Discover Podolski by u-he – a compact virtual analog synthesizer, now available for free. Created as a spin-off from FilterscapeVA for a German magazine, Podolski is known for its ability to sound both exceptionally smooth and aggressively gritty. This makes it a versatile tool for a wide range of musical styles.
Key Features of Podolski
Despite its streamlined interface, Podolski hides a powerful sound engine and flexible capabilities under the hood:
Synthesis Section
- Oscillator: A flexible generator with Warp and Invert functions for creating a variety of waveforms, including PWM.
- Envelope: A single ADSR envelope that can control the amplifier (via Gate) or other parameters.
- LFO: Two LFOs (global and per-voice) for dynamic sound modulation.
Filtering and Effects
- Filter: A multi-mode filter (LP, BP, HP) with Drive, Click, and AutoFM parameters to add character.
- Effects: Built-in stereo Delay and Chorus/Flanger with feedback for adding space and modulation.
Integrated Arpeggiator/Sequencer
- Arpeggiator/Sequencer: A unique module that combines an arpeggiator, step sequencer, and modulator (similar to Zebra2). Allows for creating complex rhythmic and melodic patterns, as well as modulating synthesizer parameters.
Additional features include a resizable graphical interface and three visual themes.
Conclusion
Podolski by u-he is an outstanding free synthesizer. It offers high-quality analog sound, intuitive controls, and a powerful arpeggiator/sequencer. Supports VST, AU, AAX formats on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It’s an ideal choice for anyone looking for a versatile, professional-sounding instrument for their DAW.
