Mini Chord: An Open-Source Pocket Synth with Y2K Style

Sometimes an instrument lands in your hands and instantly feels alive. That’s the impression ACY shares in their recent video exploring the Mini Chord—a compact, open-source synthesizer designed by Benjamin Puavé (aka Benjamin Wild). Inspired by Suzuki’s classic Omnichord, this handheld box of buttons and a touch strip invites both seasoned musicians and curious tinkerers to fall into sound.

The Mini Chord packs three rows of chord buttons (majors, minors, sevenths) and lets you strum them guitar- or harp-style across its touch zone. There’s immediacy in its playability—you can hold a chord, strum, pluck notes, or even let the hold function sustain harmonies. ACY shows how fast it moves from unboxing to recording something inspiring.

Features extend beyond its tactile charm. You’ll find effects (dozen tasteful presets with LED color feedback), editable patches via a browser editor, and the ability to save and share sounds with a growing community. A firmware update even makes it a MIDI controller, instantly giving other synths that strummable feel—ACY demonstrates it beautifully with Omnisphere and the Roland JV-1080.

What makes the Mini Chord compelling isn’t just its sound but its design philosophy. The chord layout favors playfulness over theory, encouraging experimentation and lateral thinking. It can serve as a solo couch companion, a songwriter’s sketchpad, or a quirky layer in full productions. And with a price hovering around £150 pre-built, it’s accessible for a unique, boutique instrument.

ACY also dives into customization, building a translucent resin enclosure dyed in fruity Y2K hues. The step-by-step guide—STL files, resin printing, dyeing, reassembly—highlights the open-source spirit at the core of this project. It’s as much about owning an instrument as shaping it to your taste.

Whether you’re drawn to retro plastic nostalgia, the joy of odd instruments, or simply want a fresh way to explore chords, the Mini Chord stands out as one of the most fun DIY-minded synths around. Learn more at minichord.com, and check out Benjamin Wild’s Instagram for demos and builds.