FX-Mechanics has released MechanOdd, a polyphonic physical-modelling synthesizer plugin (VST3/AU) built with JUCE. It synthesizes sound by exciting simulated mechanical resonators (strings, plates, membranes, and beams) and routing the results through a feedback matrix, effects chains, and a modulation engine.
Concept
MechanOdd is built around the idea that interesting timbres arise from the interaction between excitation signals and resonant structures, rather than from either alone.
A typical path through the synth:
- Sources generate raw signals (noise bursts, wavetable oscillators, crackling textures).
- Resonators shape those signals using models of physical objects: a vibrating string, a struck plate, a drum membrane, a stiff beam.
- A feedback matrix lets resonators feed back into each other and into the sources, creating coupled systems with complex emergent behaviour.
- Effects polish the result (reverb, delay, EQ, saturation, cabinet simulation).
- A modulation engine (LFOs + per-voice ADSRs) animates any parameter over time.
The synth is fully polyphonic (up to 8 voices). Each voice runs its own set of sources, per-voice resonators, and a modulation engine. A second tier of global resonators receives the summed output of all voices and processes it once per audio block, suitable for room-scale resonances shared across notes.
Availability
MechanOdd is free and is available for macOS, Windows and Linux in VST3 and AU plugin formats.
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