modartt Airteq is a new, unique sound design instrument plugin that physically models air flowing through pipes and plays like a synth.
In an interview, composer Hans Zimmer described the pipe organ as “the largest Synthesizer ever built.” You could certainly look at it that way: an organ lets you shape its sound, too, but it does so with stops rather than knob. The underlying mechanical technology, however, is worlds apart from that of a synth.
A pipe organ produces sound by forcing pressurized air through individual, precisely tuned pipes made from materials such as metal or wood. This centuries-old approach to sound generation remains fascinating today. Now, the French physical modeling specialists of Modartt have taken this and turned it into something entirely new called Airteq.
modartt Airteq
Airteq isn’t a new virtual pipe organ plugin nor a traditional Synthesizer but a new imaginary instrument plugin for macOS, Linux, and Windows.
modartt describes Airteq as a physically modeled sound design instrument for evolving textures, cinematic atmospheres, and expressive sonic exploration.
At its core, it uses neither samples nor traditional synthesis. It generates sound in real time from a physical model of air flowing through virtual pipes. It emulates the moment air is generated right up to the point where it enters the pipes and creates sound.
The Airteq engine uses physical modeling synthesis to model how each pipe reacts to the wind supply, based on its proprietary Dynamic Aerophone Modeling technology.
In the middle, you have different pipes. You can select from different families of virtual pipes, each with its own timbre. Combine flutes, reeds, and mixtures that respond differently to how you modulate airflow.
The pipe choice influences the sound, as do the three selectable air responses. They define how pipes respond to air values: flute overblow, flute glissando, and flute steady pitch.
Each model has different characteristics and produces different airy sounds. With the four associated parameters (tune, air, volume, and pan), you can tune and shape the selected model’s sound and behavior.
Animate The Air
The air component is flexible as an oscillator and also supports modulation to make it more organic. Familiar synth tools are available for this—three ADSR envelopes, three LFOs, two macros, and gestures —but they are used differently than in a traditional synthesizer.
In modartt Airteq, drag-and-drop modulation doesn’t just open and close a filter. It changes the sound source’s behavior (air). Imagine a motionless airflow or a tornado. Both have different characteristics. They already sound different even without pipes.
Applied to the engine, this means calm airflow affects the model differently than tornado-like airflow, giving it different sounds.
The synth also responds to velocity, pitch bend, and aftertouch, and fully supports MPE, so you can play it expressively.
To refine your sounds, it also has a convolution reverb with various IRs and classic controls like dry/wet mix, size, duration, pre-delay, and more.
Airteq includes more than 170 carefully crafted presets designed to showcase the instrument’s creative possibilities.
modartt Airteq First Impression
Pipe organs are fascinating—both in their sound and in how they work. I find it exciting that this technology has been used to create a unique instrument concept—one that is neither an organ nor a synth, but a hybrid, or perhaps something “imaginary.”
Airteq has a very distinctive, airy sound that makes you want to explore more. In electronic music, where a pipe organ is difficult to use, this looks like a better fit, especially if you want to bring airy, breathing characteristics to your tracks in the form of soundscapes, textures, and more. A fascinating new physical modeling instrument.
modartt Airteq is available now for 99€. It runs as a standalone and VST3, AU, LV2, and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel), Linux, and Windows.
More information here: modartt
Be the first to comment