Wildwood Soundworks is a small independent producer of electronic music devices. Our current products include Lightning and Express. Both products offer a digital sampler, sequencer and synthesizer with color LCD display, capacitive touch sensors and many other features.
Lightning and Express are currently available for sale at Etsy.
Wildwood Soundworks provides regular firmware updates as new features become available. New devices ship with the latest firmware and existing Lightning and Express users can get the latest features using WIFI-based over-the-air update.
May 3rd, 2025: Wildwood Soundworks is pleased to announce a major firmware update for both Lightning and Express. For a description of the latest features, see updates.
Lightning features a unique note wheel interface that makes it possible to play across multiple octaves with just seven capacitive touch sensors. It shares its firmware with Express and includes the same features, as well as a larger touch screen, all in a smaller and lower cost form factor.
For more information on Wildwood Lightning, see Lightning Overview.
Express version 3 was released on December 21st, 2023. It has a capacitive touch sensor based interface featuring a one octave keyboard (eight octave range) plus chord and strum sensors.
For more information on Wildwood Express see Express Overview.
Lightning and Express are compact audio systems that provide everything you need to record, play and edit your own music as well as standard MIDI music files:
Asterisk (*) denotes a feature available in Express. Plus (+) denotes a feature available in Lightning.
Lightning and Express include metal touch pads, a hand-stained hardwood base and protective rubber feet.
The synthesizer works with both custom samples created using the sampler feature as well as a builtin general MIDI sample set of 128 instrument and 56 drum/percussion sounds.
Please note that only one USB feature can be used at a time. Update: The May 3rd, 2025, firmware update provides limited support for external USB hubs. Please see updates for more information.
For information on how to use Lightning or Express, see Detailed Documentation.
For information on setting up and configuring Express, see our Express Quick Start Guide. For more information on using Express, see our Express Quick Reference Guide.
For information on setting up and configuring Lightning v2.2, see our Lightning Quick Start Guide. For more information on using Lightning v2.2, see our Lightning Quick Reference Guide.
For information on the previous version of Lightning, visit Older Documentation.
The Wildwood Soundworks aesthetic features exposed electronics on a hardwood base. If you would like an enclosure for your device you can make one using our 2D and 3D Models.
For videos that show how to use Wildwood Lightning, see Lightning Videos.
For videos that show some of the key features of Wildwood Express, see Express Videos.
Lightning and Express are powered by a standard 5V USB adapter and produce sound through a 3.5 mm AUX audio output jack or USB UAC1.0 audio device.
The 3.5 mm AUX audio output jack is a standard line-level two-channel (stereo) three conductor Tip-Ring-Shield (TRS) connector intended for use with a mixer or amplified speakers.
We do not recommend plugging headphones directly into the AUX jack, especially Tip-Ring-Ring-Shield (TRRS) audio headsets (e.g. with microphone) where the extra ring conductor can cause a short-circuit.
Unless noted otherwise in sales material, you will need to provide the power source and mixer or amplifier as well as cables.
For more information on Wildwood Soundworks, see About Wildwood Soundworks.
To provide feedback or contact Wildwood Soundworks, see Contact Wildwood Soundworks.