简体中文
EnglishHow to Get an NSynth Super
Updated
NSynth Super is not a product you can buy. It is an open source experimental instrument, and the pictured experience prototype was shared only with a small community of musicians. The site's own "How can I get an NSynth Super?" section is the definitive place to check what is currently offered. If you want to play with the NSynth algorithm itself, the practical route is to use the open source materials rather than expect a finished device.
What NSynth Super actually is
NSynth Super is an experimental physical interface for the NSynth algorithm, created by Magenta (a research project within Google) in collaboration with Google Creative Lab. It is described as an open source experimental instrument that lets musicians make music using new sounds generated by NSynth from four different source sounds.
That description matters for anyone trying to obtain one: the project is framed as an ongoing experiment, not a commercial release.
Why there is no simple "buy" button
The site explains that the experience prototype was shared with a small community of musicians to better understand how they might use it in their creative process. In other words, the hardware shown on the page was a limited experience prototype used for research, not a retail product.
The site does not list pricing, a store, or a general availability date. Treat any claim that you can simply order one as unsupported unless the site's own section says otherwise.
Your realistic options
| Goal | What to do | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Understand current availability | Read the "How can I get an NSynth Super?" section on nsynthsuper.withgoogle.com | The site's own statement is the authoritative answer |
| Build or explore the instrument | Use the open source materials the project points to | You supply hardware and assembly yourself; this is an experimental build, not a consumer device |
| Use the sounds without the hardware | Explore the NSynth algorithm output through the interfaces Magenta has published | You get the generated sounds, not the physical dial-and-touchscreen experience |
What the instrument does, if you do get access
For context on what you would be working with: 16 original source sounds across a range of 15 pitches were recorded in a studio and input into the NSynth algorithm to precompute new sounds. The outputs, over 100,000 new sounds, were loaded into the experience prototype. Each dial was assigned four source sounds; musicians select the source sounds with the dials and drag a finger across the touchscreen to navigate sounds that combine the acoustic qualities of the four sources.
NSynth itself does not blend or combine sounds — it synthesizes an entirely new sound using the acoustic qualities of the originals, so you could get something part flute and part sitar at once.
Common sticking points
- Expecting a purchasable synth. The page describes an experiment and a prototype, not a product line.
- Assuming open source means ready-made. Open source here refers to the instrument project; building and running it is a hands-on effort.
- Looking for a price. No pricing information is provided on the site, so do not assume it is free or paid — check the site's own section for the current answer.
Start with the "How can I get an NSynth Super?" section on the site, then decide whether the open source route or the software-only route fits what you actually want to do.