Sugar Bytes - Obscurium

Obscurium is Sugar Bytes' generative synthesiser, for sound designers and producers in ambient, film, games and experimental electronic music who want melodic and chordal ideas that grow on their own. Give it scales and chords and it produces evolving sequences and harmonics, either with its own engine or by playing your other synths.

Harmony and sequencing

Obscurium works from your input: scales and chords set by you, or straight MIDI. Its sequencer then draws patterns in all kinds of ways, with draw tools, the Super Obscure mode, which writes sequences automatically, and Modifiers, which set every parameter of a step at once. Each step can have a different sound. Parameter shifting rotates parameters and their motion lanes, which creates complex, organic changes over time.

The sound generators

The built-in engine looks simple but goes a long way. One generator is an analogue-style oscillator with unison, covering saw, pulse and supersaw; the other is FM with a flexible ratio. Both run through the effect section and can be mixed and modulated from the sequencer, across eight voices.

VST hosting

Obscurium can host your own VST2 instruments and send them triggers, pitch and 11 automation lanes. Choose a preset, assign parameters at random or use the Learn function, and your favourite synth becomes part of the generative patch. MIDI out lets it drive other instruments too.

The sound

Obscurium is best at shifting, cinematic sequences, atmospheric pads and unusual melodic lines that you wouldn't play by hand. It's an idea generator first, so expect to steer rather than control every note. Note that hosting is VST2 only. For a modular approach to sequencing, see Nest.

Features

• Generative synth for sound and pitch
• 8-voice saw, pulse, supersaw and FM synthesis
• Generative harmonies or straight MIDI input
• Hosts and controls VST2 instruments
• MIDI out
• Draw tools, Modifiers and Super Obscure mode
• Parameter shifting
• 400 presets with pads, drums and atmospheres

System requirements

• Version: 1.1.4
• Mac: macOS 10.13 or later. AU, VST2, VST3, AAX and Standalone (64-bit). Native on Apple Silicon
• Windows: Windows 7 or later. VST2, VST3, AAX and Standalone (64-bit)

SOUND7 is an authorised Sugar Bytes reseller. Digital delivery: licence activation code sent by email.

Demo