandySynth is available now for £5 ($8/€6 approx.)
 

Key Features:

  • All instrument sounds chromatically sampled at 24-bit 48kHz
  • 8 circuit-bent sound variations
  • Convolution based emulation of the original speaker at various microphone positions
  • Authentic emulation of the HandySound volume envelopes and tuning via custom scripts
  • Additional Effects: Distortion, Filter and Spring Reverb
  • Download also includes a copy of C-Bent Kit for Battery
 
Download Manual

 

Sound Examples:

Click to Open/Close Player

Video:

 

Details:

AUTHENTIC SOUND

Yamaha HandySound
The original HandySound was released around 1982, probably as a competitor for Casio’s popular VL1. It featured 5 main instrument voices, 4 note polyphony, a built-in speaker and a 2-octave keyboard. It also had 3 hidden instruments at certain switch positions. All 8 instrument sounds were chromatically sampled at 24-bit / 48kHz using a direct signal.
 
 
Original Speaker
GameBoy Speaker
During the bending process, several impulse responses of the built-in speaker were taken at various different microphone positions. A smaller speaker taken from an original Nintendo GameBoy was also sampled in a similar fashion to give you even more options. A total of 8 speaker/ microphone configurations are available.
 
 
 
Envelope Comparison
The HandySound has an interesting tuning, probably based on the main clock-rate. This tuning was preserved and a custom script was written to make sure that, even though the keyboard range was extended, the tuning would remain consistent.
 
 

The volume envelopes of the HandySound are linear and stepped and thus have a particular character. They also do not reach zero before cutting the audio, which gives an abrupt end to the sound. Custom scripts were written to emulate these completely to provide something indiscernible from the original device.

EXPANDED AND BENT

Bending
Cutting
After the instrument was carefully sampled and analysed, it was taken apart and circuit bent by Icebreaker Audio. The circuit bent instrument was then sampled again to give extra sonic textures to this library. Each of the 8 instruments available has a circuit bent counterpart accessed by activating the “Bend” switch.
 
Extra effects and features are provided via the Kontakt 5 engine: High Quality Distortion and Filter effects; noise level control; a convolution based spring reverb; vibrato and pitch bend.
 

System Requirements:

  • Mac or PC running a full version of either Native Instruments Kontakt 5.0.2 or later; or Native Instruments Kontakt 4.2.3 or later.
  • Download size: 54.4MB zipped folder
Note: HandySynth does not run in Kontakt Player – a full version of Kontakt is required.
Buy Now HandySynth is available now for £5 ($8/€6 approx.)