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Developer Oliver Greschke has introduced Elastic OSC, a new software synth for iOS that builds on the open source code of the Mutable Instruments Plaits Eurorack oscillator module.

Elastic OSC features 8-voice polyphony, and 24 synth engine options, based on Plaits. Where Plaits lets you control the main parameters of each synth engine using four knobs, Elastic OSC maps these an X/Y pad, for quick sound exploration.

What Greschke has to say about Elastic OSC:

“Elastic OSC is a synthesizer app based on the DSP code of the Mutable Instruments Plaits hardware oscillator module (generously made open-source by MI mastermind Émilie Gillet), one of the most beloved (and cloned) oscillator module in the Eurorack modular scene!

Like the original, Elastic OSC comes with a wide variety of possible sounds, from analog-style, FM, and additive sounds to physical modeling, percussive, to even drum sounds.

While Plaits is monophonic, Elastic OSC can also be used in 8-voice polyphonic mode. This means you can use it either as a sophisticated, experimental monophonic sound source, like the original, or as a regular polyphonic keyboard with a wide variety of great sounds. Of course, you can also combine both approaches!

You can play the app using the on-screen keyboard, or via an external keyboard / sequencer — whether it’s a DAW like AUM, Cubasis, Logic (using Elastic OSC as an AUv3 plugin), or external hardware.

The first release of Elastic OSC is for the iOS platform, available as a standalone iOS app or an AUv3 plugin. Desktop versions for Windows and Mac (Audio Unit & VST3) will come at a later time.”

Features:

• 24 different Sound Engines from MI Plaits DSP code
• 4 main parameters per synth engine (Frequency, Harmonics, Morph, Harmo)
• Recordable Modulations/Automations for almost all Parameters with a length of 1, 2 or 4 beats.
• ADSR Envelope for Amplifier
• LPG Envelope for Modulations of Timbre, FM, Harmonics
• Adjustable Velocity effect on Volume and/or LPG Modulation
• Arpeggiator with different Arp Modes, Rates, Octave Ranges and Skip Notes functionality
• Master FX:
  • 5 effects (5 different Overdrive/Distortions, Hi-Low-Filter, Chorus/Flanger, Delay, Reverb)
  • Automations for all effects parameters
  • Master Gain and switchable Limiter effect

Elastic OSC is available now for iOS, with an intro price of $9.99 through May 15th (normally $14.99).

Erica Synths x Hexinverter HexDrums taking the DNA of Hexinverter’s Mutant series of percussion modules, this is an analogue drum machine with 10 sound sources. These include two kicks, an optimised Mutant Machine, snare, clap, rimshot and hi-hats. There are also 10 sets of crash and ride cymbal samples from Erica itself.

There are individual outputs for all the drum sounds and stereo panning on the master channel. The compressor and master drive effects have their roots in the Hexinverter Mutant Glue module. A special feature is the kick drum-controlled sidechain that can be used to animate drum patterns on the beat.

To achieve full ‘drum machine’ status you need to have a sequencer, and the one in the HexDrums has 64 steps and offers per-track accent, per-step microtiming, ratchets, rolls and per-step probability. Each of the 16 banks can hold 16 patterns.

Discussing the HexDrums – which is set for release later this year – Hexinverter Électronique’s Stacy Gaudreau says:

“Our plan was always to use the Mutant Drum DNA to create a next-level desktop drum machine. We began early work on one before the pandemic. I’m so glad that the Erica Synths crew was able to carry out the vision and finish the dream!”

Find out more on the Erica Synths website.

Ahead of Superbooth 2025 in Berlin, Instruō has launched Seashell, an analog semi-modular desktop synth with a modern edge.

Bridging the knob-twiddling hardware world of modular synthesis with the software landscape via an accompanying plugin, Seashell aims to bring perfect integration with your DAW or software control environment.