Unusable Engineering has updated Partials & Discrepancies to version 1.5.0, adding new oscillator processing, a second filter model, expanded modulation options, glide/legato, interface changes and 42 new factory presets.
Partials & Discrepancies is an 8-voice additive synthesizer with up to 128 partials per voice, an 8-slot slot sequencer system and per-voice discrepancy controls for tuning, stereo position, filtering and slot position.
The update adds:
- Oscillator Detune – creates a second copy of the additive oscillator and offsets the two in opposite directions. The amount is stored in the slot system and can change with sequencing, velocity and per-voice position.
- Oscillator Smear – feeds the oscillator into a tuned delay line fixed one octave below it. The effect can move between short smearing, resonant tails and plucked-string-like sounds.
- Ring Modulator – the bit-crusher section can now be switched to a ring modulator with its own oscillator. It can run at a fixed frequency or follow keyboard pitch.
- East Filter – adds a second filter model alongside the original state-variable filter, now called West. East is self-oscillating and is loosely based on a Soviet programmable-op-amp filter design.
- Mod Osc v2 – adds host-clock synchronization, keyboard phase reset and tuned noise when Noise and Key Track are used together.
- Glide and Legato – adds portamento and polyphonic legato. New notes glide from the closest currently held note.
- 42 new factory presets – the new presets are collected in a separate v150-Factory bank for easier filtering in the preset browser.
The interface has also been reorganized and moved from the original red theme to a darker blue/gray color scheme with increased contrast. Oscillator slot controls have been regrouped along the bottom of the interface, while controls directly in the signal path use red knob tracks.
Two changes can slightly alter the sound of older presets:
- Voice stealing has been reworked to reduce clicks when voices are reassigned.
- Noise becomes tuned when both Noise and Key Track are active on the modulation oscillator. Turning Key Track off restores the previous noise behavior.
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