Not every expressive instrument looks like a keyboard. The newly announced Nyström HUM 2 is a multi-timbral synthesizer built around six onboard sensors: distance, light, tilt on two axes, and two touch sensors. It is available for pre-order, with shipping expected from early November 2026, according to SYNTH ANATOMY.
A synth you control with gestures
The idea behind the HUM 2 is that you shape sound by moving, waving a hand over a distance sensor, tilting the unit, covering a light sensor, or touching the pads, instead of only turning knobs. Every sensor can be mapped to any parameter, which turns the instrument into a continuous, hands-on modulation source.
On the sound side, the HUM 2 offers three independent voices with assignable engines per voice, including subtractive, FM, wavetable, organ, Karplus-Strong, and formant options. A generative sequencer with up to 64 steps, quantization, and 17 scale choices can play notes on its own while you steer the timbre with the sensors. Four multiwave LFOs and a delay, reverb, and overdrive section round out the sound, with 500 user preset slots.
Sensors are not the same as MPE
It is worth being precise here. The HUM 2 is described as both a synthesizer and a sensor-based MIDI and CV controller, with three CV outputs, two CV inputs, sync in and out, MIDI in and out, and USB-C for MIDI and audio. Nyström's announcement does not list MPE support, so you should not expect per-note pitch bend, slide, and pressure on separate MIDI channels out of the box.
That distinction matters. MPE gives every finger its own expression stream, which is ideal for chords and polyphonic lines. A sensor-based instrument like the HUM 2 typically gives you global gestures instead, one hand movement affecting the whole sound. Both approaches are expressive, but they solve different problems, and they can complement each other well.
Where it fits in an MPE-friendly setup
Think of the HUM 2 as a companion rather than a replacement for your main controller. A few ideas:
- Modulation layer: Use its sensor data as MIDI or CV to add slow, gestural movement to a synth while an MPE keyboard plays the notes.
- Modular integration: The CV connections make it a natural partner for Eurorack and semi-modular systems.
- Generative texture: Let the sequencer run ambient patterns while you conduct the sound with your hands, then layer your MPE performance on top.
Because it also outputs standard MIDI, you can route its data into a DAW and record the gestures as automation, then edit them like any other controller lane. If you want a refresher on how per-note expression is recorded, our earlier guide to MPE in your DAW is a good starting point.
Price and availability
The HUM 2 is priced at $649 USD (about 540 euros plus VAT) and is open for pre-order now. Shipping is expected to begin in early November 2026. Full specifications and ordering are on the official Nyström Instruments page.
Our take
The expressive-instrument landscape keeps widening. Hex grids, continuum surfaces, and MPE keyboards cover per-note control, while sensor-driven devices like the HUM 2 explore movement and environment as musical input. For sound designers and live performers who love unconventional interfaces, this is a fascinating addition, and a reminder that expression is bigger than any single standard. If you are curious about it, pre-orders are open, and the shipping window leaves plenty of time to plan how it will sit next to your existing rig.