Pendulate’s oscillator generates waveshapes based on the movement of a double pendulum while its effects emulate numerous Buchla Series 200 modules.
Eventide end what has been a very busy summer for them with the launch of a free monosynth VST, Pendulate. The plug-in was developed by Newfangled Audio, which was founded by ex-Eventide engineer Dan Gillespie. Apart from introducing a new type of oscillator, this is the first time that Eventide software has emulated Buchla products. The plug-in features a “chaotic” double pendulum oscillator, a wavefolder effect based on the Buchla 259 Complex Waveform Generator and a Lowpass Gate based on the Buchla 292.
Describing it as producing “sounds you’ve never heard before but will want to hear again,” Eventide have also added three different skin options for the plug-in as well as sound-wave visuals reminiscent of Native Instruments Reaktor’s Metaphysical Function.
The oscillator’s double pendulum waveforms are generated by modelling the movement of a swinging double pendulum. The below video is a computer-generated example. The motion yields results that sound similar to traditional oscillator modulation, with the option to select a harmonic interval for the modulating signal. This generates FM-style metallic sounds but the Chaos Amount, Chaos Shape and Animate parameters add variety. The last two parameters in the oscillator are two sub generators automatically set one octave apart.
The wavefolder effect will sound familiar to regular users of Ableton’s Wavetable instrument but this Buchla-modeled wavefolder has internal filter cutoff, drive, symmetry and mix controls. The Buchla 292-modeled lowpass gate acts as both a filter and a gate for the entire sound, featuring a poles parameter, filter envelope and keytrack/velocity sensitivity controls.
Pendulate’s modulation section Global provides the option to map velocity, key-tracking, mod-wheel and MPE-supported controls like key pressure to any of the synth’s parameters. The free VST is rounded off with an ADSR envelope, LFO and level meter.
Pendulate’s full and iLok license-requiring version Generate will be released on September 8th and it will add four more oscillator types, one additional LFO, two envelopes, sample and hold, a step sequencer and more internal effects.
Head to Eventide for more information about Pendulate and Generate.