Harmonical by ndc Plugs: An Instrument from Uncharted Territories
Delve into the world of unconventional sound synthesis with Harmonical – a unique VST instrument from the developer ndc Plugs. This plugin is not just another synthesizer; it’s an experimental sound space that employs mathematical concepts to create amazing timbres.
What is Harmonical?
At the heart of Harmonical lies the idea of applying spherical harmonics. These are complex mathematical functions, typically used to describe shapes and fields on the surface of a sphere, such as in physics or computer graphics. But in Harmonical, they become a key element for sound formation.
The plugin takes these harmonics and uses them to modulate the vertices of a virtual sphere. Imagine a sphere, whose surface is constantly changing, “breathing,” and transforming under the influence of these mathematical functions. Each change on the surface of the sphere directly affects the sound generation.
Working Principle and Capabilities
The displaced and modulated vertices of this sphere serve as the basis for creating waveforms. These waveforms are then fed into a simplified additive synthesizer engine. Additive synthesis is a method where complex sounds are created by adding simple sinusoidal waves of different frequencies and amplitudes. In Harmonical, the uniqueness lies precisely in the unconventional method of generating the output waveforms.
One of the visual highlights of Harmonical is the use of OpenGL. The plugin displays modulated spheres for each voice (each simultaneously sounding note), allowing you to not only hear, but also see how the sound “lives” inside the plugin. This adds an aesthetic and interactive element to the sound creation process.
Important Notes
Due to the complexity of the calculations required for the constant recalculation of 1024 sphere vertices 100 times per second (as noted by the developer), Harmonical may require significant central processing unit (CPU) resources. This should be taken into account when using the plugin, especially on less powerful systems or in projects with a large number of tracks and instruments.
Harmonical is a tool for those who are looking for new sonic horizons and are not afraid to experiment. It is perfect for creating unique textures, atmospheric sounds, or unusual leads and pads that cannot be obtained using standard synthesis methods.
Key Features of Harmonical:
- Use of spherical harmonics for sound generation.
- Modulation of virtual sphere vertices.
- Waveform generation based on vertex displacement.
- Simplified additive synthesizer engine.
- Visualization of modulated spheres using OpenGL (for each voice).
- Unique and experimental approach to synthesis.
- Available in VST format.
If you are ready to immerse yourself in the world of mathematically inspired sound and explore how spherical harmonics can sound, Harmonical from ndc Plugs will be an interesting addition to your virtual instrument collection.
