MATRIXSYNTH: New Mutable Instruments Plaits Macro-oscillator Eurorack Module


Friday, March 02, 2018

New Mutable Instruments Plaits Macro-oscillator Eurorack Module


Published on Mar 2, 2018
"A basic look at Plaits macro-oscillator and some of my favourite modes."


via CONTROL

"Plaits is the spiritual successor of Mutable Instruments’ best-selling sound source, Braids. Not just a mkII version: its hardware and software have been redesigned from scratch. Just like its predecessor, it offers direct access to a large palette of easily tweakable sounds, covering the whole gamut of synthesis techniques.

SIMPLICITY FIRST
Gone are the screen, menu system, hidden settings, and the long list of sometimes redundant synthesis models. Thanks to additional CV inputs, and to the use of 3 timbre-shaping parameters per model, Plaits is straightforward to use, and much closer to the ideal of one synthesis technique = one model. What were fragmented islands of sound in Braids are now part of a continuum of sounds.

READY FOR PERCUSSION
Patch a trigger generator or sequencer in Plaits’ trigger input and instantly use the module as a percussive source thanks to its built-in virtual low-pass gate (LPG).

An internal envelope generator is normalled to all unpatched CV inputs. Just turn the corresponding attenuverter to add pitch, timbre or morphing modulation. And if plucks and snappy hits are not your thing, patch your own envelope or CV source to the LPG CV input. Plaits vs Braids?

Plaits shares no hardware or software with Braids!

Floating-point DSP code written from scratch or inherited from Elements, Warps and Rings.

Band-limited synthesis used almost everywhere, producing aliasing-free results at the base sample rate of 48kHz (Braids
ran at 96kHz and used naive oversampling).

High-quality Sigma-Delta ADC for CV acquisition, approaching a resolution of 16-bit (12-bit for Braids).

ADC reads are interpolated in software to eliminate zipper noise.

DC-coupled audio output, extending the range of the module to very low frequencies (Braids could not reach LFO ranges).

Lean hardware design: less HP, mA and €.

Width: 12HP
Max Depth: 25mm
Features
16 deep synthesis models
8 synthesis models for pitched sounds

Pair of continuously variable waveforms (virtual analog).
Variable slope triangle oscillator processed by a waveshaper and wavefolder.
2-operator FM with continuously variable feedback path.
Two independently controllable formants modulated by a variable shape window (VOSIM, Pulsar, Grainlet, Casio CZ-style
filter sweeps).
24-harmonic additive oscillator.
Wavetable oscillator with four banks of 8x8 waves, with or without interpolation.
Chord generator, with divide down string/organ emulation or wavetables.
A collection of speech synthesis algorithms (formant filter, SAM, LPC), with phoneme control and formant shifting. Several
banks of phonemes or segments of words are available.
8 synthesis models for noise and percussions

Granular sawtooth or sine oscillator, with variable grain density, duration and frequency randomization.
Clocked noise processed by a variable shape resonant filter.
8 layers of dust/particle noise processed by resonators or all-pass filters.
Extended Karplus-Strong (aka Rings’ red mode), with white or dust noise excitation.
Modal resonator (aka Rings’ green mode), with mallet or dust noise excitation.
Analog kick drum emulation (two flavors).
Analog snare drum emulation (two flavors).
Analog high-hat emulation (two flavors).
Dual output
The AUX output carries a variant, sidekick or by-product of the main signal.
Patch both OUT and AUX to Warps for weird hybridization experiments!
Internal or external modulations

Dedicated CV input for synthesis model selection. No need to activate a mysterious META mode!
An internal decay envelope is normalled to the TIMBRE, FM and MORPH CV inputs: the amount of internal modulation is
directly adjusted with the attenuverters.
Internal low-pass gate (LPG)
Dedicated LEVEL CV input controlling the amplitude and brightness of the output signal.
The internal LPG can also be directly plucked by the trigger input.
Two parameters of the LPG can be adjusted: amount of low-pass filtering (VCFA to VCA), and response time of the virtual
vactrol.
Specifications

All inputs: 100k impedance, DC to 2kHz.
FM, MORPH, TIMBRE input range: +/- 8V.
HARMO and MODEL input range: +/- 5V.
LEVEL and TRIG input range: 0 to +8V.
V/O input range: -3 to +7V.
16-bit CV capture.
Audio output: 48kHz, 16-bit, DC-coupled.
Internal processing: 32-bit floating point."

No comments:

Post a Comment

To reduce spam, comments for posts older than one week are not displayed until approved, usually same day. Do not insult people. For items for sale, do not ask if it is still available. Check the auction link and search for the item. Auctions are from various sellers and expire over time. Posts remain for the pics and historical purposes. This site is meant to be a daily snapshot of some of what was out there in the world of synths.

PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE HOME


Patch n Tweak
Switched On Make Synthesizer Evolution Vintage Synthesizers Creating Sound Fundlementals of Synthesizer Programming Kraftwerk

© Matrixsynth - All posts are presented here for informative, historical and educative purposes as applicable within fair use.
MATRIXSYNTH is supported by affiliate links that use cookies to track clickthroughs and sales. See the privacy policy for details.
MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH