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Hultén’s Y-17 Synth

At the 2024 Sónar+D festival in Barcelona, where music and tech collide in a cacophony of ideas, Love Hultén dropped a bombshell of creativity: the Y-17.This isn’t just a synthesizer—it’s a visceral, otherworldly instrument that turns sound into liquid performance art. The Y-17’s ferrofluid visualizer doesn’t just complement the music; it embodies it, creating a symphony for the eyes and ears.

For those who follows my posts, Love Hultén has always embodied a visionary to me, and I’ve been fascinated by his work from a while (you can find here another story I wrote about him on ADF). But let’s start with the guts of this beast, nowadays. At its heart is a 17-note synthesizer, equipped with tactile mechanical switches that scream precision. Forget mushy keybeds; these switches are the kind you feel in your fingertips, a nod to Hultén’s obsession with making every interaction meaningful.

Image courtesy of Love Hultén

The mono synth engine packs a serious punch, delivering thick, resonant tones, while a built-in looper lets you layer sounds into sprawling, atmospheric tracks. It’s compact, unapologetically stripped-down, and all about giving you raw control.

Y-17 ferrofluid synth from Love Hultén’s YouTube account

But the real headliner here is the ferrofluid visualizer—a pulsating pool of magnetized liquid that dances to the beat of your music. Ferrofluid, a magnetic liquid born from NASA experiments, reacts to electromagnetic fields, forming sharp, alien structures that shift in real-time.

In the Y-17, these liquid shapes are powered by an electromagnet tied directly to the audio signal. Every note, every pulse sends the ferrofluid into a hypnotic frenzy, syncing sight and sound in a way that feels almost alive.

On the front panel, there are various tactile controls, including colorful knobs and buttons in red, blue, and gray, arranged in an orderly yet engaging layout. A circular visual display on the left side of the device is likely tied to the synthesizer’s output, adding a dynamic, interactive element.

Images courtesy of Love Hultén

The design language of the Y-17 is pure Hultén—blending retro-futuristic vibes with a playful edge. The bright yellow body with its playful antenna-like protrusions looks like something pulled straight out of a 1970s sci-fi set, but don’t let the toy-like appearance fool you. Every detail is meticulously crafted, from the sleek housing that integrates seamlessly with the visualizer to the intuitive layout of the controls. It’s a perfect collision of nostalgia and cutting-edge engineering.

This isn’t just about aesthetics, though. Hultén is making a statement about the tangible  in an increasingly intangible world. The Y-17 rejects the sterile, glassy interfaces of modern tech in favor of something tactile, visceral, and real. “It’s about creating a physical connection,” Hultén says. “When you play this thing, you’re not just hearing it—you’re seeing it, feeling it. It’s an instrument you engage with on every level.”

The Y-17 debuted at Sónar+D, a festival renowned for pushing boundaries, and it fit right in. As musicians and artists tested the device, the room came alive with undulating waves of ferrofluid and thunderous beats. The ferrofluid’s response wasn’t just a visual gimmick; it became part of the performance, a new kind of expression that blended art and technology seamlessly.

This is where the Y-17 truly shines: in its ability to fuse form and function. It’s a synth that doesn’t just sound incredible—it redefines what an instrument can be. It’s a statement piece, a conversation starter, and a challenge to every musician out there to rethink their approach to performance and creation.

Whether you’re a musician craving a fresh way to interact with sound or a designer drooling over Hultén’s audacious craftsmanship, the Y-17 is impossible to ignore. This is more than an instrument; it’s a bold declaration that music doesn’t just belong in your ears—it belongs in your eyes and hands, too.

For those brave enough to step into Hultén’s world, the Y-17 isn’t just a tool—it’s an invitation to rethink what’s possible when art and engineering collide.

Check out Hultén’s official site for more, and prepare to be inspired—or humbled.