At the 2015 NAMM Show, Black Market Modular was previewing their Colour Palette platform – a new Euro module and open standard that could unleash a new wave of innovation in modular synth hardware.

The Colour Pallette is a Eurorack module that can host three different effects, on cards that plug into the module’s back.

The ‘Colour’ cards are basically small PCBs that plug into the host module. These cards are expected to be very inexpensive – starting around $30. You’ll be able to select the Colour cards that you like and snap them to your Colour Palette module, creating a custom module, with three effects that can be used independently or in series.

Here’s a video introduction, via sonicstate:

The Colour cards should offer a low barrier to entry for potential manufacturers, because the host module provides the panel, knobs and basic electronics.

Developers don’t have to design and manufacture a panel, or source the knobs and connectors – they just need to create an interesting circuit design and manufacture the PCB.

It should even be a useful platform for DIY’ers, for creating custom modules. And, because it’s an open platform, there’s the possibility of a host module being developed for large-format modular synthesizers and other system formats.

The Colour Palette is expected to be available in March or April. Additional details are to come via the Black Market Modular site.