Synapse Audio - DUNE 3

DUNE 3 is Synapse Audio's hybrid synth plugin combining virtual analogue, wavetable and FM synthesis, for producers in trance, EDM, synthwave and film who want huge unison leads, evolving pads and detailed sound design in one instrument. It's patch-compatible with DUNE 2, so the factory library runs to over 1,000 presets.

The architecture

Each voice has two oscillator stacks of up to 32 oscillators each, plus a third oscillator and a white or pink noise generator. Every stack can run VA, wavetable or FM, and the Swarm mode gives each oscillator its own subtle movement, a livelier take on the classic supersaw. With 8x unison on top, a single note can use up to 520 oscillators. Since version 3.4, oscillator 3 can also play your own WAV files with a loop region. Modulation comes from four graphical envelopes (MSEG), three LFOs and a matrix that reaches both synth and effects parameters.

Filters and arpeggiators

The dual filter section runs two multimode filters in serial or parallel, blended with a Balance knob, and includes zero-delay feedback types from Synapse's analogue modelling work. An insert effect slot adds formant and vowel filtering or phasing inside the filter path. Two independent arpeggiators can each run classic up and down patterns, step sequences or imported MIDI files, with Random mode and programmable Arp Hold.

Effects and wavetable editor

Two master effects buses hold nine effects each, covering distortion, chorus, phaser, delay, reverb and a four-band EQ taken from Synapse's GQ-7 mastering equaliser. The Shimmer Hall reverb is exclusive to DUNE 3 and is a big part of its pad sound. The wavetable editor lets you draw waveforms freehand, by segments, by partials or by formula, then morph, fade and normalise them, and import or export WAV wavetables.

The sound

DUNE 3's strength is size and clarity: supersaw leads that fill a trance breakdown, wide moving pads and punchy plucks, all with a clean, modern top end. It's a deep synth, but the browser and huge preset library mean you rarely start from scratch. If you're after warmer vintage analogue character instead, Obsession and The Legend HZ are the better fit.

Features

• VA, wavetable and FM synthesis
• Two oscillator stacks with up to 32 oscillators each, plus a third oscillator and noise
• Swarm mode and 8x unison, up to 520 oscillators per note
• WAV file playback on oscillator 3
• Dual multimode filter with serial or parallel routing and insert effect
• Analogue-modelled zero-delay feedback filters
• Dual arpeggiator with MIDI file import
• Four MSEGs, three LFOs and a modulation matrix
• Two master effects buses with nine effects each, including Shimmer Hall and GQ-7 EQ
• Wavetable editor with WAV import and export
• Over 1,000 factory presets
• MPE and NKS support
• Scalable Full HD and Retina interface

System requirements

• Version: 3.64
• Mac: OS X 10.14 or later. VST2, VST3, AU and AAX (64-bit). Native on Apple Silicon in AU and VST3
• Windows: Windows 7 SP1 or later. VST2, VST3 and AAX (64-bit)
• 2.5GHz quad-core CPU or better
• Pro Tools 11 or later for AAX

SOUND7 is an authorised Synapse Audio reseller. Digital delivery: licence activation code sent by email. See How to Activate Your Synapse Audio Plugins.

Demo