Rob Jackson DynaSynth is a new AUv3 Synthesizer plugin for iOS and macOS, featuring original variable-shaped analog-flavoured oscillators.
More synthesis, more features… and more is always better. That’s not the case. Synthesizer apps with tons of features can quickly become overwhelming. Good, there are also synths with other concepts.
Rob Jackson offers apps based on the “less is more” principle, and his new DynaSynth follows suit.
Rob Jackson DynaSynth
DynaSynth is a new, original AUv3-ready 8-voice Synthesizer plugin for iOS and macOS. Like Rob Jackson’s other synths and effects, DynaSynth is very minimal and straightforward. It doesn’t have 100,000 features, but rather a few highly focused ones.
At the core of DynaSynth are original design-based variable-shaped dual analog-flavored oscillators for each of its 8 voices. They use their own output to dynamically modulate parameters.
This unique signal path can produce interesting sonic results that would be very difficult, if not impossible to achieve using traditional fixed LFOs and envelopes, promises the developer.
It triggers a kind of chain reaction in which the sound changes, the modulation changes at the same time, and this shapes the sound again, and so on.
The main oscillator section includes several adjustable real-time controls for the dynamics, wave shapes, and the modulation that can be applied. The (D) dynamics part of the oscillator is an envelope follower with variable damping.
It is used as a modulation source for the oscillator shapes 1 and 2, vibrato, and filter cutoff. There is also a dedicated shape control for each oscillator: detune, spread, glide, and vibrato.
Shaping
Then, you have a multimode filter with lowpass, bandpass, and highpass characteristics with cutoff, resonance, velocity sensitivity, and volume controls.
Alongside the envelope follower, aka dynamics control, it also has an ADSR envelope and an LFO with rate and depth control. The latter can be routed to the shapes, vibrato, and filter.
Further, it has a built-in classic delay with time, regeneration, and dry/wet mix control. There are also built-in presets as well as a patch randomizer for instant new sounds.
Rob Jackson DynaSynth has full MIDI support and responds to mod wheel, expression (CC#11), sustain (CC#64), channel aftertouch, all notes off (CC#123), and pitch-bend.
First Impression
A lovely Synthesizer with a new sound engine. I like that Rob Jackson is continuing down his simplistic path and offering apps with fewer parameters, making them more hands-on.
Rob Jackson DynaSynth is available now for $2,99 on the Apple App Store. It runs as a standalone app and an AUv3 plugin on iOS and macOS (native Apple Silicon).
More information here: Rob Jackson (App Store)
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