Loplop

Loplop is a mythical bird-like figure invented by the renowned surrealist artist Max Ernst as his alter ego. Like many other composers, notably Olivier Messiaen, I am fascinated by birds. I often wished I could communicate with them, but I cannot speak their language. So I invented an instrument that enables me to tweet, sing and jubilate just like a bird. And beyond that.

Within a couple of months, I had created a stripped-down electronic instrument comprising a phase-locked loop, a random generator, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a resonating voltage-controlled filter (VCF). This instrument, which has the unpronounceable name L0P.7OP, features lots of feedback and cross-modulation, providing a solid foundation for wild sound experiments that may resemble a flock of crazy birds in a fantasy land.

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Gear

Soundmachines LS1lightstrip, Doepfer A-196 PLL, MakeNoise ModDemix, Erica pico RND, Erica pico VOC2, After Later Audio FILThy.

Updated: 21 May 2026