Rainbow Circuit Moterly is a new percussion Synthesizer plugin that is a love letter to the Moog DFAM hardware synth.
The Moog DFAM (Drummer From Another Mother) is an analog drum Synthesizer that has been a bestseller for years. Many people love it for its simple operation and its punchy, versatile analog drum sounds.
DFAM is so popular that there’s even a clone from Behringer called EDGE for 140€. The pink color, however, takes some time getting used to. Developers are inspired by the original concept not only in hardware but also in software.
Rainbow Circuit Motherly
Takuma Matsui, also known as Rainbow Circuit, has released Motherly, a new semi-modular percussive Synthesizer plugin inspired by the Moog DFAM concept.
According to the developer, it’s a love letter to the DFAM but not an emulation of it. It’s more distant, more abstract, not quite Mother, just motherly.
Motherly features a three-operator FM synth voice and a filtered noise generator. The FM synth engine utilizes an FM algorithm that can be shaped and customized using the dedicated operator controls and the algorithm matrix.
What’s intriguing here is that it isn’t strictly classic FM synthesis. Instead, it uses a percussive engine based on FM synthesis that emulates the character of acoustic membranes. You can tweak the snap of tension, the rub of inharmonicity, and the nuance of strike position.
Sequencer & Patching
Like the Moog DFAM, the key feature of the Rainbow Circuit Motherly is its sequencer, which enables the creation of sonic variable patterns. First, each step has a pitch control that is bundled with the note decay. Lower notes decays slowly and higher notes decays faster.
Then, you can modify the tone for each step, using a combination of frequency modulation and soft clipping. One step lower, you can route the amp envelope to the pitch and finally you can add note repeat to each step – a great feature to add complexity.
If you want to delve deeper, a patch matrix with all the parameter is also available here, allowing you to endlessly reconfigure the instrument itself.
Rainbow Circuit promises that the semi-modular patch bay rewards curosity with odd destinations. For example, you can patch the mod-wheel output to the algorithm input, and let Motherly dictate the form beyond the eight steps.
It’s also possible to go experimental and create feedback loops, noisy modulations, and more.
First Impression
I watched the videos and I really like what the plugin does. You can tell that it’s not a DFAM emulation, but a standalone drum synth based on the concept. I like that it is very hands-on and easy to use from the user interface.
Rainbow Circuit Motherly is available now for $39. It runs as a VST3 and AU plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows.
More information here: Rainbow Circuit
this sounds great!