FM synthesis you can finally see, touch and fall for

For decades, FM synthesis has been famous for two things: extraordinary, glassy, metallic sounds — and menus deep enough to lose a weekend in. First Love, the debut instrument from Reykjavík-based LOVE Synthesizers, rethinks that completely. Instead of operator pages and ratio tables, you draw your FM connections directly on a 7" touchscreen, shape waveforms with your fingertips, and morph the whole thing in real time. It is FM made visual, physical and genuinely fun — which is exactly why it won the Sonicstate Award for Best Innovation at SuperBooth.

Under the playful exterior sits a serious 4-part multitimbral engine. Each part is its own 4-operator FM synth with a custom-routable algorithm, a morph envelope, a dynamic wave folder and waveshaping — and the four parts can run polyphonically or monophonically, together, across the same or separate MIDI channels. Build a lush pad, a biting bass, a chiming lead and a percussive hit, and play all four at once from one compact, battery-ready instrument.

Designed to keep you playing

• Draw-your-own FM: create operator connections and algorithms by hand on the touchscreen — no hidden matrices, no manual required.
• Expressive by touch: pressure-sensitive pads and dedicated controllers respond to how hard and how you play, not just which note.
• The Playground: an integrated arranger, sequencer and highly versatile arpeggiator, plus a MIDI looper to capture, multiply, bounce and overdub performances on the fly.
• Tune your own world: a microtonal quantizer with up to 256 user scales lets you compose in just intonation, custom temperaments or anything you invent.
• Go anywhere: built-in stereo speakers and optional lithium-battery power make it a complete, standalone studio you can pick up and play.

Built to fit your setup

First Love is happy on its own and just as happy at the heart of a rig. Route its four parts out as two stereo pairs or four independent mono outputs, sync hardware over the analog sync I/O or 5-pin MIDI, and connect to a computer, controller or app over USB-C and Bluetooth. Per-part reverb, delay, chorus and a freezer effect mean every voice arrives finished.

Quick Specs

• Engine: 4-operator FM with custom algorithms, wave folding & waveshaping
• Architecture: 4-part multitimbral, polyphonic & monophonic
• Display: 7" capacitive touchscreen
• Performance: pressure-sensitive pads & dedicated controllers
• Sequencing: arranger, sequencer, arpeggiator & MIDI looper ("The Playground")
• Tuning: microtonal quantizer, up to 256 user scales
• Effects: reverb, delay, chorus & freezer (per part)
• Outputs: 2 stereo / 4 mono + stereo headphone (3.5 mm)
• MIDI / Sync: 5-pin MIDI I/O, analog sync I/O
• Connectivity: USB-C (power & data), Bluetooth
• Speakers: built-in stereo
• Power: USB-C or 4× lithium batteries
• Footprint: approx. 19 × 24 cm
• Made in: Reykjavík, Iceland

Why you'll love it

• Pros: Makes deep FM intuitive; four independent instruments in one; hugely expressive pads; standalone with speakers and battery option; flexible multi-out routing.
• Cons: A fresh, touchscreen-first workflow that rewards a little exploration; first production run is limited.

If FM has always intrigued you but never quite let you in, this is where it clicks. Meet your First Love.