Native Instruments Premiers Molekular – Modular Multi-Effects System
Native Instruments has premiered Molekular, a modular multi-effects system for Reaktor 5 or the free Reaktor 5 Player. Molekular features 35 exclusive creative effects for advanced, creative sound manipulation. Molekular’s modular design allows for routing freedom and its Morphing Field provides performance possibilities for producers.
Molekular features slots for up to four effect modules and multiple routing options for dynamic effect arrangements. Modules include a pitch and resonator section for transforming percussive sounds into melodic arpeggios. Delay, stutter, and glitch modules allow users to create new rhythmic structures or turn any incoming signal into washed-out soundscapes. Eight modulation effects offer sonic versatility for augmenting tone – from classic modulation effects like flanger and chorus to yet-unheard effects such as a purposefully-broken pitch shifter to create unusual new textures. Six dynamic and distortion effects include a 16-stage wave folder and a DSP that tracks a signal’s pitch to control a variable waveform oscillator.
Molekular also comes with essential traditional effects for additional sonic adjustments and fine tuning. Molekular features 16 modulation sources, which can be routed to any parameter within the effects system. Modulators include four customizable LFOs and four step sequencers for emphasizing any part of the meter with rhythms from simple eighth notes to odd metric subdivisions. What’s more, Molekular includes analog modular-inspired trigger sequencers – each with a dedicated envelope and an envelope follower – to set accents or add bursts of effects to any production. A logic module adds an irregular, organic feel to the structure of sound sources with any degree of precision or chaos. Frequency-based parameters can be quantized to custom scales and it’s even possible to route one modulator into another producing unusual, constantly- evolving modulation structures.
By using the Morphing Field, it is possible to drastically twist the results via the interactive display. Producers can assign a starting point, define four master mutations and easily morph between them in real time – a new and near-limitless approach to performing with effects. The morpher can also be controlled by any of the modulation sources. Though highly advanced technology works under the hood, Molekular is straightforward to use, and also comes with a multitude of presets of highly inventive effects ready to use as creative starting points.
NI’s Molekular is available now for $149 / €149 / £129 / ¥14,800.
