Physical Audio Launches Tetrad synthesizer

Physical Audio says that their fourth synthesizer plugin, Tetrad, doesn't just break the mould – it slashes it four times and sends it through four-voice AM and granular processes. Here's the details in their own words... 

Tetrad was developed in collaboration with  experimental musician Gadi Sassoon, whose 'Sculpture-based synth' installation makes use of the same four slashed metal plates and synthesis processes. Tetrad is a 'digital twin' for Gadi's sound installation work, and can generate an incredible variety of tones and textures above and beyond traditional synths.

Tetrad is available now in VST3, AU and AAX formats for PC and Mac.

KEY INFORMATION
• 115 Presets 
• Generate voices through Basic, Chords and Modal chords, Free and Flex modes
> Plus ADSR envelope, FM Frequency and FM Depth for all oscillator types
• Quad AM module to 'pseudo-sequence' or gently modulation voices, with control of phase
> Shape, Depth, Gain and Rate (up to 250Hz), plus Phase Displacement per voice
• Quad Granulator mangles the four voices into new textures individually or all together
> Grain Size, Feedback, Rate (up to 50Hz), or individual Grain Size and Pitch per voice
• Plate Resonators that can be driven and positioned graphically on the virtual sound stage 
> Set Decay, Metal Cuts 'amount', Preamp Drive globally; or Drive and Decay per plate
• MPE-compatible with a glide range of +/- 48 semitones
• Comprehensive Modulation Matrix with over 40 destinations, 8 LFOs, MIDI and MPE sources.
• Three filters (LP/BP/HP) to curtail and sculpt effects
• Sidechain input and Quad output available

THINK IN FOURS
Every oscillator offers four notes or four voices; four buses flow into four-channel amplitude modulation and four-way granular processing; the signal is rounded out by the four slashed plates. The four audio channels can be blended or re-routed in the Quad Matrix, extending the creative possibilities on offer.

SCULPTURE-BASED SYNTH
Tetrad's oscillators, processors, and those four slashed plates started life in the work of experimental composer and transmedia artist Gadi Sassoon, as his Sculpture-based Synth, as heard on the album Modes of Vibration. Tetrad evolved as the 'digital twin' to his setup, replacing Max/MSP patches with custom code and physical modelling.

QUAD PRO QUO
Tetrad's Quad AM, Quad Granulator and Quad Plates modules have main 'Macro' views for setting general parameters, and 'Quad' views to dial in individual settings for each bus. Set each voice's amplitude modulation Phase, its Grain Size and Pitch, and each plate's On/Off status, Drive amount, and Decay amount. 

MODULATION MATRIX
Tetrad's modulation matrix adds a huge potential to its sound generation. With 40 destinations from around the synth, eight LFOs and some creative envelope-following sources, plus MPE and MIDI controls, there are very few limits to exploration. MPE mode and sidechain input make Tetrad even more flexible in the sources it can process. 

ABOUT PHYSICAL AUDIO
Physical Audio® exists to push the boundaries of real-time physical modelling synthesis. We create audio plugins using pure numerical modelling of acoustic systems such as bars, strings, plates and connecting elements.

These techniques produce physical models that have real acoustic qualities and dynamic expression, without using any samples or impulse responses.

Pricing and Availability:
 £47 / $59 / €47+VAT until July 28th (Regular price: £79 / $99 / €80+VAT)

More information:

• Tetrad

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