Ensemble highlights from the REAKTOR builder community

Quadra

Tooled up to deliver “warping sounds, sci-fi soundscapes and metallic FX, inspired by game sound design”, QUARTIZONE’s enormous multi-effects Ensemble is a filtering and signal processing powerhouse. Separate High-shelf, Low-Shelf and Peak EQs enable detailed frequency shaping, and there’s a clear emphasis on distortion with discrete Overdrive, Saturator, Distortion and Tube panels scattered throughout the interface. The remaining effects comprise Reverb, Delay, Frequency Shift, Flanger, Compressor and Maximizer/Limiter, and LFO modulation can be applied to any number of parameters to bring the whole thing to life. Wildly experimental and wonderfully unpredictable.

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Izanai

ymmtymd’s Builder Competition entry is a virtual analogue polysynth based on two oscillators, each outputting any combination of saw, pulse and sine waves, and both bolstered by additional sub oscillator and white/pink noise sources. Pulse width, frequency and ring modulation are on hand for modification of the waveforms, and the Harmony controls are useful for quickly offsetting the oscillator pitches by musically meaningful amounts. There are also two filters – one low-pass, one multimode (high-pass/notch/comb) – four modulation sources (two LFOs and two dual-delay-stage envelopes), Rotary Chorus and Stereo Cross Delay effects, and a bank of Micro Tuning controls for detuning individual notes within the scale.

An impressively versatile instrument for electronic music project of all kinds, IZANAI’s thoughtful design and big, characterful sound set it apart from the rank and file of synthesisers.

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Gesture Granular

Vladimir Derevianko’s “parametric morphing granular synthesizer” centres on a large XY pad controller divided into a grid (up to 8×8) of graphically represented snapshots that govern the parameter state of two constantly active granular synthesis engines, each loaded with a sample from the included library or elsewhere. Dragging the control point around in the grid via mouse or, using the included Lemur template, iPad interpolates between the snapshots to generate granular textures and glitches; and overdrive, filter, phaser and delay effects are onboard for shaping and processing. Grain playback parameters include Position, Length, Density and Smooth, and programming the grid snapshots is done using a clever and intuitive colour-based system.

Arty and inspiring, Gesture Granular is a must-have for ambient production and soundscape design.

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Gleam

This straightforward but distinctive subtractive synth by Dario Lupo kicks off with two regular oscillators and a supersaw-style oscillator, each partnered with sine and square sub oscillators, and routed through the unusual but effective pairing of a dedicated phaser and the brutally transformative Wild control, which brings FM and distortion to bear. Beyond that, the focused and assured feature set takes in white and pink noise generators, two keytracking filters, three LFOs, two envelopes, and Overdrive, Chorus, Delay and Reverb effects. It all adds up to an easy-to-program but powerful synth that excels at rich, beefy, aggressive tones, with the oscillator-level phasers providing a novel sonic angle, and effortless LFO assignment promoting adventurous modulation.

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Seamonger One

The interface of Simon Götz’s free Ensemble is so professional-looking and polished that you’d never guess it wasn’t a commercial release. Another virtual analogue synth, Seamonger One’s three identical oscillators morph between sine, sawtooth and square (with adjustable pulse width) waves, and can be mixed with variable-colour noise, and further shaped with sync and phase shift controls. Every oscillator feeds into its own filter and amplifier, and it all comes together in a master section that features another amp and filter combo, as well as a Pitch module for setting up pitchbend and legato. The key selling point here is the modulation hardwired into every section (filters, amps and Pitch), consisting of dedicated ADSR envelopes and depth controls for a trio of decked-out global LFOs that can also modulate each other. Finally, there’s the brilliant Mojo knob, which dials in random drift across the whole synth, yielding a fuller, richer sound.

With its comparatively simple architecture and lack of integrated effects, Seamonger One is all about the creation of visceral, lifelike analogue sounds. It’s a fine choice for buoyant basses, undulating pads, pokey percussives, sci-fi-style FX and more.

Download Seamonger One