About

MeowSynth is a software synthesizer combining vocal synthesis and an interface of a meowing tabby cat. Released in 2009 by Knobster, the interface gained popularity in 2020 through humorous remixes on YouTube.

History

On March 11th, 2009, Ukrainian developer Knobster released version 0.9 of MeowSynth,^[1] a software synthesizer, featuring a meowing oscillator with an auto-filter. The base meow sound and the visual interface were both based on Baksik,^[2] a gray tabby cat owned by Knobster at the time. On March 12th, 2009, Knobster uploaded a demonstration video for the synthesizer, referred by its creators as "meowizer," to YouTube,^[3] where it accumulated over 382,000 views in 14 years (shown below).

On March 18th, 2009, Knobster^[4] released version 1.0 of the software.

Features

MeowSynth is a software synthesizer that produces "meowing" sound. It's features include:

• Meowing cat oscillator with an autofilter
• Velocity sensitivity
• Mono and stereo modes
• Visual feedback, represented by an animation of Baksik meowing
• Internal chorus
• Tempo synched vibrator with controlled attack

Use in Memes

On July 3rd, 2016, YouTube^[5] user Nick Morrow posted the earliest notable MeowSynth remix of a popular song on YouTube. The video, a MeowSynth version of "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen, gained over 216,000 views in seven years (shown below).

Starting in 2020, MeowSynth started gaining more prominence as a tool for creating humorous remixes of popular music on YouTube. On May 1st, 2020, YouTube^[6] user Pe3RL posted a remix of E1M1 made with the synthesizer which gained over 37,000 views in three years (shown below, left). On July 24th, YouTube^[7] user TORλ posted a remix of "Resonance" by HOME that accumulated over 312,000 views in three years (shown below, right).

In 2021 and 2022, multiple remixes created with MeowSynth were posted on YouTube. For example, on June 23rd, 2021, YouTube^[8] user Lbpsack posted a remix of Edward Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" that gained over 780,000 views in two years (shown below, left). On July 5th, YouTube^[9] user ANFIS posted a remix of ""After Dark" by Mr. Kitty":https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/mr-kittys-after-dark that received over 114,000 views in one year (shown below, right).

Related Memes

Delay Lama

Delay Lama, also known as Singing Monk Plugin, is a software synthesizer combining vocal synthesis and a 3D animated interface of a singing Tibetan Monk. First released in 2002 by AudioNerdz, the plugin gained popularity in 2007 through parody remixes on Niconico and YouTube. In 2021, the synthesizer once again saw a resurgence in memes online.

Pop Cat

Pop Cat refers to a series of videos in which use two images of a cat named Oatmeal, one with its mouth closed, and the other photoshopped as if the cat is holding it wide open in the shape of an O. The images have been used to create videos in which the cat lip syncs various songs, similar to Baby Eats Camera memes.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References