A network of springs? A shape-shifting violin? Si Truss attempts to explain Baby Audio’s new synth…
CONTACT WHO: Baby Audio WEB: babyaud.io KEY FEATURES Physical Modelling synth plugin. MPE capable. FORMATS: PC/Mac, VST/AU/AAX
Physical modelling is a synthesis process that works by simulating the resonant properties of a real-world object. Ableton Live users will likely be familiar with the concept through the DAW’s Collision synth and Corpus effect, and it provides the core of sound generation in plugins such as AAS Chromaphone and Reason’s Objekt. Physical modelling is especially useful on two fronts: firstly, it can be the best way to synthesise mallets and bowed instruments, thanks to its ability to accurately emulate their natural vibrations. Pushed beyond the realms of what’s realistic, however, and physical modelling synths take on a second use thanks to their ability to conjure thoroughly modern and otherworld synth timbres.
It’s on this latter front that Atoms, Baby Audio’s new physical modelling synth, excels. Atoms generates sound using a simulation of what Baby Audio refers to as ‘interconnected masses and springs’, which are initially triggered by a bow-style exciter. Broadly speaking, think of it like a violin or cello with a morphing, shape-shifting acoustic body.
The effect of this is controlled using six parameters that surround the plugin’s central display. The first of these is Force, which controls how aggressive that bow-like exciter is, a little like a velocity control, albeit one that introduces friction-like noise at higher levels. Above this is Chaos, used to introduce non-linear behaviour to the modelled resonance, resulting in slight drifts in pitch and volume. Overtones, meanwhile, adjusts the simulated position of the bowing action, altering the amount of higher frequency overtones.
The Order control acts as a high-frequency dampener, while Filter control rolls off higher frequencies further with a low-pass applied to the output. Finally, Drive applies waveshaping and harmonic clipping.
Key to Atoms’ character is the fact that each of these controls has its own modulation tool. These can apply a variety of LFO types, randomised drift or route MPE inputs to each
