Acousmodules

The Guide !

Spatial Mass

Effects

Instruments

Utilities

Windows 32 bits

Special Formats

MIDI/Controllers

Videos

Resources

Il est très regrettable que la grande majorité des instruments et des plugins soient toujours limités à générer leurs sons en stéréophonie. Et encore, il ne s'agit le plus souvent que de placer des effets stéréo en fin de chaîne du processus...
Pourtant, là réside peut être le domaine où l'intégration de l'espace multicanal et du son est à la fois la plus facile et la plus riche !

Les plugins de cette page n'ont pas vocation à rivaliser avec les grands synthétiseurs et échantillonneurs du marché, mais ils permettent de générer des sons qui disposent d'un espace interne original, et finalement de possibilités de création de sons autrement inouïs ;-)

It is very regrettable that the vast majority of instruments and plugins are always limited to generating their sounds in stereo. And again, it's usually only about placing stereo effects at the end of the process chain...
Yet here lies perhaps the area where the integration of space multichannel and sound is both the easiest and the richest !

The plugins of this page are not intended to compete with the big ones synthesizers and samplers on the market, but they allow to generate sounds that have an original internal space, and finally from possibilities for creating sounds that are otherwise unheard of ;-)

Certaines versions sont également disponibles sous forme d’applications autonomes pour Windows grâce à Herman Seib's SAVIHost. Cela signifie que vous pouvez les exécuter directement avec votre multicanal carte son et contrôleurs MIDI. Il peut être plus rapide pour les essayer au lieu d’avoir à traiter les paramètres parfois compliqués de certains hôtes, et vous pouvez même enregistrer leurs sorties sous la forme de fichiers wave jusqu'à 32 canaux  ;-)

Some versions are also available as standalone applications for Windows, thanks to Herman Seib's SAVIHost. This means that you can run them directly with your multichannel soundcard and MIDI controllers. It can be faster to test them instead of having to deal with the sometimes convoluted settings of some hosts, and you can even record their outputs up to 32 channels wave files ;-).

Sample based

Note about the following sample based instruments : due to missing 64 bits extensions and the lack of MacOS versions, the recreation (and impovements) of the 32 bits plugins is not yet finished. The available ones must be considered as "work in progress" in alpha/beta stage.

Most of the Samplers plugins (the ones that can be plyed with a MIDI keyboard) share the same basic features:
- (currently) record and load up to 23" wave files OR record longer ones (but not load them)
- start, end and loop settings with crossfade and Alternate mode, they can be controlled and modulated by the internal sources (ADSR, LFO, Random) and by MIDI controllers
- multimode 2/4 poles filter 
- two ADSR
- one LFO (frequency up to audio rate) 
- random generator for a selection of parameters
- user selectable polyphony

It is a crossing between the original 32 bits SpatSamplers and a "3D" version of the PenSampler.
It can operate either with the notes coming from a MIDI keyboard or from continuous controllers generated by the touch and the movements on a graphic tablet or other pressure sensitive pads.
Common features plus :
- mono wave files (currently UP TO 23" ONLY !)
- trigger modes : Key, Touch, Iterative
- the spatial position can be used as a modulation source
- full Spat3D spatial mass section

Known issues: the automatic trigger can stop functionning ; the sample position can be not responding ; recording or loading a more than 23" sample may result in very unpleasant consequences.
To do: add speed movement as a modulation source ; multisample with crossfade.
Current build date: 05/01/2021
Status:

1 > 18 / 48 / 64

Windows  

P a t h S a m p l e r   6 4

At the opposite of the free gestures of the BrushSampler, both for the spatial position as the sampling parameters, this one is based on several paths that you can then deform and explore dynamically.
- up to 64 outputs
- 16 nodes 3D spatial path
- 5 free points Shapers that control the Sample Start, Loop Start, Loop End, Pitch and Filter
- spatial path realtime morphing
- the Sample position, the Pitch and the filter can also be controlled by thge X/Y/Z sound's position along the spatial path
- three paths exploration modes : manual, AR triggered, Cycler
- mini Vaporizer mode

Known issues: recording or loading a more than 23" sample may result in very unpleasant consequences.
Current build date: 18/01/2021
Status: 

1 > 64

Windows  

A l e a S a m p l e r   6 4

It has the same sampling characteristics that the other ones but it is not linked to any spatial arrangement. Thus it can be followed by a SpatMass, a ScaleLine or any other multiple inputs spatial mass or effect plugin.
Each polyphony voice (they can be up to 128 !) are dynamically sent to up to 64 outputs.
They are organized aleatory inside et range going from 1 to 64 outputs.
The AutoTrigger mode allows to generate variable speed grains.
It allows for very dense or on the contrary very aerial spatial sounds and produces very interesting results when followed for instance by a MiniRez.
(see also the 128 channels on the Special page)

Known issues: recording or loading a more than 23" sample may result in very unpleasant consequences.
Current build date: 10/01/2020
Status: 

1 > 64

Windows  

Here is a 64 bits version of one of my prefered 32 bits Acousmodules.
It is a kind of grain/slice sampler inspired by an old GRM program that was called "BRAGE" (for "brassage" in french).
The polyphonic fragments can be as short as a few ms and as long as the whole file duration.
The output channel for each fragment is set according to the variations of a LFO's range, speed and shape.
It can also modulate the sample position, the pitch and the filter.

Known issues: the waveform can show only the first 5 seconds ; loading wave files is limited to 25" ; modulations must be active on triggers only like in the 32 bits KaleidoPlayer.
Current build date: work in progress...
Status: 

1 > 64

Windows  

Polyphonic sample player with MPE support, for both sample and spatial modulations at the tips of the fingers:
- mono wave files (currently UP TO 23" ONLY !)
- 5 independant voices polyphony (one for each finger...)
- start and loop settings with crossfade and Alternate mode
- automatic sample reverse when the Start points are after the End points (Position or Loop)
- per voice modulations, including Sample Start, Loop points and spatial position
- full Spat3D spatial mass section compatible with any spatial arrangement with up to 64 channels

Current build date: work in progress...
Status:

1 (5) > 64

Windows  

A n i m a S a m p l e r   6 4

Current build date: work in progress...
Status:

1 (8) > 64

Windows  

V a p o r S a m p l e r   8 6 4  /  1 6 3 6

It combines the sampling section with a polyphonic trigger and the spatial shapes of the SpatMass.
It can be considered like a kind of grains generator that are wrapped inside a few basic spatial shapes.
The "grains" distribution is aleatory and the shapes can be easy to transform, combine and move inside a 36 or 64 channels space (or less...).
Anyway, for both plugins, the CPU resources are not negligible when playing with the shapes...
- up to 36/64 outputs, free 3D positionning
- variable rate "Vaporizer"
- 2 global additionnal LFOs and 1 ADSR
- 8/16 points spatial shapes : Cube, Sphere, Lines, Rings, Chaos
- scattering system (Delay + Glue)

Known issues: crackles may happen during spatial movement in some hosts ; some values are reinitialized when connecting / deconnecting a patch wire ; recording or loading a more than 23" sample may result in very unpleasant consequences.
To do: improve the Patch system
Current build date: 11/01/2021
Status:

1 (8/16) > 64

Windows  

T e x t u r i z e r   6 4 X

Like the FocusPlayer this plugin is based on the multiplication of a single wave file input to compose very dense textures, from chorus-like or freezer effects to dramatic chaotic agitations.
Thanks to its graphical 64x64 matrix, it is rather intuitive to control the huge number of parameter values with only a few controlers and modulations.
The Texturizer is not linked to a spatial representation and works directly at the channels level. All the 64 internal processing chains can be distributed on 64 independant outputs, or aggregated down to, why not, a single one...
Controls matrix :
- sample pitch
- FM amount
- Filter Cutoff
- amplitude
- output channel

Known issues: 16 bits files ; the wave files must have the corresponding meta-data to be looped ; the plugin or the host can freeze some time when loading a file and connecting the patch cables.
Current build date: 25/03/2020
Status:

1 (64) > 64

FR 

Windows  

MacOS  

S c a t t e r S a m p l e r   6 4

Same principle as the Texturizer, but with short files or recordings whose sample start and loop end can be controled and modulated within the 64 channels matrix:
- sample pitch
- sample and loop start
- sample loop end
- filter cutoff
- output channel

Known issues: 23" sample duration limit; the playing must be restarted when connecting or removing a patch cable.
Current build date: 16/01/2021
Status:

1 (64) > 64

Windows  

F o c u s P l a y e r   3 6 X  /  6 4 X

Like the FocusSynth on this page, this member of the "Focus" series generates sounds instead of processing an audio input. It plays simultaneously up to 36 or 64 occurrencies of the same wave file, while their pitch is controlled accordingly to the focus position, size and shape.
Since the pitch modulation range can be extreme and the samples can be also FM modulated by a multiwave oscillator, it can produce very rich sounding spatial textures, that you can sculpt and transform with other plugins of the series like the FocusFilter and the FocusMass.

Known issues: 16 bits files ; the wave files must have the corresponding meta-data to be looped.
Current build date: 22/05/2020
Status: 

1 (36/64) > 36 / 64

Windows  

 MacOS  

Eight channels sampler.
Like the corresponding ScaleMass plugins, the name "scale" come from their ability to grow/shrink in the three dimensions a spatial shape that has been defined freely.
Together with the "Flocking" parameters it allows to

Known issues: the waveform view shows only the first seconds of the 8 channels mix; drop outs can happen during GUI changes.
To do: sample modulations according to spatial position.
Current build date: 14/01/2021
Status:

8 > 64

Windows  

A n i m a P l a y e r   8 3 6 X  /  8 6 4 X  /  8 4 8 L

Octophonic wave player with the spatial animations of the AnimaSpat...
- the 8 mono wave players can be used with the same sound, but also with totally different ones !
- 8 multimode filters
- the pitch, the filters cutoff and the ADSR trigger rate of the 8 sources can be modulated by the spatial position of their corresponding outputs, thus associating these parameters to their spatial mass "polyphonically".
Note that the 848L version uses the Layers approach to control the elevation that makes it easier and more precise with irregular and periphonic speakers arrangements.

Known issues: 16 bits files ; the wave files must have the corresponding meta-data to be looped ; copy/paste the files path doesn't work on MacOS ; some values are reinitialized when connecting / deconnecting a patch wire.
Current build date: 29/04/2020
Status:

8 > 36 / 48 / 64

 FR 

Windows  

MacOS  

48 independant sample players which are made to respond to a multitouch control surface like the Sensel Morph, the Roli Lightpad Block or the next to come Erae Touch.
- Velocity or Controller mode, the controller CC must be assign to the pressure touch of the control surface
- up to 23" samples
- separate start / end loop for each sample player + global CC controls (Start = CC1 and End = CC2)
- +/- 5 octave Pitch setting and variation
- automatic backward play when the End is before the Start
- 48 points output Patch
- the sample pads can be shown/hidden to reflect a corresponding spatial arrangement
Attention: the samples are saved with the Preset in the host. That may result in slow Presets loading ...

Known issues: recording or loading a more than 23" sample may result in very unpleasant consequences.
Current build date: 19/01/2021
Status:

48 > 48

Windows  

They cannot load multichannel files but they can record up to 64 channels inputs and then play them with the usual pitch, filter, sample position and loop points modulations.

The polyphony is limited to 8 voices in the 32 and 64 channels versions.

Known issues: drop outs or short freezes can happen when moving the GUI parameters.
Current build date: 15/01/2021
Status:

16>16 / 32>32 / 64>64

Windows  

Synth based

S p a t S y n t h   3 D - 3 2 X  /  6 4 X  / 4 8 L

Monophonic synthesizer with spatial modulations :
- 3 VCOs, the first one doesn't use oversampling, the third one is based on Phase Distorsion synthesis
- FM and synchro between Osc 1 and 2, FM between Osc 2 and 3
- 2 envelope generators, can be triggered by the LFOs
- 4 filters :
   - two 4 ways 24 dB/oct SV morphing filters with resonance and FM from Osc 2
   - one regular 2/4 poles resonant SVFilter
   - one BiQuad filter (up to 16th order)
- 4 LFOs going up to audio range, the 3 and 4 can also act as VCO with free routing to the 4 filters
- the 4 filters can be sent to either two spatialization inputs
- the VCOs frequency, FM, filters cutoff, LFOs rates can be modulated by the XYZ spatial position controllers (predefined numbers 11, 12, 15, needed)
- the outputs positions can be also modulated by the 2 EG, the 4 LFOs and the keyboard
- 32 / 48 / 64 channels Resonator with modulations
If the spatial integration is reduced to the simpler possible way with its "Spat3D" or "SpatLayers" section, the goal was for me to remove all the limits I suffer with usual synthesizers, such as the narrow LFOs frequency ranges or some impossible modulation combinations, while keeping it relatively straightforward with no hidden tabs or menus... Even so, it may need some time to handle it correctly !

Known issues: not buffer optimized ; stange things may happend.
To do: add Ring Modulator ; make interesting Presets !
Current build date: 14/03/2020
Status: 

32 / 48 / 64

FR 

Windows    EXE

MacOS  

The "synthesis" parameters are very basic, having not even a filter but it can make interesting "additive" spatial textures, like with 36 or 64 Theremins playing together ;-)
- 36 or 64 independant oscillators that can play in unisson or be spreaded upon 10 octaves, each one going to a different speaker
- sub-oscillator that can be used as a global LFO or FM
- all the frequencies are individually controlled according to the position, the Size and the Shape of the "focus"
- Inertia setting to obtain very slow frequencies evolutions
- pitch quantifcation based on the spatial movements
- when followed by a FocusDelay, a FocusFilter and a FocusMass it can make a very complex spatial synthesizer engine !

Known issues: some values are reinitialized when connecting / deconnecting a patch wire ; the 64 channels version may need some power.
To do: try sync mode sub-oscillator ; make some Presets.
Current build date: 22/05/2020
Status: 

36 / 64

Windows       EXE

MacOS  

K a l e i d o S y n t h   6 4 X

Application of the "Kaleido principle" to synthesis :
- one dual main oscillators with PD synthesis
- one modulation oscillators for FM
- granular like "kaleido" modulation with up to 64 fragments (caution !)
- variable speed trigger with adjustable chaos
- Trigger Modulator for automatic accelerations and density variations
- multimode 2/4 poles resonant filter
- amplitude ADSR and modulation AR
- 64 channels Resonator module to apply delay and feedback effects 
It is an automatic continuous generator in which the "polyphony" setting means the number of simultaneous fragments that can overlap over the 64 outputs. Since this value can go up to 128 it is possible to obtain very large particles or layers accumulations (be cautious !) as well as fine ethereal trajectories or sharp drawings...

Current build date: 11/03/2020
Status: 

64

FR 

Windows     EXE

MacOS  

A n i m a S y n t h   8 3 6 X  /  8 6 4 X

Same spatialization engine than the AnimaSpat, here with :
- 8 VCOs with their respective ADSRs
- 8 multimode VCFs with their ADSRs
- 8 VCAs with their ADSRs
- 8 LFOs for pitch and cutoff modulations up to audio rate
- 8 LFOs to trig the envelopes up to audio rate
- 8 stages cascade FM and sync
- 64 channels multi-delay
- multichannel optionnal HighCut
- random modulations trigger
All the parameters are modulated according to the 8 animated XYZ
positions within spatial ranges, quantization and custom curves.
It can be considered as a kind of pre-patched modular system where each oscillator can have a different spatial position and animation.
The main purpose is to make the synthesis parameters totally dependent on the spatial parameters and thus obtain complex 3D materials and figures that are truely inseparable.
I suppose that a manual will be helpfull...

Known issues: the 64 channels version may need some power and an efficient buffer...
To do: FM modulations ; Presets !
Current build date: 29/04/2020 (836X : 09/10/2019)
Status:

36 / 64

Windows        EXE

MacOS  

Important note about the following plugins : the Presets saving by the host or by the plugin stores only the actual parameters values as they are shown on the GUI, but those which are linked to the random generators will be always different. This means that unless the randomize values are set "0%" you will never find the same sound again...

U n i S y n t h   6 4 X

Just a few buttons to trig each time one unexpected sound (or even nothing...) !
Since it is based on random generators, except when small variations are selected, it is generally not possible to predict what will happend, but once you have something you like, you can tweak the parameters and use the Resonator section to accumulate and sculpt the sound on 64 channels that are then compacted or dispatched on 1 to 64 outputs.
At its minimum value, the DecoRez also acts as a big 64 channels "unison", and the Dispatcher can be used to move a range of channels accross a series of outputs, allowing to do impressive spatial drawings ;-)
You can bypass partially or completely the spatialization section to process it with another plugin, like the Scatterizer.

Known issues: some values are reinitialized when connecting / deconnecting a patch wire; MacOS some UI elements may not be visible until you click on a patch jack.
Current build date: 10/03/2020
Status:

64

FR 

Windows      EXE

MacOS  

M u l t i S y n t h   6 4 X

It replaces the unique synth module of the UniSynth by up to 32 ones, each of them having two multishape FM oscillators and a multimode resonant filter.
Eveything goes through a global 32 channels UniQ filter with steep curves and peaks, then can be send to up to 64 outputs with the Dispatcher (or just go straight to the first 32 outputs).
Otherwise it has about the same functionnalities : you trig the new values with either a Global one (same variation percentage for every parameter) or with the Separate one where you choose the random amount for each.
Four global modulators can be combined to animate most of the parameters.
It is particularily gifted for making complex looped textures...

Known issues: some values are reinitialized when connecting / deconnecting a patch wire; MacOS some UI elements may not be visible until you click on a patch jack..
Current build date: 14/08/2020
Status:

64

FR 

Windows      EXE

MacOS  

S c a t t e r S y n t h   6 4 X

Not quite yet another synthesizer with a modulation "matrix"...
Nervertheless, it is based on the same 64 x 64 multilichannel matrix than the Scatterizer, which is used for organizing the outputs of the same 64 FM/substractive modules than the Multi/UniSynth on up to 64 outputs. But this matrix is also used to modulate up to four synthesis parameters according to their spatial position, acting like some "spatial envelopes" that links in some complex ways the sound characteristics and the space.
Since the 64 synthesis voices are always active, the ScatterSynth can be considered as an additive instrument where each "partial" can be spatially independant (like in the FocusSynth) or mixed eventually down to stereo ;-)
Nevertheless a Level and Random balance is possible between the first and the second 32 synths banks.

Known issues: some values are reinitialized when connecting / deconnecting a patch wire ; possible switching noises when modulating the outputs positions.
To do: adjust some values range for better control ; global Hi-Cut filter.
Current build date: 11/04/2020
Status:

64

FR  

Windows  

MacOS  

It is a kind of hybrid between the MultiSynth and the AnimaSynth :
- 16 synthesizer modules (each with 2 multiwaves oscillators in FM configuration, multimode resonant filter and LFO triggered amplitude envelope)
- Global and Separate random values engine
- morphing Shapes from the SpatMass
- two modulators to animate some of the Sphere and Position parameters
- Pitch, FM, Cutoff, Rate and Envelope spatial modulations

Current build date: 28/04/2020
Status:

36 / 64

FR 

Windows      EXE

MacOS  

It adds to the MultiSynth a ScaleMass processing section that allows to gather all the 24 synth modules into a single point or to spread them allover the space, according to the place you have first defined for each of them.
It is good at making landscapes-like textures evolutions by moving and deforming (slowly !) the aggregat. You can also obtain progressive appearances / disappearances when some parts of the aggregat comes from or goes to "outside" the space.
You can also simply select or isolate some generators, but the parameters tweaking is always global.

To do: improve the synthesis.
Current build date: 26/04/2020
Status:

36

Windows  

MacOS  

3D distance based mixing and modulation of 24 independant synthesizers whose output can be sent to up to 4 among 64. To make the control easier they are grouped by two to share the same Level balance and control Area.

There is no internal correlation between the controller's 3D position and the speakers positions. It is to the user to set them accordingly or not.

Known issues: some values are reinitialized when connecting / deconnecting a patch wire.
Current build date: 20/03/2020
Status:

64

FR 

Windows  

MacOS  

Explore a space made with up 32 independant synthesizer modules by the mean of a group of 8 virtual microphones !
It can be considered as a kind of "super-vector" synth since the 3D space is not used for spatialization purpose in the strict sense of the word, but as a way to mix the 32 synth modules on 8 channels.
Yet the mix balance of the sounds among these 8 output is directly dependent on how they were arranged in this space in the comparison to the 8 microphones shape and movements.
The result can be then recorded as an octophonic sound, in this case the "microphones" arrangement will reflect the speakers one, or better you can used it to feed a SpatMass or an AnimaSpat  ;-)

To do: improve the synthesis.
Current build date: 27/01/2019
Status:

8

Windows      EXE

MacOS  

o t h e r s

Note : this last "instruments" don't generate any sound but is intended to be used together with a mono/stereo hardware or plugin to combine them as a unique instrument with spatialization capabilities.

Synths, hardware and software, are wonderful, marvelous, astonishing... BUT they are nearly always stereophonic (with the notable exception of Cosmosf Saturn) ! What a pity :-(
The SpatStruments try modestly to bring a remedy to this regrettable situation by feeding them with this mono or stereo sound, and play both together with a MIDI keyboard and controllers, as if they were a single instrument.
Of course, it is not totally true since the spatial part can only process the whole sound coming from the synth and cannot be a part of its internal synthesis path (but generations of acousmatic composers have done worse by spatializing stereo compositions !).
They can nevertheless add some further processing to the sound together with the spatial mass thanks to :
- a VariMode Filter
- 2 Envelope Generators (can be triggered by the LFOs)
- 2 LFOs
- external modulations for both the "synthesis" elements and the spatial ones (note number, velocity, after touch and controllers)
- the spatial position can also be modulated by the Envelope Generators and by the LFOs

To do: add Area Shapes.
Current build date: 20/05/2020
Status:  

2 x 18 / 48 / 64

 FR  

Windows  

MacOS  

M P E S p a t   8 6 4 X

Current build date: work in progress...
Status:

8 x 64

Windows