After setting the music gear corner of the internet ablaze back in 2023 with a tantalizing first glimpse, the Nopia synth is now 'basically finished.' Creators Martin Grieco and Rocío Gal brought the device to the MusicRadar offices for an in-depth first look, revealing that it will launch in 'a couple of months' for around £550.

The Nopia is built around harmonic interplay in a unique way: rather than a few knobs and a keyboard controlling a single synth patch, it blends multiple modules - keys, bass, arp, and pad - into a single performance, not unlike a drumless groovebox. It features a one-octave keyboard called the Chord Builder, a 12-button Tonal Selector, and an Extensions Dial that dictate the key and voicing of chords, allowing you to play complex harmonies with just a finger or two.

Additional performance features include a strum plate in the top-right corner for plucking specific notes from a chord and a slider for full chord pitch bends. Beyond the virtual analog and sample-based synth engines, there are basic effects like delay, reverb, tape emulation, and beat repeat, plus a ton of connectivity options, including per-module MIDI output for controlling other instruments with Nopia's harmonic engine.