Audible Planets is an expressive, quasi-Ptolemaic semi-modular synthesizer for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
I’ve previously mentioned my love of VCV Rack and other modular software environments. For example, I’m a big fan of miRack and Audulus on the iPad.
So naturally, when I hear about a new environment that allows for decidedly eccentric takes on synthesis, my interest is piqued.
Audible Planet is a quasi-Ptolemaic synthesizer. Don’t feel bad if you had to look it up, I got confused as to what synths have to do with the Greek dynasties that ruled over Egypt during the final days of the Roman Republic.
You’ve essentially got 4 oscillators, 4 envelopes, and a lot of modulation sources. This is all summed up in a single filter, which is fine, I suppose.
The oscillators are a bit different than what I was expecting at first blush. Rather than a distinct waveform, you’ve got the option of turning a saw wave on or off. The phase of the oscillators are given a visual representation of the moon.
Sound design potential is certainly a given with such an environment, especially when you see how exhaustive the mod matrix is. You’ve got a pair of FX chains with some fairly standard inclusions.
They sound good and certainly work with the sound generators. The filter is also perfectly serviceable. It might lack the rawer character of more expensive modeling synths, but that’s alright.
Audible Planets is something wholly unique, with a plethora of macros, MSEGs, LFOs, and so much more.
Given the potential to add MPE to your modulation sources, you’ve got something tailor-made for expressive and esoteric synthesis. It might not be your first choice for bread-and-butter sounds, but you’ve likely got something to handle that as it stands.
This is a synth with some interstellar inspiration, and it truly does go out of the norm when looking at some of the free options you’ll find.
I could potentially rig up a similar set of elements in something like Reaktor or VCV Rack, but thankfully, the dev has already handled all of that for us. Audible Planets is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.
Download: Audible Planets (FREE)
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20 Comments
Rob
onI’d love to get in contact with Greg Recco the developer. Vst3 doesn’t appear. AU gets the “this plugin can’t be loaded and should be deleted” message in Live 10 Suite 10.1.4 and Catalina OS
Hans Vos
onIt’s not showing up in Bitwig , Mac OS Catalina. I see it in the plugin-error list but rescanning dousn’t help.
Naiman
onThanks of lot!
Lucas
onWorks fine so far in Studio One, Reaper, Gig Performer, and vPlayer. :)
Hell'ektrix
onLooks nice.
If you don’t know, United Plugins have a gift right now :
https://unitedplugins.com/Randomachine/
Numanoid
onA rather limited synth, what is the use of four oscillators if all one can do is to turn a saw waveform either on or off? Possbilites to do some “moon” phasing
Obvivously this is a synth that needs a manual, but the download didn’t contain one.
It comes with no presets, so it is diffcult from the get go to understand what sonic possibilites the synth can acheive
Bob
onThere are presets, they’re just not in the same repo.
https://github.com/gregrecco67/Audible-Planets-Presets
The synth seems to be still in its early stages so better documentation might come later.
Numanoid
onThanks for pointing me in the direction
I have downloaded the xml presets files and put them in this folder on Win 10:
%HOMEPATH%\AppData\Roaming\com.void-star\Audible Planets\programs
But they won’t show up in the patch browser in the synth ?
When I save my own presets they are stored in that folder as xml files
Can’t find a way to rescan the patch browers, only option is reset to default and that doesn’t change anything
Paree
onYou can get some presets here – https://github.com/gregrecco67/Audible-Planets-Presets
Plus the github page has some explanation about how it works, yeah a manual would be nice but the developer probably made it as a hobby and nothing more.
HYPERBOREA
onYes, it has presets but they are not in the same place, look here:
https://github.com/gregrecco67/Audible-Planets-Presets
Docent Novak
onNo preset? Are you shure? https://github.com/gregrecco67/Audible-Planets-Presets
Dady pumpkin flex
onBeen using this the past couple of weeks great fun and sounds good too
Coopmusic247
onThis looks cool. And here’s another freebie for a limited time.
https://www.pluginboutique.com/product/2-Effects/46-Randomiser/12151-Randomachine
Stefan
onUnitedPlugins Randomachine FREE @ UnitedPlugins & Plugin Boutique until 21st April
Georg
onThank you!
Docent Novak
onA very useful plugin, especially when playing live! Thanks
Numanoid
onLooks interesting, does it require any copy protection, like iLok ?
Docent Novak
onno, it doesn’t
Bob
onIt uses the same license file protection as Melda plugins.
Coopmusic247
onThis is pretty dope and I haven’t seen anything about this free tool either.
https://www.audiotool.com/