Branches - Semi-modular synth 4+
Standalone & plugin
Willow & Oak AB
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- $3.99
Screenshots
Description
Branches is a semi-modular synthesizer inspired by classics of the past. It runs both as a standalone instrument with support for external MIDI input or as a plugin (AUv3) in your favorite DAW.
Audio from the oscillators are permanently hardwired into the lowpass gates and the default patch is setup to receive MIDI and trigger the lowpass gate for the complex oscillator. This way you can get up and running fast and are then free to experiment with your own patching.
Branches is utilizing what is sometimes referred to as a "west coast" style of processing which in this case means timbre is adjusted by adding harmonics to a basic sine wave. One of the oscillators does this by fading between multiple waveforms freely, the other does it by employing a wave folder and blending it with another user selectable waveform. The first one can also modulate either frequency or amplitude of the second.
Branches support MIDI input on two channels. This allows you to control each oscillator and low pass gate individually if you please, acting as a duophonic synthesizer.
Utilizing the rest of the modules opens up a world of different possibilities - generative random melodies, timbre changing over time, modulation from your host app etc.
Ratings and Reviews
Cool potential but needs work.
I was excited for this, but it’s not quite ready IMO. First, the screen is cut off on both sides of my iPad Pro 10”.
Second, I can’t make a connection for the life of me. Touching and dragging from a related output to a related input does not work. I was able to delete the initial patch cables, but haven’t been able to make a new one yet.
And it’s odd that there’s no presets. Unless they are being cutoff. So the initial patch that came with it is gone and until it’s fixed, I can’t patch anything new...
Developer Response ,
Thanks for your feedback, the UI should fit better in the just released v1.0.1. I will make sure to investigate the connection issues as soon as possible, sorry for the inconvenience.
Bravo!
First modular (or semi) I’ve been able to kind of grasp before losing interest. The two channel system allows for easy side by side comparison since you can route everything on channel 2 exactly like channel 1, then start makes small adjustments to see how the sounds differ. So beautiful!
The online user manual is also very well done.
Two big thumbs up here!
Developer Response ,
Thanks for your nice words!
Wait ...No Presets???
Neat West Coast-type synthesizer. Good sound quality and well suited toward the experimental. Think Buchla synth. Probably not the best synthesizer for imitative synthesis and pop music.
But wait. I can't find any way to save a patch. Does Branches really not have a preset management capability??? If so that totally eliminates this synth for performance applications IMO.
Developer Response ,
Hi
Thanks for the comment! Currently it's possible to save and load presets via a DAW host app, think AUM on iPadOS or Logic Pro X for macOS for example. Presets for the standalone mode is the next thing on the todo list. :)
App Privacy
The developer, Willow & Oak AB, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy.
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
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Information
- Seller
- Willow & Oak AB
- Size
- 1.7 MB
- Category
- Music
- Compatibility
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- iPad
- Requires iPadOS 14.0 or later.
- Mac
- Requires macOS 11.0 or later.
- Apple Vision
- Requires visionOS 1.0 or later.
- Languages
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English
- Age Rating
- 4+
- Copyright
- © 2020 Willow & Oak AB
- Price
- $3.99
Supports
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Family Sharing
Up to six family members can use this app with Family Sharing enabled.