Scaler Music will be probably be best known to many for their music theory tools, but their product range also includes a rather interesting soft synth that’s just been treated to a major update.
Carbon Electra 2 is a four-oscillator instrument that offers wavetable and wave terrain synthesis, but its standout feature is the inclusion of a whole host of “musical intelligence” features. Drawing on their expertise in music theory tools, Scaler have taken the opportunity to kit the synth out with the likes of scale-aware oscillators, musical filters and a key-aware note and chord sequencer.
Described as the next evolution of wavetables, wave terrain synthesis is based around a 3D surface being scanned and modulated by a 2D shape, resulting in waveform changes that are more dynamic and musically related that standard wavetables. The synth still offers more traditional wavetables and analogue waveforms, as well as including FM and hard sync.
Its musical filters then allow users to create a resonant bank of band-pass filters that are linked to the instruments Keytrack and Scale Lock parameters, and can be arranged by scale, chord or interval. There are two filters present: Filter 1 delivers the unique musical features, and Filter 2 offers more traditional filter types along with a morphing vowel filter.
Carbon Electra 2 also includes a Scale Lock function that allows its oscillators and filters to adjust their parameters in response to incoming notes, along with an innovative key-aware sequencer. Using the same technology that powers the company’s Scaler software, the instrument’s onboard sequencer includes a Chord mode that ensures everything remains locked to a user-defined key, while still delivering all of the more typical parameters you’d expect to see.
An array of modulation capabilities include three LFOs and two envelopes, and a dedicated modulation lane for the instruments sequencer. A set of five built-in effects include delay, distortion, chorus, EQ and reverb, all of which can be freely placed and ordered in five dedicated effects slots.
Compatibility
Carbon Electra 2 is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or later, and Macs running macOS 11 and above. VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available.
Pricing & Availability
Carbon Electra 2 is available now, and is being offered at an introductory price of $79 until 13 July 2026, when it will increase to $99. Users of the original version can upgrade for $39.
