Dawesome releases FREE ZYKLØP machine-learning synth

Dawesome announces ZYKLØP, a FREE synth powered by machine learning for macOS and Windows that will be released on November 22nd.

If the title of this article sounds familiar, it’s because ZYKLØP is the little sister of Myth, Dawesome’s flagship synth.

A big thank you to Peter, the developer behind Dawesome, for giving BPB an exclusive sneak-peek at the synthesizer before the release.

ZYKLØP shares many character-defining elements with Myth, like its non-linear approach, the re-synthesis engine v2, and a modular workflow. While there are core similarities, one very significant difference is that ZYKLØP is free.

Dawesome will release ZYKLØP on November 22, 2024; you can download it absolutely free from the Dawesome Music website.

If you can’t wait that long for a new instrument, check out Gray Cat Music’s Lachrimae Renaissance Lute.

I was lucky enough to get some time with the pre-release version of ZYKLØP, and I have to say, it’s a lot of fun.

For those of you who know Myth, ZYKLØP is a somewhat stripped version offering a single Iris rather than two, fewer modules and slots, fixed modulation sources, and a max polyphony of eight voices.

For Dawesome newcomers, here’s a quick breakdown.

The Iris is the visualization of ZYKLØP’s non-linear synthesis engine. With the same re-synthesis v2 engine found in Myth, ZYKLØP allows you to drag and drop any sample into the Iris to create a new sound or modify an existing preset.

ZYKLØP employs machine learning to analyze your sample before the re-synthesis v2 engine approximates it for playback.

The Iris offers something that looks and feels more organic than typical, but ZYKLØP has all the classic synthesizer tools; it just presents them in a less esoteric way.

If the Iris is the foundation of your sound, the Transformers are where you start to shape it to suit. There are two rows of Transformers; the top row focuses on adjustments through frequency modulation, and the bottom row offers more descriptive character alterations.

For example, the String Transformer transforms the audio like it was created with the physics of a string ensemble.

The FM-based Transformers can lead to a harsh sound, and the Pure Transformer on the bottom row is a great way to smooth the tone without removing the underlying character.

To the left of the Transformers is a list of available fixed modulation sources; although not as flexible as Myth, there’s plenty to do here.

Modulation sources apply to the currently highlighted Transformer, and clicking on a source (Velocity, Modwheel, Pressure, Main ADSR, ADSR1/2, LFO 1/2/3, Keytrack) will open the detail page below.

One of the things I like about ZYKLØP is that even though beginners would be forgiven for assuming it’s a complex beast, it makes everything simple.

You can adjust the selected mod source on the detail page and add available modules. Clicking the nearby Mod tab brings up the Mod Matrix, where you can take a broad overview of all modulation and make changes.

Dedicated Arp, Oscillator, Filter, and FX pages are among the tabs. You can add modules to all mentioned besides the Arp.

The Modules are arranged into groups; only applicable modules are shown in each instance. The FX Modules include a lovely Juno-60 Chorus emulation.

Speaking of which, Sonic Academy’s JU-60 plugin is free until December 8, 2024.

Through lots of drag-and-drop functionality, ZYKLØP is a synth that beginners can explore freely and with excellent results without requiring a complete understanding of complex synthesis.

A sound might have multiple mod sources and modules stacked all over the place, but the workflow teaches through sound rather than technical jargon, which I like.

Having said that, navigating the interface is made easier thanks to handy text guides.

I’m told I don’t have a complete preset list, but the almost 100 I have contains some gorgeous sounds, from funky basses to soaring leads.

Given the synth’s non-linear nature, finding outstanding evolving soundscapes was no surprise. I had some fantastic results by adding short string and brass samples to change the texture; beautiful.

Not bad for a freebie, huh?

Download: ZYKLØP (releases for FREE on November 22nd)

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