Developer John Howes let us know that he’s released an update to Strokes, a cross-platform (iOS, Mac & Win) software workstation, adding 16 synth engines, derived from the Mutable Instruments Plaits multi-oscillator.
Other updates in Strokes v3.10 include:
- Pitch sequencing and quantizers
- Fully customisable modulation matrix, any modulation source can connect to any sound parameter
- Bit crushing & sample rate reduction added to sampler, as well as start/loop point modulation
- Panning & fine tune
About Strokes:
Strokes is an all-in-one, cross-platform workstation for sequencing, sampling and synthesis.
Howes says that “the idea of this device is to encourage free-flow experimentation and exploration of rhythm and modulation.”
The first four sequencer channels can be set according to your wishes, while the other four behave in various ways according to those settings. Each channel can be assigned one of 16 oscillators from Mutable Instruments’ Plaits module. Alternatively, they can each be assigned to samples of your choice with various sound design options.
There are probability options to add semi-random changes to the sequencers, and on-board reverb and delay add effects processing to the sounds being generated. Various modulation options allow these sounds and effects to be changed in subtle or significant ways, always in response to the other rhythmic behavior taking place in the project.
Strokes can run as a VST3 or AU plug-in within all major DAW environments, meaning the MIDI information generated can also be assigned to your own software and hardware instruments. On iOS, Strokes can run as a standalone application or from within a host such as AUM.
Pricing and Availability:
Strokes is available now, with the following pricing:
- iOS – £19.99
- Desktop – £35
- Cross-platform bundle – £40
Now this is getting interesting. Reminds me of the Fors M4L Opal device + Drambo but not brick-walled by Ableton or an Ipad. Definitely checking this out.
already have 16 voices of Plaits on my Prologue. or most anything I want really.
soon *everything* will have Plaits in it.
I was thinking, “Great, another port of Plaits (side-eye).” but after watching a bit of the video, I have to admit that the way he’s implemented it is pretty good. That’s probably the clearest GUI of Plaits I’ve ever seen…a full synth voice with FX sends in a small space but very easy to follow. As beautiful the Mutable modules were, the layout always felt a bit esoteric and confusing to me. It would if this version of Plaits was available as a individual plugin. I don’t need another sequencer to learn.
Very cool! Simple to use and very focused on what matters.
A Standalone Win & Mac version would be great!
I don’t get the obsession with Plaits (or the Mutable sound in general). Every sound-generating module they made has the same digital sheen. Too clean and precise, and when they tried to get nasty it was not any more convincing than a plugin. I suppose it makes sense that it would eventually end up BEING a plugin.
Not sure what you mean – thousands of examples of really nice music made with MI modules all over YouTube
But yeah Plaits doesn’t translate well into “plugin” if you ask me
There’s not really any need for it to be a plugin – except maybe in VCV Rack
In a DAW you have easy access to so many different timbres and have much more precise control over said timbres
The reason Plaits (and Braids before it) are so popular in euro is that it’s a bit like a Swiss Army Knife of timbres with a built in VCA and has a small HP
Not to mention being very reasonably priced compared to other manufacturers
You do realize that unless it’s an analog synthesizer, they’re all “plugins,” right? Mutable instruments are a bunch of code that can run on a computer that’s shaped like a laptop (“Yuck, plugins suck!”) or on a really small computer in a Eurorack form factor (“This real module sounds fantastic!”). Same code, same thing. (other than form factor)
This is incorrect. Mutable Instruments modules are analog where it makes sense for them to be analog and this has to be emulated in the virtual versions.
So, yeah, the Eurorack versions probably sound a little better, if you buy into the notion that analog is better for certain things. This would mainly be relevant to modules that are in the audio path vs the control path.
Other platform differences may effect the sound of the modules, like the processor speed determining the output rate of the algorithms and multitasking impacting ‘jitter’. Generally running the algorithms on more powerful hardware will improve the sound and running on dedicated hardware will minimize jitter.
Expect the code to sound similar across all platforms, but don’t expect software and hardware versions of modules that code based to sound or perform exactly the same across platforms.