Phosphor by Audio Damage: Reviving Digital Additive Synthesis with a Modern Touch
Immerse yourself in the world of vintage 80s digital sounds, re-imagined for the modern studio! The Phosphor plugin by Audio Damage is not just another synthesizer. It’s a carefully modeled tribute to the legendary alphaSyntauri synthesizer, one of the pioneers of digital additive synthesis. Unlike the more common subtractive or FM synthesizers, additive synthesis builds sound “from the ground up” by layering simple harmonic components (sine waves) to create complex and often unique timbres.
Phosphor accurately reproduces the basic architecture of the alphaSyntauri, featuring two independent oscillators, each capable of creating sound by adding sixteen individually controlled partials. Each of these oscillators has its own flexible amplitude envelope, allowing you to dynamically shape the attack, decay, sustain, and release of each sound. This approach gives unprecedented control over the harmonic content and the temporal evolution of the timbre, opening the door to creating sounds that are difficult or impossible to obtain by other synthesis methods.
A Meeting of Classic and Contemporary: Phosphor’s Features
While Phosphor’s heart beats in the rhythm of digital vintage, its functionality is equipped with everything you need to work in modern music projects. Audio Damage developers have added a number of key features that significantly expand the sound palette and ease of use compared to the original alphaSyntauri:
- Enhanced Modulation Matrix: Transform static timbres into vibrant, breathing sounds thanks to the significantly richer internal modulation routing capabilities. Assign LFOs, envelopes, and other modulation sources to various parameters to create complex textures, sweeps, and effects.
- Two Synchronized LFOs: Equipped with a wide selection of waveforms and the ability to synchronize with the tempo of your digital audio workstation (DAW). This is ideal for creating pulsing effects, automated panoramas, or rhythmic filtering.
- Full Velocity Support: Give your playing expressiveness and dynamics. Phosphor fully responds to the velocity of key presses, allowing you to control volume, attack, or even other assigned parameters.
- Flexibility in Sound Sources: Choose between the authentic “lo-fi” mode, which mimics the original resolution and characteristic digital noise of the alphaSyntauri, or the modern mode with high sampling quality for clean, aliasing-free sine waves and white noise. This option allows you to switch between vintage charm and modern transparency.
- Monophonic Modes: Two different monophonic modes make Phosphor an excellent choice for authentic vintage basses, leads, or solo parts.
- Built-in Delay Effects: Two independent delay sections with filtering (LP/HP) and internal cross-feedback allow you to add space, resonance, or rhythmic effects directly in the plugin, streamlining the workflow.
- Large Preset Library: Start experimenting right away using over 80 professionally designed presets. They cover a wide range of sounds – from classic additive timbres reminiscent of the original to modern, complex textures and effects.
- MIDI Learn: Easily link any controllers of your MIDI equipment to Phosphor parameters for intuitive control during performance or recording.
Phosphor by Audio Damage is not just an emulator. It’s a modern tool that carries the soul of digital vintage. It is ideal for musicians, sound designers, and producers who are looking for unique timbres that go beyond standard synthesis methods. If you appreciate the history of electronic music and want to add a synthesizer with character to your arsenal, capable of both classic and completely new soundscapes, Phosphor is worth your attention.
