Twisted Electrons FLEXFM: 8-Track FM Groovebox for €999
FLEXFM pairs four-operator FM, sampling and an analog filter per voice with a joystick and USB multitrack. Preorder price, specs, Digitone II comparison, FAQ.
Twisted Electrons has opened preorders for FLEXFM, an eight-track hardware groovebox that combines four-operator FM synthesis, sampling and a real analog filter on every voice. A joystick morphs sounds, FM routings and whole pattern variations, and a single USB cable carries eight separate tracks into your DAW. The introductory preorder price is €999 including VAT until November 13, 2026, with delivery expected before Christmas.
At a glance: FLEXFM costs €999 including VAT as an introductory preorder offer, in limited quantities, until November 13, 2026. After that, the standard retail price is €999 excluding VAT, with VAT added. It has eight independent tracks, four operators per voice, more than 30 operator engines, a multimode analog filter per voice, four LFOs per voice, a piezo drum pad, 16 patterns of up to 128 steps, plate reverb, delay and compression, eight mono voice outputs, and USB multitrack audio. A polycarbonate protective shell is included. Twisted Electrons estimates delivery before Christmas 2026.
What is FLEXFM?
Twisted Electrons is a French maker best known for compact FM and chip-inspired instruments, and more recently for software versions of them like VBLASTBEATS and vMEGAfm. FLEXFM is its biggest hardware instrument yet. Alex at Twisted Electrons calls it the groovebox he dreamed of building for a decade, after several years of development.
The pitch is a complete, computer-free production box: synthesis, sampling, sequencing, arrangement, mixing and effects all live in the instrument. The editor and plugin are optional extras for when you want a bigger screen or need to move ideas into a DAW.
What sets it apart from most digital FM boxes is the hybrid voice. Each of the eight tracks runs four digital operators into its own analog multimode filter, with digital filter options alongside. That analog stage is where FM grooveboxes often feel thin, and it's the clearest reason to look at this one.
Features, and what they do for you
Four operators, many sources
Every voice has four operators connected with frequency, amplitude or ring modulation. Operators can play classic waveforms, wavetables, vocal tones, noise, waves you draw, or samples, from more than 30 operator engines. You can morph the algorithm itself or use oscillator sync for extra bite. In plain terms, one track can be a clean FM bell, a sampled snare with an FM tail, or a growling sync bass.
An analog filter on every voice
Each voice has its own multimode analog filter, with drive for rougher tones. There are two digital alternatives. ORACLE is a three-dimensional filter space you morph through, covering peaks, notches, hollow vowels and metallic edges. CROQUETTE is a colored digital low-pass in PLAIN, HOT or CRISPY flavors, for retro grit. ADSR shaping, velocity response and key tracking make the filter part of the performance.
Four LFOs per voice
Each voice gets four independent LFOs with multiple destinations and signed depths. Pick a wave, use an ADSR contour, or draw your own shape with the joystick. LFOs can sync, loop or trigger once, and one LFO can steer another. Every main knob has a full-color LED ring that shows its value, secondary functions and modulation, with each LFO in its own color.
The joystick: three ways to morph
The joystick is FLEXFM's signature control, and it works in three worlds:
- Timbre: blend compatible sound-parameter snapshots to find a sweet spot between them.
- Algorithm: morph between FM, AM and ring-modulation routing sets, which changes how operators interact rather than just their settings.
- Pattern: move between prepared pattern variations, from a nudge to a full transformation.
It doubles as a piano-roll cursor for entering notes and sweeping velocities or probabilities, and it plays live TRICKS such as pitch bends, scratches, phasing and rhythmic effects.
A sequencer that can wander
Each voice lane has its own length and rate, with timing shifts, probability and conditional steps. tempoFlex curves let a lane accelerate, slow down or pull against the master clock. Voices can run in POLY (up to four overlapping notes per voice), MONO (four interacting operators as one sound), CHORD (voiced and strummed harmonies) or SYNC (linked oscillators), following your song's scale or not.
You get 16 patterns of up to 128 steps, per-note lengths, step locks, arps, swing and probability, plus 8 song parts with scenes and key changes. Continuous play and a CUE function loop captured audio while the next song loads, then hand over at a bar boundary. That's built for live sets without gaps.
Sampling and drum kits
The piezo drum pad plays with dynamics. You can record the audio input, import WAVs, slice and repitch recordings, and build twelve-pad kits with individual gain, tuning and start and end points. Samples can be reversed, layered with synthesis or played as multisampled instruments. If you're weighing FLEXFM against a dedicated drum machine, our guide to the best drum machines covers the alternatives.
Effects and outputs
A plate reverb with pitch-shifted shimmer, a space-echo-style delay with drive and degradation, and a compressor that can be keyed from the main mix or a single voice for sidechain pumping finish the sound. Around the back are twelve audio jacks: eight mono voice outputs, stereo main outs, headphones and a mono input, plus MIDI In and Out and USB.
USB multitrack and DAW integration
Over USB, the FLEXFM plugin's FLEXIO section sends either STEMS (eight mono, post-filter, pre-effects channels) or MIXDOWN (stereo master plus stereo reverb and delay returns) into your DAW. The plugin follows host tempo, transport and song position. An optional FLEXFM Bridge for Ableton Live (it needs Max for Live) creates Arrangement locators at chain boundaries and can send a selected Live MIDI clip straight into a device pattern. The companion editor runs standalone, as AU or VST3 on macOS and standalone or VST3 on Windows, and lets you drag patterns into your DAW as MIDI clips.
FLEXFM specifications
| Spec | FLEXFM |
|---|---|
| Type | Hybrid FM and sample groovebox |
| Tracks | 8 independent tracks |
| Voice | 4 operators per voice, FM, AM and ring modulation, algorithm morphing, oscillator sync |
| Operator sources | 30+ engines: classic waves, wavetables, vocal tones, noise, drawn waves, samples |
| Voice modes | POLY (up to 4 overlapping notes per track), MONO, CHORD, SYNC |
| Filters | Multimode analog filter per voice; ORACLE 3D and CROQUETTE digital filters |
| Modulation | 4 LFOs per voice, drawable shapes, ADSR contours |
| Sequencer | 16 patterns, up to 128 steps, per-lane length and rate, probability, conditional steps, tempoFlex |
| Song | 8 song parts, scenes, key changes, continuous play, CUE |
| Sampling | Audio input recording, WAV import, slicing, 12-pad kits, piezo drum pad |
| Effects | Plate reverb with shimmer, delay, compressor with sidechain |
| Audio I/O | 8 mono voice outs, stereo main outs, headphones, mono input (12 jacks) |
| Other I/O | MIDI In/Out, USB (MIDI and multitrack audio) |
| USB audio | STEMS: 8 mono channels; MIXDOWN: stereo master plus 2 stereo wet returns |
| Software | Editor and plugin: macOS standalone, AU, VST3; Windows standalone, VST3 |
| In the box | Polycarbonate protective shell |
| Price | €999 incl. VAT intro preorder to Nov 13, 2026; then €999 excl. VAT |
| Delivery | Expected before Christmas 2026 |
FLEXFM vs Elektron Digitone II
The obvious rival is Elektron's Digitone II, the FM groovebox most buyers will have on their shortlist.
| FLEXFM | Elektron Digitone II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | €999 incl. VAT intro preorder | $1,149 |
| Tracks | 8 | 16 synth or MIDI tracks |
| Polyphony | Up to 4 notes per track in POLY | 16 voices across tracks |
| Sound engines | 4-operator FM with 30+ operator sources, plus sampling | 4 SYN machines: FM Tone, FM Drum, Wavetone, Swarmer |
| Filters | Analog multimode per voice, plus 2 digital types | 6 digital FLTR machines |
| Sampling | Yes, input recording and WAV import | No sample machine |
| Individual outputs | 8 mono voice outs | Stereo out |
| USB audio | 8 stems or mixdown via plugin | Overbridge, class compliant USB audio |
| Sequencer | 128 steps, per-lane length and rate, tempoFlex | 128 steps, parameter locks, trig conditions, Euclidean mode |
| Availability | Preorder, before Christmas 2026 | Shipping now |
Digitone II is the safer choice today. It ships now, has twice the track count and 16 voices of polyphony, and the Elektron sequencer with parameter locks is a proven workflow. Its filters are digital, and it has no sample playback machine.
FLEXFM's case is character and connectivity. An analog filter on every voice, sampling and a drum pad in the same box, eight individual outputs and a joystick for morphing make it the more hands-on, more hardware-studio-friendly design. The risk is that it's a preorder from a small company, with an estimated delivery window and no long track record for this model. For more hardware options, see our best hardware synthesizers guide.
Who it's for
FLEXFM suits producers who want one box for FM, drums and samples, with real analog color, and who like to perform rather than program. It's also a strong fit for anyone with a mixer or a DAW-based hybrid rig, since eight voice outputs and eight USB stems make it easy to mix each track properly. Live performers get continuous play, CUE transitions and joystick tricks.
Skip it if you need a box this month, or if you want more than eight tracks and deep polyphony for chords and pads. Skip it too if you prefer software: the company's own plugins cost a fraction of the price and run inside your DAW.
Pricing and availability
FLEXFM is available to preorder from the official Twisted Electrons store.
- Introductory preorder: €999 including VAT, in limited quantities, until November 13, 2026.
- Standard retail: €999 excluding VAT, with applicable VAT added.
- Delivery: expected before Christmas 2026, which Twisted Electrons describes as an estimate rather than a guaranteed date. Final shipping and taxes are shown at checkout.
FAQ
Can I use FLEXFM without a computer?
Yes. Synthesis, sampling, sequencing, arrangement, mixing and effects all live in the instrument. The editor and plugin are optional.
How does polyphony work on FLEXFM?
There are eight tracks, each with four operators and its own filter. MONO combines the operators into one sound, POLY gives four overlapping notes per track, and CHORD and SYNC offer other setups. It isn't eight separate four-operator polysynths.
Can I record each track separately into my DAW?
Yes. Over USB, the plugin's FLEXIO section routes eight dry voice stems, or the stereo master plus reverb and delay returns, to your DAW. USB MIDI works alongside audio. There are also eight mono voice outputs on the back.
FLEXFM vs Digitone II?
Digitone II has more tracks and voices and ships now. FLEXFM adds an analog filter per voice, sampling, a piezo pad, eight voice outputs and joystick morphing, but it's a preorder with delivery expected before Christmas 2026.
When does FLEXFM ship?
Twisted Electrons expects preorder deliveries before Christmas 2026 and calls that an estimate, not a guarantee.
Verdict
FLEXFM is one of the most ambitious grooveboxes of the year: FM, sampling and an analog filter on every voice, with a joystick that reshapes sounds, routings and patterns in one gesture. The individual outputs and USB stems make it unusually studio-friendly for its size. Digitone II is still the proven option if you want more voices and a box that ships today. This is a first look based on Twisted Electrons' official materials, not a hands-on test.
