Arturia has released Pure SUB, a software synthesizer built around a three-layer architecture that generates the fundamental, harmonics, and texture of a bass sound independently before merging them at the filter stage. The design targets electronic bass production specifically: 808s, sub bass, Reese tones, and distorted or noise-blended variants are the intended territory, and each layer is engineered with that use case in mind rather than adapted from a general-purpose architecture.
The Sub layer handles the fundamental independently from everything above it. Level, phase, and octave are set here, and a function called Sub Regen processes the full signal through the filters, distortion, and effects chain, then replaces only the low-end output with a clean, phase-stable version of the original fundamental. The purpose is to maintain consistent amplitude and phase behavior on larger playback systems where unstable low end from heavy processing becomes audible. The fundamental stays controlled while the upper content can be driven hard.
Harmonics run through one of two dedicated engines. Pressure produces low-density harmonic content with a custom waveform editor, while Reese generates wide, high-density unison tones. Both engines include a dedicated Pitch Envelope, which operates separately from the amplitude envelope.
to shape pitch drop, transient punch, and gliding movement. A key-tracked EQ keeps the harmonic character consistent across the keyboard range. The third layer, Texture, uses either a sample-based mode (Ring Modulation, AM, and Distortion routing) or a Corroder mode that adds Noise, Sine, Saw, or Square sources at fixed or key-tracked frequencies. All three layers route independently to the filter section, which offers more than 40 modes.
Post-filter processing centers on the Sub Processor, which provides 33 modes covering varying degrees of distortion, saturation, and tonal reshaping. A global Amount control and six macro knobs adjust the character of the selected mode, and both the mode and the macros can be randomized. A 12-slot FX Rack with 18 effects handles the remaining processing, with saveable rack presets. At the output, a Maximiser offers Soft and Hard modes alongside EQ, compression, and multiband processing.
Modulation covers three envelopes including the Pitch Envelope, six flexible modulator slots that accept Envelope, Function, Random, Step Sequencer, and Voice Modulator sources, and a Modulation Sidechain function that allows one modulation source to control the depth of another. Four assignable macros and keyboard expression inputs for Velocity, Key Track, Mod Wheel, Aftertouch, and Release Velocity are included, alongside full MPE support with Slide. The plugin ships with 300 factory presets, in-app tutorials, NKS controller support, and MTS-ESP microtuning compatibility.
Features
- Three independent synthesis layers: Sub, Harmonics, Texture, each routed independently to the filter.
- Sub section: independent level, octave, and phase controls; Sub Regen preserves a clean, phase-stable fundamental after processing.
- Harmonics: Pressure mode (custom waveform editor) and Reese mode (high-density unison); dedicated Pitch Envelope; key-tracked EQ.
- Texture: sample-based mode (Ring Modulation, AM, Distortion) and Corroder mode (Noise, Sine, Saw, Square at fixed or key-tracked frequencies).
- 40+ filter modes with independent layer routing.
- Sub Processor: 33 modes, global Amount, 6 shaping macros, mode and macro randomization.
- FX Rack: 12 slots, 18 effects, saveable rack presets.
- Maximiser with Soft and Hard modes; EQ, compression, and multiband processing.
- Modulation: 3 envelopes, 6 flexible slots (Envelope, Function, Random, Step Sequencer, Voice Modulator).
- Modulation Sidechain: one modulation source controls the depth of another.
- 4 assignable macros; keyboard expression: Velocity, Key Track, Mod Wheel, Aftertouch, Release Velocity.
- MPE support including Slide.
- 300 factory presets; NKS compatible; MTS-ESP microtuning compatible.
- Resizable GUI; in-app tutorials.
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Pricing and Availability
Available now. Intro price $49 / €49 until September 15, 2026 (regular price $79 / €79). A free demo is available with 20-minute sessions; saving, loading, import, and export are disabled in the demo. Formats: Standalone, VST, VST3, AU, AAX. Windows 10+ and macOS 11+ (including Apple Silicon).
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