If you’re looking to break out of the typical percussive mold, RANDOM Metal is a synthesizer that offers a fresh approach to sound design. It’s not your standard drum machine or sample library—this percussive mono synth thrives on unpredictability and exploration. With its 25 distinct percussive engines, it’s perfect for producers and sound designers who want to push the boundaries of what percussion can sound like.
Embrace the Chaos
At its core, RANDOM Metal is built for experimentation. One of its standout features is the randomization button, which, with just a click, reshapes your sound in ways that range from subtle shifts to completely new textures. This randomness is where the magic happens. It takes away the tediousness of searching through endless sound libraries and lets you stumble upon something unexpected, making it a tool that can ignite creative ideas in a way more conventional gear might not.
Thoughtful Collaboration Behind the Design
RANDOM Metal was developed through a collaboration between Herrmutt Lobby and Phazz, and that artistic synergy is evident in how the synth feels more like an evolving sound palette than a rigid instrument. They approached it much like building an album—crafting, refining, and curating each percussive engine to give users a wide range of sonic possibilities. It’s not just a tool for laying down simple beats (although it can handle that too), but rather for exploring percussive textures that can be completely unique to your production.
Features that Stand Out
One of the synth’s strongest aspects is its 40+ percussive matter types, ranging from metallic cymbals to offbeat, experimental sounds. The synth excels at taking ordinary percussion and transforming it into something unexpected. The XY pad allows for real-time modulation, which gives you dynamic control over your sounds in ways that can lead to some happy accidents. Whether you’re triggering the 12 individual pads or playing notes chromatically, the control you have over each sound—like adjusting instability, decay, and pitch shift—makes it a versatile tool.
Is It for You?
RANDOM Metal really shines if you’re someone who enjoys letting a bit of chaos into your workflow. The ability to randomize and tweak sounds quickly means you’re less likely to get stuck in a creative rut. However, it might not be the go-to for producers who prefer full control over every step of their sound design. That said, the randomization options are adjustable, so you can still dial in specific elements of your sound while keeping it spontaneous.
Final Thoughts
For sound designers or musicians looking to explore percussion in a more unconventional way, RANDOM Metal offers a lot of value. The ability to generate fresh, evolving sounds without relying on presets or samples makes it a powerful tool in any experimental producer’s kit. If you’re tired of the same old percussive loops and want to inject some creativity into your workflow, RANDOM Metal is definitely worth checking out.
