Instrument · Instrument
Fathom
Four-voice drone synthesizer with five generator algorithms, a notch filter and a delay network with a frequency shifter in its loop — CC 1-4 line up with Drift's lanes.
Opinion
A drone instrument rather than a keyboard one. Attack and release are long by default, the sustain pedal holds a chord indefinitely, and the four voices sit apart in the stereo field. The generator makes the raw cluster; the processor turns it into a slowly spiralling wash, because every repeat in the feedback loop is moved a little up or down in pitch. Hold a fifth and an octave, set Shift to a few hertz, and let the tail climb. Put Drift on it and Warp, Span, Morph and Seed wander on their own. It is not for plucks or fast lines.
Functionality
Modelled on the Vhikk X algorithm reference from FORGE TME (https://forge-tme.com/vhikk-x/algos_launch.html): a generator, a filter, a VCA and a delay-based processor with a frequency shifter in its feedback loop. This is an original implementation of that signal flow, not a port.
Generator — five algorithms, sharing five controls that mean something different in each:
| Algorithm | What it is |
|---|---|
| Analog | A band-limited saw and pulse; the pulse frequency-modulates the saw |
| Shaper | A sine carrier phase-modulated, ring-modulated and folded by a second sine |
| Sines | Eight sines, near-harmonic, one a hair off the fundamental so it beats |
| Table | Four wavetable oscillators scanning eight frames, offset by the seed |
| Cluster | Four oscillators on diatonic steps around the note; Morph scans across them |
Filter — a low-pass (Field) with two notches (Notch), per voice.
Processor — Metallic is a four-line feedback delay network; Diffuse is a stereo ping-pong delay through allpass diffusers. Time sets the delay length, Form moves from distinct echoes to a diffuse wash, Feed sets how long it rings, Shift moves each repeat in pitch, Mix blends dry and wet.
Voices — four, panned apart. Basis transposes, Glide slides between notes, Hold (sustain pedal, CC 64) keeps notes sounding after the keys come up. Pitch bend is +-2 semitones.
CC 1-4 are Warp, Span, Morph and Seed, which are Drift’s default lane numbers; CC 5 is Fuse, 6 Field, 7 Level, 8 Notch, 9 Mix, 10 Time, 11 Form, 12 Feed, 13 Shift, 14 Basis.
Parameters
| Parameter | Range | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algorithm | Analog, Shaper, Sines, Table, Cluster | Sines | Changing it live clicks |
| Warp | 0-100 % | 30 % | CC 1 |
| Span | 0-100 % | 25 % | CC 2 |
| Morph | 0-100 % | 30 % | CC 3 |
| Seed | 0-100 % | 50 % | CC 4. Scans smoothly; repeatable |
| Fuse | 0-100 % | 0 % | CC 5 |
| Field | 40 Hz-20 kHz | 20 kHz | CC 6 |
| Notch | 0-100 % | 0 % | CC 8 |
| Processor | Metallic, Diffuse | Metallic | |
| Time | 10 ms-0.8 s | 58 ms | CC 10 |
| Form | 0-100 % | 60 % | CC 11 |
| Feed | 0-100 % | 50 % | CC 12 |
| Shift | -500 to +500 Hz | off | CC 13 |
| Mix | 0-100 % | 35 % | CC 9 |
| Basis | -24 to +24 st | 0 | CC 14 |
| Glide | 0-2000 ms | off | |
| Attack | 5-5000 ms | 800 ms | |
| Release | 10-10000 ms | 3 s | |
| Hold | Off, On | Off | Sustain pedal, CC 64 |
| Level | 0-100 % | 60 % | CC 7 |
| MIDI In | Off, 1-16, All | All | Channel filter for notes and CC |
Status
Core DSP, deterministic tests, the VST3 target and the catalogue screenshot are complete. Host validation in REAPER remains, and it has not been auditioned by ear.