About Pittsburgh Modular

We are Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers and we make interesting electronic instruments for musicians and sonic architects. Our innovative designs promote unrestricted, interactive synthesis for maximum control of maximum sound. 

Available worldwide through our webstore and authorized resellers, our instruments include the flagship instruments and smaller modular experiments.  

Established in 2012, Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Richard Nicol
Founder & Instrument Designer
A respected electronic musician and the visionary founder of Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers. Born in 1974 in Pittsburgh, USA, his passion for sound exploration led him to design innovative instruments that have redefined the boundaries of analog synthesis. With an unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and sonic excellence, Richard has earned a reputation for pushing the envelope of modern, analog synthesizer technology. His creations have been embraced by musicians and producers worldwide, fueling their creativity and enabling them to craft unique musical worlds. As a musician, Richard's compositions embody patience and embrace the organic evolution of complex textures and patterns, showcasing the inherent beauty found in subtlety and intricately crafted sonic landscapes.

Michael Johnsen
Analog Research and Engineering
Instrument builder and performer Michael Johnsen was born in 1968 in Pennsylvania. Drawing on the rich American tradition of experimentation and cobbling, he has built up an integrated menagerie of devices specifically for live performance whose idiosyncratic behaviors are revealed through their complex interactions. His work is characterized by a relative lack of ideas per se, and an intense focus on observation, the way a shepherd watches sheep. The extensive patching of large numbers of devices produces teeming chirps, sudden transients and charming failure modes; embracing the dirt in pure electronics. Most of what he might have learned has come from the natural world, like watching robins run. He is particularly fond of sounds that end.