Melbourne Instruments / DELIA

Inspired by the NINA motorized control panel and voice architecture, this bi-timbral polyphonic synthesizer features a 49-note velocity- and aftertouch-sensitive keyboard, a newly designed multi-mode analog filter, high- and low-pass resonance controls, three-stage overdrive, modulation and many other new features.

Features
■Powerful combination of analog and digital
With true analog filters and virtual analog modeling, DELIA digitally controls virtual analog oscillators, wavetables, high-pass filters, and more without compromising the sound of the overdriveable analog ladder filters. This powerful combination is made possible by DELIA's unique 12-note mode, which uses 12 oscillator banks for 6 filters, eliminating the voice count limitations without compromising sound and maximizing DELIA's bi-timbral capabilities.

■Discrete multi-mode filters
DELIA's true analog low-pass filters are the heart of the sound engine, and can range from warm, rich and sweet to frighteningly aggressive. A high-pass modeled ladder filter is also featured, which can be linked to band-pass and notch operations. 12 dB and 24 dB slopes and separate resonance controls for the high-pass and low-pass give you more freedom when shaping your sound.

■Analog low-pass + digital high-pass filter
DELIA features a multi-mode filter with three settings. The high-pass and low-pass cutoff frequencies are controlled separately by two knobs, so the overall filter works as a high-pass, low-pass or band-pass. The separate resonance controls for the high-pass and low-pass allow you to create formants that resemble the human voice or shape unique sounds. The LINK function allows you to fix the relative positions of the high-pass and low-pass cutoff frequencies, so they work as a constant-width band-pass even when controlled manually by the knobs or using the VCF envelope or other modulation sources.
DELIA's filters have analog and digital sections for each voice. The analog filter is a traditional discrete transistor ladder filter with a choice of 24dB or 12dB slopes. An analog variable overdrive circuit is provided in front of the filter to distort the sound and add aggressive texture.

The high-pass filter is a digital filter modeled on a 24dB ladder filter. It uses the Ebers-Moll transistor model, the most common analysis method. This allows it to almost perfectly match the response of an analog circuit, including overdrive response, resonance, and natural filter sweep.

■Innovative modulation with motorized controllers
The innovations of the motorized controllers go beyond patch recall and morphing.

MOD mode allows you to quickly and easily set up the modulation matrix. When you press one of the 20 buttons on the bottom of the panel to select a modulation source, all knob positions automatically switch, and the knob positions indicate the currently assigned modulation amount. Even if you use multiple modulations and slots, you don't have to tweak the panel every time you switch sources or destinations.

You can realize these ideas in just a few seconds, such as modulating the oscillator pulse width with an LFO, opening and closing the filter cutoff with aftertouch, adjusting the effect send amount with the modulation wheel, etc., and instantly shape the sound you come up with.

DELIA offers a smooth workflow that combines the flexibility of a software synth with the intuitive operability of a hardware synth.

■Modulatable MORPH parameters

DELIA's MORPH function allows you to morph between two sounds and discover sounds that you cannot get any other way. By turning the MORPH knob, you can smoothly change all parameters between Patch A and Patch B, including the modulation matrix. This allows you to instantly create a completely new sound that is neither Patch A nor Patch B. MORPH can also be assigned as a modulation matrix destination, allowing you to use aftertouch, modulation wheel, and expression for more creative performance.

Product Specifications
〇Voice Architecture
True analog filter and stereo VCA
4 oscillators per voice
Modeled virtual analog VCO, wavetable, noise/XOR/Aux
6 analog voice circuits with 12 note modes
Unlimited modulation matrix: 20 sources x 40 destinations
3 LFOs with selectable waveforms: sine, triangle, square, rising sawtooth, falling sawtooth, random
3 envelopes: VCA, VCF, AUX

〇Control Panel
Preset Recall: Instantly recall the knob settings of the selected preset
Intuitively adjust each parameter using knobs and buttons
Modulation matrix settings for quick editing
Layer Recall: Instantly recall the knob settings of the selected layer
Multi Quick switching between LFO, envelope and filter settings
Effect levels and assignable macro parameters
"INIT" to instantly initialize presets

〇Multimode filter
Analog low-pass ladder filter
3-stage analog overdrive
Virtual analog high-pass ladder filter
Separate high-pass and low-pass resonance controls
LINK mode allows use as band-pass/notch filter
Low-pass filter slope selectable between 12dB and 24dB

〇Effects
2 effect processors: can be placed in parallel or series
Stereo digital effects: delay, chorus and reverb with classic preset algorithms

〇Modulation
Extensive modulation matrix: 20 sources, 40 destinations, unlimited slots
Morphable modulation settings
Quick editing with MOD mode: select source with panel button and amount with knob
All modulation amounts can be set bipolar
MORPH as modulation destination Patch Morphing
Morph Patch A and Patch B to create new sounds
Morph all parameters of each patch, including the modulation matrix

〇Bi-timbral Layer
When combined with A/B MORPH, 2 layers can produce 4 different sounds
Controlled by individual MIDI channels and ranges
Number of voices per layer can be freely set
Quickly split or stack the keyboard by linking ranges between layers

〇Step Sequencer and Phrase Looper
Programmable polyphonic sequencer with 16 steps
Phrase looper with overdubbing/layering
Sequences and loops can be saved and recalled as presets

Connections
〇Audio Outputs
2 x assignable line-level outputs
Stereo main output with effects
Headphone output
Audio Inputs
2 x TRS balanced line or CV inputs
CV inputs have adjustable analog gain and offset up to ±10V

〇Device Connections
2 x USB-A Host ports
USB-C device for connecting to DAW x1
MIDI IN/OUT/THRU

〇Computer
Hackable, open-source software built on a powerful Raspberry Pi 4 with Elk Audio OS