Audio Damage Intros Quanta, A Multi-Platform, MPE-Ready Granular Synthesizer

Audio Damage has released Quanta, a new granular synth app for iOS, macOS & Windows.

Quanta is a ten-voice true stereo granular synthesizer, with up to a hundred 1000ms grains per voice, and full control over the grain state, with direct randomization and modulation of most parameters.

It offers powerful synthesis controls, MPE support, cross-platform patch sharing and a deep collection of presets.

Features:

  • Multi-Format Sample Loader – Quanta can load AIFF, WAV, Broadcast WAV, FLAC, MP3, and Ogg in any sample rate, bit depth, and channel configuration.
  • Grain Engine – Up to 100 simultaneous grains per voice, of up to 1 second long, with control over grain rate, pitch, direction, shape, length, panning, source position, and level.
  • Sidecar Oscillator – Continuously variable wave shape, with pulse width modulation, and independent control over pitch (separate from grain engine.) Can be injected directly into grain engine.
  • Noise Source – Noise source features a “color” control that affects tonal characteristics of the noise. Can be injected directly into grain engine.
  • Dual Multi-Mode Filters – Filters can be used in serial or parallel modes, and include lowpass, highpass, bandpass, and notch in 2-pole and 4-pole configurations.
  • Flexible Envelope Generator (FEG) x 4 – The four FEGs are arbitrary function generators, with up to 99 steps, curve and step level control, arbitrary loop points, and host tempo sync.
  • Flexible Low-Frequency Oscillator (FLFO) x 2 – The pair of FLFOs utilize four controls (phase, shape, skew, and warp) to access a virtually limitless palette of waveforms, and feature host tempo sync and retrigger.
  • Sample And Hold – The S&H mod source can sample noise (random) or any of the other mod sources, at either a user-defined rate or a musical division.
  • Modulation Matrix p- Every mod and MIDI source can be easily and simply assigned to any destination using the quick-access bi-polar modulation matrix. Touch a destination on the UI and the matrix automatically scrolls to the correct row.
  • Tuning Tables And Global Tuning Offset – Re-tune Quanta to new intonations and temperaments using the open-source and easy-to-use TUN file format. A global tuning offset (default to A=440) allows you to easily retune the entire synth to match a different A frequency without using a tuning table.
  • MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) – Quanta understands both “legacy” MIDI and MPE. Use your Linnstrument, Roli Seaboard, Haken Continuum, or Madrona Labs Soundplane (among others) to directly access per-note pressure, pitch bend, and modulation.
  • Per-Instance Settings – Quanta utilizes a per-instance customization method: set MPE mode, aftertouch smoothing, pitch bend range override, tuning table, and global tuning offset for each instance in your DAW.
  • Factory Presets – Quanta comes with a substantial collection of factory content, including Designer Presets from Marcus Fisher, Joseph Fraioli, Chris Carter, and Richard Devine.
  • Cross-Platform Preset Format – Quanta utilizes an XML-based preset manager, and stores the sample within the preset for easy asset management. Work between multiple systems without troubles, make a preset on your desktop machine and paste it to the iOS version with Handoff, easily share your creations with your friends, or make a preset bundle to sell, no asset management required.
  • Fully Resizable Hi-Dpi/Retina GUI – Quanta’s vector-based GUI is resolution-agnostic, and displays the same on every system and resolution. Easily resize the UI (per instance) to match your visual needs, from postage stamp to poster-sized.

Pricing and Availability

Quanta is available now for macOS & Windows; the iOS version is listed as ‘coming soon’. A demo version is also available.

15 thoughts on “Audio Damage Intros Quanta, A Multi-Platform, MPE-Ready Granular Synthesizer

  1. Bought it on impulse to try it out, sounds great, very nice clean, scalable UI that is very straightforward and intuitive.

    Only a small number of presets really, but they’re all good quality.

    Some minor integration issues in Logic (can’t easily switch through the presets).

    Great to see the JUCE framework being used so effectively for cross-platform plug-in development. Their site says an iOS version is in the works!

  2. It’s really unique and musical. One trick is to drop your own WAV files into the presets for instant, custom sound design.

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