Tubbutec

What Tubbutec does

Tubbutec GmbH is a Berlin-based music electronics company founded in 2013 that designs, manufactures, and distributes MIDI retrofit kits and Eurorack modules targeting owners of vintage analog synthesizers, drum machines, and modular system users. Its product portfolio spans three categories: (1) instrument-specific synth mods — including ModyPoly and ModyPoly HiRes for Korg Polysix/Poly-61/Mono/Poly, Juno-66 for Roland Juno-6/60, SH-1oh1 and its µTune edition for Roland SH-101, MC-2oh2 for Roland MC-202, TR-6oh6 for Roland TR-606, CeeS for Yamaha CS series, KAC TM62100 for Yamaha SK series, and the discontinued open-sourced Polysex; (2) universal MIDI interfaces — uniPulse for drum machines, uniMatrix for keyboard-matrix synthesizers (up to 13x9), and OrganDonor for organs and polyphonic synths (handling ±20V via analogue switches); and (3) Eurorack modules including Brainstep (sequencer/arpeggiator/envelope/LFO/sample player/MIDI interface with microtonal support), µTune, 6m0d6, Drummertime, 6equencer, USB/TRS Bridges, Sumtiple, and LINK Patchbay. The company also offers dedicated hardware controllers per retrofit, browser-based configurators, MIDI sysex firmware updaters, Ableton Live integration plugins for Juno-66 and SH-1oh1, and downloadable microtonal scale packs compatible with Scala.

Tubbutec commercializes exclusively through one-time hardware sales — no subscriptions or recurring fees — distributed via its own e-commerce storefront (tubbutec.de/shop) serving the EU and rest-of-world (with VAT added inside the EU), supplemented by an authorized retailer network and an official presence on the ModWiggler community forum. Pricing is not publicly disclosed at the marketing level but is listed per SKU in the shop. Customers are segmented horizontally by use case into vintage synthesizer enthusiasts, Eurorack/modular users, and drum machine owners — primarily individual musicians, collectors, and small studios. The firm is privately held, founder-owned, and operated by CEO Tobias Münzer with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or subsidiary structure.

Name

Tubbutec

Legal name

Tubbutec GmbH

Website

https://tubbutec.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tubbutec GmbH is a Berlin-based music electronics company that designs and sells MIDI retrofit kits and Eurorack modules for owners of vintage analog synthesizers, drum machines, and modular systems, distributing worldwide via direct e-commerce and authorized retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Synthesizer Hardware

NAICS

Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Production Hardware (Synthesizers, Drum Machines, Samplers, MIDI Controllers) (MPAIAJAE)

Keywords

• MIDI retrofit kits
• Eurorack modules
• Vintage synthesizer upgrades
• MIDI interfaces
• Drum machine controllers

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Eurorack Modules: Sale of proprietary Eurorack modules including Brainstep, 6m0d6, Drummertime, 6equencer, USB Bridge, TRS Bridge, µTune, Sumtiple, and LINK Patchbay. One-time hardware purchase with no recurring fees.
2. Hardware Sales - Synth Mods/Kits: Sale of MIDI retrofit kits and upgrades for vintage synthesizers including ModyPoly, Juno-66, SH-1oh1, TR-6oh6, CeeS, uniPulse, uniMatrix, OrganDonor, and KAC TM62100. Customers purchase the kit and self-install or have it professionally installed.
3. Hardware Sales - Controllers: Sale of Tubbutec Synth Controllers including custom MIDI controllers for various synthesizer models.
4. Hardware Sales - Gadgets and Accessories: Sale of gadgets like Wired Heart and accessories including adapters, overlays, and rear panels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tubbutec designs, manufactures, and sells MIDI retrofit kits, Eurorack modules, and custom controllers that add modern MIDI, sequencing, microtonal, and customization capabilities to vintage analog synthesizers and drum machines. The company also provides companion browser-based configurator software and accessories targeted at musicians, synthesizer technicians, and modular synthesis enthusiasts.

Product overview

Tubbutec is a Berlin-based music electronics company offering hardware products centered on MIDI retrofits and Eurorack modules for vintage synthesizers and drum machines. The product portfolio consists of three main categories: (1) Eurorack modules including Brainstep (sequencer/arpeggiator/MIDI interface), µTune (microtonal tuner), LINK Patchbay (Ableton LINK), USB/TRS Bridges, 6m0d6, Drummertime, 6equencer, and Sumtiple; (2) Synth mods for specific vintage instruments — ModyPoly (Korg Polysix/Poly-61/Mono-Poly), Juno-66 (Roland Juno-6/60), SH-1oh1 (Roland SH-101), TR-6oh6 (Roland TR-606), MC-2oh2 (Roland MC-202), CeeS (Yamaha CS series), uniPulse (universal drum machine MIDI), uniMatrix (universal keyboard matrix MIDI), OrganDonor (organs/string machines), KAC TM62100 (Yamaha SK series), and Polysex (Korg Polysix, open-source); and (3) dedicated controllers and accessories. The ecosystem includes browser-based configurator tools (uniPulse Configurator, uniMatrix Configurator, OrganDonor Configurator), firmware updaters, Ableton Live integration plugins (Juno-66, SH-1oh1), and downloadable scale packs. Products are designed and made in Berlin, Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brainstep Brainstep is an 8-track transposable analog-style step sequencer for Eurorack modular systems, offering CV/Gate outputs and MIDI integration for sequencing vintage and modular synths.
• 6m0d6 6m0d6 is a 6-channel MIDI-to-CV/Gate interface module for Eurorack systems, providing polyphonic analog control voltage and gate outputs from MIDI input.
• Drummertime Drummertime is a Eurorack step sequencer designed for creating and performing drum patterns, with dedicated drum-optimized sequencing features.
• 6equencer 6equencer is a 6-channel analog-style sequencer module for Eurorack, supporting multiple CV outputs for melodic and rhythmic sequencing.
• USB Bridge A USB Bridge A is a Eurorack MIDI interface that bridges USB MIDI Host devices (such as iPads or USB controllers) to traditional MIDI DIN, enabling direct connection of modern USB MIDI gear to vintage and modular synths.
• TRS Bridge TRS Bridge is a Eurorack MIDI interface that converts between MIDI TRS Type A and Type B standards and provides standard MIDI DIN outputs.
• µTune µTune is a standalone microtonal MIDI interface that adds custom scale and tuning support to MIDI keyboards and synthesizers, including Scala file compatibility.
• µTune Dual Expander µTune Dual Expander extends the µTune microtonal interface with additional polyphony and pitch-bend capabilities.
• Sumtiple Sumtiple is a CV mixer utility module for Eurorack systems that sums and attenuates multiple control voltage signals.
• LINK Patchbay LINK Patchbay is a Eurorack patchbay module for organizing and rerouting MIDI and CV/Gate signals within a modular system.
• ModyPoly ModyPoly is a MIDI retrofit kit that adds full MIDI control to the Korg Mono/Poly analog synthesizer, including additional patch and modulation capabilities.
• ModyPoly HiRes ModyPoly HiRes is an enhanced version of the ModyPoly MIDI retrofit for the Korg Mono/Poly, offering higher-resolution MIDI-to-CV conversion and additional modulation options.
• Juno-66 Juno-66 is a MIDI retrofit kit for the Roland Juno-60 and Juno-106 analog synthesizers, adding full MIDI control and additional patch management features.
• SH-1oh1 SH-1oh1 is a MIDI retrofit kit for the Roland SH-101 monophonic analog synthesizer, providing full MIDI control without modifying the synth's original circuitry.
• SH-1oh1 µTune edition SH-1oh1 µTune edition is a variant of the SH-1oh1 MIDI retrofit for the Roland SH-101 that bundles integrated µTune microtonal tuning support.
• TR-6oh6 TR-6oh6 is a MIDI retrofit kit for the Roland TR-606 analog drum machine, adding full MIDI control and additional pattern/sequencing capabilities.
• MC-2oh2 MC-2oh2 is a MIDI retrofit kit for the Roland MC-202 MicroComposer sequencer/synthesizer, providing full MIDI integration and expanded sequencing capabilities.
• CeeS CeeS is a MIDI retrofit kit for the Yamaha CS-30 analog synthesizer, adding modern MIDI control while preserving the original signal path.
• uniPulse uniPulse is a standalone MIDI-to-clock/trigger interface device that converts MIDI clock and control messages into analog clock, trigger, and gate signals for use with vintage drum machines and sequencers.
• uniMatrix uniMatrix is a universal keyboard matrix MIDI interface that adds MIDI output to any analog keyboard or matrix-based synthesizer without modifying the original instrument.
• OrganDonor OrganDonor is a hardware modification kit that replaces tonewheel or mechanical switches in vintage organs with solid-state analog switches for improved reliability and tuning.
• KAC TM62100 KAC TM62100 is a MIDI retrofit kit designed for Korg analog synthesizers, adding keyboard-to-CV and MIDI control to compatible instruments.
• Polysex Polysex is an open-source hardware MIDI interface project, providing schematics and documentation for building a MIDI-to-CV interface for vintage synthesizers.
• Tubbutec Custom Controller Tubbutec Custom Controller is a bespoke MIDI controller design and build service, producing tailored hardware controllers for specialized musician and studio needs.
• MC-2oh2 Controller MC-2oh2 Controller is a dedicated hardware controller that pairs with the MC-2oh2 MIDI retrofit, providing hands-on control of pattern and sequencer parameters for the Roland MC-202.
• SH-1oh1 Controller SH-1oh1 Controller is a dedicated hardware controller for the SH-1oh1 MIDI retrofit on the Roland SH-101, providing additional hands-on control parameters.
• Juno-66 Controller Juno-66 Controller is a dedicated hardware controller for the Juno-66 MIDI retrofit on Roland Juno-60/106 synthesizers, providing hands-on patch and performance control.
• ModyPoly Controller

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature8 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• 4ms Pedals: US-based maker of Eurorack sequencers and clock utilities (e.g., Quad Pingable LFO, Stereo Triggered Sampler). Competes with Tubbutec in sequencer-rich Eurorack categories like Brainstep.
• Mutable Instruments: Pioneering Eurorack module maker known for sequencers (Marbles, Stages) and MIDI interfaces (MIDIpal). Tubbutec's Brainstep and µTune compete directly with Mutable's sequencing and interface modules in the same Eurorack ecosystem.
• Make Noise: Major US-based Eurorack module manufacturer with strong sequencing, modulation, and shared system philosophy. Tubbutec's Brainstep competes in Make Noise's core sequencer/clock distribution territory within the Eurorack format.
• ALM Busy Circuits: UK-based Eurorack manufacturer known for sequencers (Pamela's NEW Workout) and MIDI interfaces. Tubbutec's Brainstep competes most directly with ALM's clock-distribution and sequencer modules.
• Cre8audio: US-based maker of modular synthesizer hardware including synth voice modules (Westphalia) and MIDI utilities. Markets a similar combination of boutique synth modules with MIDI integration to Tubbutec's Brainstep and related modules.
• Polyend: Polish-made hardware grooveboxes, sequencers (Tracker, Play), and modular/percussion modules. Overlaps with Tubbutec in standalone MIDI sequencing, modular sequencing, and drum-machine-style instruments.
• Intellijel: Canadian Eurorack module maker with strong sequencer, MIDI interface, and utility offerings. Tubbutec competes directly in the same Eurorack format across performance sequencers and MIDI integration.
• Tiptop Audio: US-based Eurorack manufacturer with modular percussion, samplers, and one-cell series modules. Tubbutec's drum/percussion-oriented products like Drummertime and 6m0d6 overlap with Tiptop's drum-machine-oriented modules.
• Doepfer: German (Munich-based) original Eurorack format inventor and largest Eurorack manufacturer. As a fellow German boutique module maker, Doepfer is the most geographically and product-architecture-aligned peer to Tubbutec.
• Midi Solutions: Canadian manufacturer of compact MIDI hardware utilities and interfaces (MIDIThru, MIDIQuad, etc.) serving similar professional retrofit and integration use-cases for synthesizers and drum machines. Closest head-to-head competitor in the universal MIDI hardware interface category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tubbutec
• Facebookfacebook.com/tubbutec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tubbutec