8Bit Mixtape Neo Is a Small Lo-Fi Synthesizer Shaped Like a Cassette Tape

There are so many synthesizers on the market that deciding on one can be completely overwhelming — particularly for people new to them. There are models that range from simple single-octave square wave output, to high-end options that are capable of reproducing an entire orchestra in stunning detail. 8Bit Mixtape Neo is a small synthesizer that’s designed to be easy to use and to generate hip ’80s style sounds without breaking the bank.

Unlike most synthesizers you’ve probably seen, 8Bit Mixtape Neo has only basic controls on the device itself. There are just two knobs and two buttons for adjusting the synthesizer output in real time. Everything else — actually creating sounds — is done programmatically. Uploading your sound algorithm code is straightforward, because the heart of 8Bit Mixtape Neo is an Arduino-compatible ATtiny85.

If programming sounds seems difficult to you, there is even a visual drag-and-drop programming interface that appears to be derived from the very popular Scratch programming language. If you don’t want to program at all, there are a number of premade sounds you can easily download. If that sounds like a fun way to make music to you, you can grab an 8Bit Mixtape Neo for somewhere between $50 and $100, depending on which options you choose.