Circle Cynths is a brand-new company, founded by the same mind behind Circles Drum Samples. With OBSO — their debut Kontakt instrument — the focus shifts from drums to synths. Marketed as “an instrument born from obsolete tech,” OBSO immediately sparks curiosity: what does obsolete actually sound like? Think VHS wobble, dusty circuits, mangled distortion, and the grit of broken electronics given new life.
And in practice? OBSO nails it.
First Impressions
The interface is deceptively simple: five circular controls (attack, release, filter, mod, and FX). At first glance, it’s minimal, maybe even abstract. But in use, it’s straightforward and intuitive. I usually shy away from overly “artsy” interfaces, but OBSO surprised me:
“Not once did I stop to search for where things are. It ended up working far better than I expected.”
The design has a distinctly retro ’90s vibe, almost toy-like, with subtle VHS distortion animations when tweaking parameters. It adds character without getting in the way.
Presets & Categories
OBSO ships with 120 presets spanning bells, brass, keys, pads, strings, and more. What makes it extra useful is the built-in categorization system: sounds are tagged not only by type, but also by mood and style — comedy, drama, fantasy, mystery, sci-fi. For a compact library, it gives you a fast way to zero in on the vibe you want.
That said, the system feels like it could use more depth. With “only” 120 patches, it’s easy to combine tags and find nothing. More presets down the line would really expand the instrument’s potential.
Sound & Character
The core of OBSO is its curated, lo-fi aesthetic. This isn’t a surgical sound-design tool — you won’t be diving under the hood to sculpt parameters. Instead, it’s about tastefully pre-designed sounds that deliver instantly.
And deliver they do.
- The FX processing is a highlight. The VHS-style distortion, chorusing, and noise layers are done with remarkable subtlety. “They nailed that VHS crackling — it’s really difficult to make it subtle enough but pleasant enough to induce that vibe. I really love how the effects are done here.”
- Lo-fi pianos are a standout. Many libraries attempt this and end up unplayable. Not here. “This has got to be one of the best lo-fi pianos I’ve heard in this style. It still plays like a piano while evoking that sampled, noisy charm.”
- Cinematic textures shine. Some presets lean into dark, gritty soundscapes that hit with real impact. “They sound big and ominous, but beautifully balanced. Really good processing on the effect front.”
Overall, OBSO pulls off something tricky: taking simple or even “broken” sounds and making them inspiring. The noise, modulation, and artifacts feel alive, never stale.
Use Cases
- Lo-fi hip-hop & beats: OBSO’s broken pianos, dusty pads, and weird one-shots practically beg to be sampled. “It would be a big mistake for hip-hop producers to sleep on this.”
- Retro game & VHS aesthetics: Many patches instantly conjure SNES-era vibes, or warped 80s/90s VHS atmospheres.
- Cinematic scoring: Darker, noisier textures work beautifully for moody or experimental scoring.
Things I’d Love to See
- More presets. The tagging system is excellent, but needs more depth to truly shine.
- Full ADSR controls. Having only attack and release feels limiting when shaping sounds into shorter notes or more precise performances.
- Small UX tweaks. For example, being able to favorite presets directly from the main window, or slightly refining knob behavior.
Final Thoughts
OBSO is one of those rare instruments that carves out a niche and delivers it with taste. It’s retro, lo-fi, cinematic, and weird in all the right ways. If you’re making hip-hop, game music, or anything that thrives on character and imperfection, this is worth serious consideration.
“This is a very unique offering. I can’t really recall anything else that specifically goes for this stylized ’90s VHS broken type of sound — and does it so well.”
I can’t wait to weave it into some of my own lo-fi projects.
Prefer video? 🎥
Sometimes you just want to hear it in action.
👉 Full review:https://youtu.be/sVpdLK8YHRg
👉 ‘No talking’ demo: https://youtu.be/qD_SGtTIRbk
