The oscillators are linked through a 'swarm' control, giving it a distinctive sound[3] that flows in and out of unison, comparable to the noise a swarm of bees produces.
[4] The distinctive feature of the Swarmatron is its use of eight individual oscillators controlled monophonically, switchable between sine and sawtooth waves.
Careful finger placement may be used to play discrete notes similar to the operation of an unfretted or bowed string instrument such as a violin.
Due to its adjustable nature, ribbon controller is unlabeled, although some players compensate for this by marking note positions.
Previous Dewanatron instruments such as the Melody Gins[7] and Dual Primate Console[8] have also used the same principle of multiple, interacting oscillators.
[citation needed] Producer Dan Carey played the Swarmatron on Alfie Templeman's song "Beckham", a track from the latter's 2024 studio album, Radiosoul.