Tool: SynthCu.be

Sometimes you find a site that is music technology oriented and you say out loud “Now this is fun!”. Meet SynthCu.be! This FREE online music making tool is a lot more game-like than a functional synth, but it a LOT of fun. Based on the Rubik’s Cube, the 6 sides of the cube have 9 “spots” per side. Each spot is a different color and each color is a different synth sound. While the object is to “solve” the Rubik’s Cube-style puzzle, by clicking on each side and rotating it until all of the colors on each side “match” much like you would with a real Rubik’s Cube, you get to make music along the way.

Developed by a very talented developer, Felix Turner, SynthCu.be is an interactive “sound toy” that makes sounds that are generated by programming code. SynthCu.be is actually a very simple sequencer, though these is no real “transport bar” or recording capability. The playhead rotates around the cube and play each of the triggered notes. To make one of the 9 spots “play” you simply click on it. Once for “loud” (big spot) or again for “soft” (small spot). Next, you can drag the cube to shuffle and change the song.

There is a VERY cool synthesizer interface on the left side of the screen when you click on the menu. You can change the generated sound properties with the control panel, including the waveform shape (sine wave or sawtooth wave) as well as the length of the note. There is a “On/Off” button for each track (which corresponds to the 3 rows of the cube) which basically allows you to mute the track. You can also turn on global effects (normal or space) and adjust the song's tempo.

I would definitely recommend adding this fun tool to your list of resources for any middle school or high school music class that incorporates music technology. Super simple, super fun! Enjoy!