Phonec3 is the evolution of the original Phonec Synthesizer, retaining it's distinctive character while introducing new and expanded features with an improved workflow.
Inspired by the remnants of the video age, Phonec3 embraces the haunting qualities of decay and imperfection, exploring the various facets of aging sound. Drifting tones, fragile textures, faded melodies, distant atmospheres and irregular harmonics form a palette that feels organic and evolving. Aside from it's quirky nature, Phonec3 is a unique and powerful synthesizer, capable of producing a wide range of sounds in the realm of vintage analogue tones, lo-fi synthscapes, ethereal ambiance, minimal techno sequences, retro leads and hard hitting synth basses. It's intuitive GUI attempts to strike a balance between form and function, making it a very practical tool that can be creatively inspiring to work with.
Phonec3 (v3.0.1)
VST/AU Synthesizer
(Silicon Native)
$89
+ VAT in EU
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Demo Downloads
(The demo version has the limitation of occasional sound dropouts.)
System Requirements:
Windows: VST3, Windows 7 or higher, 64-bit
Mac: VST3/AU, OSX 10.11 or higher, 64-bit
Features:
- Dual Oscillators with various combinations: Mix, Ring, X-wave, logic.
- Sub Oscillator for beefing up the low end.
- Cascading lowpass filter with 4 stages + Milk & Acid Filters.
- Post Highpass Filter.
- Pre/Post Filter Distortion.
- 3-Stage Filter Separation.
- Melt: A unique feature that adds instant character to any patch with drifting pitch and amplitude fluctuations.
- Extended Melt functionality with extra tweaks under the hood.
- Arpeggiator that works in conjunction with a set of Note & Modulation Sequencers.
- Note Sequencer: 16-step pattern sequencer for pitch ranging -/+ one octave.
- Scale Mode: Locks the Note Sequencer to scale for snapping to harmony.
- Pitch Wheel Quantizer for note-stepped pitch bending that can snap to Scale Mode.
- Modulation Sequencer: 16-step pattern sequencer for amplitude and filter cutoff.
- 3 LFOs: BPM or Manual modes w/ Keytracking, and Note Retrigger.
- HFO (High Frequency Oscillator): FM style audio-rate modulator.
- 3 Modulation Envelopes for several additional parameters.
- Aftertouch and Modwheel control of multiple parameters at once.
- On-board FX include:
- EQ: A 3-Band Parametric Equalizer.
- Chorus: A lush chorus with multi-voice stereo spread.
- Echo: A dub-style delay unit with bandpass filter.
- Pan-Tracking.
- Patch Randomization of Sub-sections.
- Sub-presets: load/save settings for sub sections
- Preset Import from Phonec2 (bank import coming soon)
- Custom GUI scaling.
- Intuitive patch management system.
- Several presets to get you started.
Oscillator Interactions
Phonec3 features a flexible oscillator system designed for creating rish and unusual tones. Two oscillators can be mixed, synced or interwoven through Ring Mod or X-Wave for crafting complex textures.
For deeper exploration, the oscillators can be combined through logic operations with adjustable switching points to produce shapes rarely heard from traditional waveforms.
Add the Sub Oscillator for weight and apply a selection of noise types for added grit and air.
Filter Functionality
The Filter section offers a wide range of tonal shaping options, with Lowpass and Highpass systems that can be routed in various configurations. The Lowpass filter can be cascaded up to four stages for steeper, more dynamic curves.
Specialty filter types include a 303-style Acid Filter, and a smooth and creamy Milk Filter. Both of these can be driven into self-oscillation.
Additional features like Filter Separation, Saturation Drive and pre/post gain distortion make the filter a powerful tool for adding warmth and bite.
Melt
Phonec's unique character comes alive through its Melt system, introducing a warped, drifting instability that evokes nostalgic atmosphere and vintage character, giving you instant VHS vibe.
Sequences, Patterns and Scales
The Sequencer combines an Arpeggiator with dedicated Note and Modulation lanes. While each can operate independently, the real magic happens when they all run together, creating rhythmic and tonal interplay.
The Note Sequencer can follow a variety of musical scales, locking steps into place so that patterns naturally fall into cohesive harmony.
Accents and dropouts affect both filter and amplitude, adding dynamics and variation to every phrase.
Together, these tools turn simple ideas into living patterns.
Modulation Madness
Phonec's modulation system is built for deep experimentation. Three LFOs and three envelopes can be routed to most parameters, opening a range of possibilities for motion and transformation.
The HFO, a High Frequency Osillator, operates at audio rate, enabling FM, AM and more unusual forms of modulation. Assign it to a variety of targets for complex and uncommon sounds.
Expressive Performance
Phonec3 lets you assign both the Mod Wheel and Aftertouch to several parameters at once, each at various increments. This can dramatically alter the sound of a patch with single expressive movements.
Sound Design Workflow
Patch creation and management is one of Phonec's strong points. The Patch Management system makes it easy to design and catalog your sounds, but the ability to save and load Sub-presets is where it gets interesting. Sub-presets are like mini patches for various sections of the synth, such as the Oscillator, Filter, Sequencer, etc. Phonec3 comes loaded with several Sub-presets to get you started. And when you're feeling lazy, or just want something different, Patch Randomization for specific groups of controls can give surprising results.