Physical Modelling Synth For Macs

US Physical Audio's Derailer combines a metal bar and a spring for sympathetic resonances 03/04/18

We've previously brought you news of a beta version, but now Physical Audio has released Derailer, an AU plug-in. Derailer is a physical modelling system with two basic elements. One is a metal bar that you can strike or bow. The other is a nonlinear spring connection. This allows you to join two bars together so that vibrations from one create sympathetic resonance in the other. Physical Audio says that by connecting multiple bars you can create new instruments that have their own unique sound.

A spokesperson told us, "There are 37 strike bars, 5 resonators, and up to 81 connections to play with. The adjustable physical parameters and nonlinearity of the connections produce a wide range of tonal variation that reacts to striking velocity or bowing pressure. Derailer uses finite-difference time-domain numerical modelling."