Audio Damage has released Phosphor 3, a major update to their software synth modeled on the alphaSyntauri, a vintage digital additive synth from the early 80s.
Version 3 updates the original’s feature set, with expanded modulation options, MPE support, TUN-file support for non-equal-tempered tuning and a new preset browser.
Features:
- Two Voices – Each voice has a wavetable oscillator with transposition and fine-tuning controls, a noise generator, level ADSR, delay line with filter, and level and pan controls.
- Additive Wavetable Oscillators – Each oscillator has 16, 32 or 64 partials with individual level sliders, preset buttons for common waveforms, and partial level randomisation.
- Noise Sources – White noise in regular operation or shift-register noise in vintage mode.
- ADSR x 2 – One level envelope for each voice with control over the duration and curvature of the Attack, Decay, and Release segments.
- Vintage Modes – Introduces digital artefacts and distortion. Can be engaged individually for each oscillator and noise source.
- LFO x 2 – Optionally host tempo-synced Low-Frequency-Oscillators with Sine, Triangle, Rectangle and Random shapes. Skew sliders affect waveforms differently in different modes. Can be used on per-note basis or globally.
- Modulation Panel – Quick modulation assignment via modal panel
- Dual Delay – One optionally host-tempo synced delay effect for each voice with feedback filter. Each voice’s delay can crossfeed into the other.
- TUN File Support – Load TUN-files for non-traditional/microtonal tunings.
- Cross Modulation – The voices’ oscillators can modulate each other’s frequencies, akin to the NED Synclavier. Voices can be muted and used only exclusively as modulators, too.
- Voice Modes – Poly mode, as well as mono mode without retrigger and retrigger mode. Variable portamento in mono and retrigger mode.
- T-Rand modulation – Modulation source generating a bipolar random value every time a note is played.
- Software Keyboard – Particularly useful on touch interfaces. Note velocity is determined by Y position.
- MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) – Full MPE support with variable parameter smoothing for aftertouch.
- Factory Presets – Phosphor 3 comes with a collection of factory content, including Designer Presets from Red Means Recording and Ken Flux Pierce.
- New Preset browser – Quick and easy preset import, export and organisation. Supports import and export of zip archives, preset copy and paste, and arrangement of user presets in folders.
- Cross-Platform Preset Format – Fully cross-platform XML-based preset-format. 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.
- Fully Resizable Hi-Dpi/Retina GUI – Phosphor 3’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
Phosphor 3 is available now for $59 USD.
Not worth a paid update even though its only $4
and maybe they should first correct the bugs of their previous software releases …. just to make it a bit more usable
Agreed
The AlphaSyntauri that ran on my Apple IIe and Mountain computer cards was my first polyphonic synth back in the day, this doesn’t sound like it, and I agree not worth a paid update.
I could imagine that they have taken the concept too far and lost their original vision
Audio Damage is the worst developer i ever had to deal with, by far. Sold everything i had from AD when Chris Randall started behaving like a spoiled 12 years old child who can’t commit to the business model he somehow himself created.
When you treat your clients like disposables, you get what you deserved. I’ve never missed AD plugins for a second and i’m real happy with the plugins and developers i chose to work with.
Don’t waste time replying, i don’t care. I just vowed to say something about Randall’s attitude problem when i can…
I will never purchase an AD plugin again on any platform until they prove they can undergo some much needed housekeeping on their past plugins. Just a really slimy developer.
As one of their many, many hardware AND software customers who have had to swim in their cesspool of abandoned and bug-ridden products and left to rot on the side of the road by AD/Randall, I recommend that if you have even the slightest urge to buy their products… just keep your wallet in your pocket and repeatedly punch yourself in the face… same exact customer experience without the expense.
Several commenters have complained about Audio Damage customer support.
Can you share details? They have free demo versions of their apps on their site, so I’m wondering what you think they’re doing wrong. Are they just bad about abandoning old versions of their software?
I don’t have any experience with their plugins, but they released a $500 Eurorack format module had had a lot of problems that were never resolved despite customer complaints and claims of a “lifetime warranty”.
I wish that we would use our new and powerful technology to make new music and new instruments. Remaking old things seems a bit limiting to me. Dare to do weird things!
One of their other plugin (quanta) is crashing my Cubase. Emailed the problem to them. Never got an answer back. For me, this was my last purshase of an Audio Damage product.
Cheery bunch here. I’ve had no issues with their products, though admittedly I primarily use AUM & Ableton on their respective hardware (and fairly streamlined hardware at that). Audiodamage is one of the few companies who’s plugins I use *specifically* because they’re significantly more stable and less resource intensive than many other plugins out there, and priced quite reasonably no less.
Say what you will, but I’d note that a company with a reasonable refund policy, no ass-backwards copy protection, and a dedication to keeping their products updated (as much as a 2 person operation can), should be applauded. The iOS app landscape (particularly with auv3) would be a lonely place without them.
How long have you had AD plugins? There was a time when they had no demo and a “full refund no questions asked if you’re not satified with your purchase” policy, well advertised. Well, Mr Randall seemed to decide to follow his own business model only when he felt like it. He did that with many clients. Then he just abandoned plugins without warning for no reason other than he just didn’t care anymore. After that we heard about not updating bugs and fixes for way too long.
I believe the main problem is Chris Randall’s attitude, maturity and stability. He’s had weird behaviors with clients and you never know if it’s Mr Jekyll or Mr Hyde who’s going to communicate with you. No one needs that crap in their life, so he lost many good customers over the years. ‘You’ cheers !
Since 2004.
At the end of the day, Chris seems to be a very talented designer/programmer and a rather immature business person. Sounds like he likes to work on what he likes to work on, and abandon products he’s tired of and no longer cares about.