Schmidt-Synthesizer has announced The Final Series of its Eightvoice Analog Synthesizer, a run of just 20 numbered units finished in all-black livery. Each instrument carries a gold plaque with its serial number and credits the three people behind the instrument by name: creator Stefan Schmidt, industrial designer Axel Hartmann, and manufacturer e.m.c. Stefan Hund. Production ends November 10 after 15 years.

The Eightvoice first appeared at Musikmesse 2012 and drew significant attention as a large-format, fully hands-on analog polysynth built entirely in Germany using through-hole construction. That build method keeps long-term repairs straightforward, though it also contributed to the costs that ultimately made continued production unworkable. Around 100 units have been sold over the instrument’s lifetime, placing it firmly in rare-instrument territory even before this closing chapter.

The synthesizer’s sound engine leans on subtractive synthesis across eight voices, with a chain of five ring modulators fed by six pulse waves at varying pulse widths to get into wavetable-adjacent territory without leaving the analog domain. A deep modulation routing system, dual and multitimbral modes, and a hinged front panel with tactile controls and a color LCD round out the feature set.

Axel Hartmann, who handled industrial design on the original instrument and returns for this farewell edition, has been the black colorway treatment replacing the previous anthracite and wood aesthetic with an all-dark finish. Pricing has not been listed in the announcement; interested buyers would need to contact Schmidt-Synthesizer directly given the extremely limited quantity.