SynthMaster from KV331 Audio is an 'all-around' semi-modular software synthesizer and effect plug-in that features many different synthesis methods, including VA, Additive, Wavetable, Phase Modulation, Frequency Modulation, Pulse Width Modulation, Ring Modulation, Amplitude Modulation, Physical Modeling and SFZ Sample Playback synthesis.
With its multi-algorithm oscillators, analog modelled zero-delay feedback filters, flexible effects routing with 11 types of high-quality effects and a massive modulation architecture with 48 separate modulation sources and hundreds of modulation targets; SynthMaster is a 'must-have' for all synthesizer enthusiasts!
Cross Platform
SynthMaster runs as a VST, AAX instrument on both Windows and Mac OSX, and also as an Audio Unit instrument on Mac OSX.
KV331 Audio SynthMaster Features
OSCILLATORS
Stereo Oscillators with Unison/Voice Stacking: Oscillators in SynthMaster have stereo output. Using the "voices", "voices mix", "detune curve", "detune spread", "pan stread", "tone spread" and "phase spread" parameters, each basic/wavetable oscillator can generate a rich "supersaw" type sound.
Basic Oscillators
Basic oscillators in SynthMaster are capable of synthesizing many different types of waveforms: Sine, Square, Triangle, Sawtooth, Pulse, Noise, single cycle waveforms and multisampled WAV/AIFFs defined in SFZ files. Each oscillator comes with 17 different algorithms in the following categories: Spectral (LP, HP, LS, HS, BP, BS), Bend (Bend+, Bend-, Bend+/-), Sync (Rect Window, Half Cos Window, Cos Window, Tri Window, Saw Window), Pulse (Pulse1, Pulse2) and Quantize.
Wavetable Oscillators
A 'Wavetable' oscillator is similar to a basic oscillator, except that the waveform can be scanned (interpolated) through up to 256 different waveforms shapes. The position of the waveform can be adjusted using the 'wave index' parameter. Starting with version 2.9, SynthMaster now supports loading wavetables from wave files!
Additive and Vector Oscillators
An 'Additive' oscillator is actually 8 'basic' oscillators running together. Each 'basic' oscillator has its own detune, tone, phase/pulse width/algorithm parameter, frequency, waveform type and algorithm parameters.
A 'Vector' oscillator consists of 4 'basic' oscillators, mixed at different ratios. The mix ratios are determined by 2 orthogonal parameters in 2 dimensions: 'X Index' and 'Y index'.
Semi-Modular Architecture
For each SynthMaster instance, there are 2 layers followed by 2 global effect send busses. The modulators can modulate frequency, phase, amplitude or pulse width of the oscillators or any other modulators at audio rate, or they can be used as regular oscillators. Each layer has its own:
- Arpeggiator
- 2 Oscillators
- 4 Modulators
- 2 Filters
- 4 ADSR Envelopes
- 2 Multistage Envelopes
- 2 2D Envelopes
• 2 LFOs
- 4 Keyscalers
Massive Modulation Architecture
SynthMaster has more hundreds of modulation targets and 48 modulation sources including ADSR Envelopes, 2D Envelopes, Multistage Envelopes, LFOs, KeyScalers, Easy Parameters, Vocoder Bands, MIDI Velocity, Aftertouch, Pitch Bend and MIDI CC. The modulation matrix, which has 64 available slots, has visual filtering as well so that targets for a specific source, or sources for a specific target can be filtered and shown on the user interface
- ADSR Envelopes
- 2D Envelopes
- Multistage Envelopes
- LFOs
- KeyScalers
- Vocoder Bands
- MIDI Velocity
- Aftertouch
- Pitch Bend and MIDI CC
FILTERS
Zero Delay Feedback Filters: All of the 4 new filter categories in SynthMaster are developed using the zero delay feedback filter technology. With advanced filter parameters like input gain, drive, and acid, you can get that "analog" sound from the filters!
VAnalog Filters
The 'VAnalog' filters are modelled after the famous ladder filter, so they self-oscillate when the filter resonance is maxed out. They have continously variable slope, which is unique to SynthMaster. They have 3 different CPU settings: "Basic", "Normal" and "High". The Basic setting sounds similar to the other algorithms in most cases and consumes at least 50% less CPU.
Multimode Filters
With the new 'multimode' filter type, it is possible to switch from Lowpass to Bandpass to Highpass filter types continuously. For analog multimode filters, it is also possible to change the slope of the filter continuously from 0 db/oct to 24 db/oct.
Dual Filters
With the new 'dual' filter type, two multimode filters can be run simultaneously, either in parallel, or in series. The mix ratios between the filters, and the topology (parallel/series) between them can be changed continuously, as well as the modes and cutoff frequencies of the filters.
Comb Filters
Comb filters are digital filters used in physical modeling synthesis.
EFFECTS
Rich set of Effects: SynthMaster features 11 different effect types: Distortion, LoFi, Ensemble, Phaser, 6 Band EQ, Compressor, Vocoder, Delay, Chorus, Tremolo, Reverb.
Flexible Effects Routing
Each of the 11 effect types can be inserted on any layer insert or on any of the 2 global effect bus inserts.
Before/Inside/After Filter Distortion
A distortion stage can be inserted before, after, or even inside the filters. For analog filters, the distortion is applied for each of the 4 filter stages in 'inside' mode.
