Sound Particles – SkyDust 3D v1.5.1 VSTi3, AAX x64

SkyDust 3D is a spatial synthesizer plugin that allows you to play a note and instantly get 3D audio in any immersive format. It’s great in stereo and great in 3D.

SkyDust 3D is very effective immersive audio processing software, and in their latest project, Sound Particles have applied this technology to a synthesizer that is apparently a world first. The synthesizer itself uses a set of eight multi-wavelength oscillators, which can either be layered for analog-style subtractive synthesis, or used individually as frequency modulation (FM) sources to modulate other oscillators.

The oscillators are then fed into a mixer and each layer has its own filter, modulation and envelope settings. There are various options to further modify the oscillator waveforms, as well as the built-in effects, arpeggiators and sequencers. Sound Particles has organized the GUI using tabbed sections to make accessing all these features very easy.

Unusually, the surround panning technology behind most existing Sound Particles plugins has been integrated into the synthesizer, so that the surround pan position becomes the modulation destination. In other words, panning can be controlled using all the usual modulation sources such as envelopes, LFOs and sequencers, as well as having access to a set of preset paths. Each of the oscillator sources fed into the mixer can have its own pan mode, so you end up with a multi-layered sound where each layer moves independently.

The output format can be selected to suit your monitor system, from mono or stereo to a long list of nearly 30 discrete surround formats up to 13.1 (and Dolby Atmos compatible), binaural or Ambisonics, so there are options for creating sounds that work on headphones . as well as in surround sound systems. Apparently the synth uses ACN/SN3D (also known as AmbiX), so to use Ambisonics SkyDust 3D you just need to place it on a DAW track that supports it. There are several binaural format options to choose from, as well as additional options for each of these formats.

There is a large selection of patch presets available, which can be browsed by category. There’s also a “Dice” button for random settings and a menu that allows you to lock certain aspects, such as pitch, timbre, or spatial settings, so they don’t change when you try different random settings. Presets for arpeggiator sequences and 3D movement are also available, so you don’t have to do deep editing until you’re ready.

Support for MIDI MPE
New Presets
Performance Improvement
Support for Mono Output
GUI updates
On the preset save info, Tab key allows to switch to the next text field
Changing a parameter on a preset triggers a “*” on the preset name
LFOs max rate is now 100 Hz
On the Pitch Tab:

• Pitch EG has knobs disabled for Random Behaviors: Detune ± 10 Cents; Detune ±50 Cents; ± 2 octaves
  On the Sequencer Tab:
• There is now “Clear Step” “Reset Notes” and “Clear Notes” options
• Changes between note mode no longer resets the notes on the Keyboard
• Delete button for Lane is now on the top part of the parameter label
  On the Matrix Tab:
• PThe Filter Frequency behavior is now Logarithmic – old presets keep a “Legacy” behavior
  MIDI Indicator
  Virtual keyboard with pitch-bend, modulation wheel, and sustain pedal indicator
  Zoom UI (resizable Window)
  40 EGs per voice: 8 gain EGs, 8 pitch EGs, 8 filter EGs, 8 spatial EGs, 8 extra EGs
  40 LFOs per voice: 8 gain LFOs, 8 pitch LFOs, 8 filter LFOs, 8 spatial LFOs, 8 extra LFOs
  FM modulation (phase modulation) with 8 operators
  FM matrix, for custom FM connections
  4 FM parameters per operator: ratio (or fixed frequency), detune, modulation gain, feedback
  A FM view to help visualize the current FM diagram
  Binaural: 5 HRTF datasets, with more than 100 HRTF profiles
  Support for SOFA files (personalized HRTFs)
  Supports Ambisonics up to 6th order (only SkyDust 3D)
  Support multichannel: LRC, LRCS, Quad, 4.0, 5.0, 5.1, 6.1, 7.0, 7.1, 9.0, 9.1, 5.0.2 , 5.1.2, 5.0.4, 5.1.4, 7.0.2, 7.1.2, 7.1.4, 7.0.6, 7.1.6, 9.1.2, 9.1.4, 9.1.6, 9.0.8, 9.1 .8, 11.1.8, Auro 11.1, Auro 13.1, IMAX 12.0, 22.2
  Support for stereo: stereo, stereo (VBAP), stereo (MS) (…)
  Support for binaural (3D sound over Headphones) – 2 XY pads , with custom parameters per axis
  Snap feature, with snap time, on XY pads
  FX: Delay, Reverb, Bit-Crusher, Distortion, EQ (3 bands), Parametric EQ (1 band)
  FX presets and sub-presets
  Dry/Wet control
  Meters in-between FX slots
  LFOs with depth, rate, phase, delay
  Ability to sync LFOs with host (tempo)
  Global LFOs (all LFOs in sync with each other)
  11 Movement modifiers: Random rotation, Oscillate, Floating, Random Target, Rotation , Moving Up, Moving To Position, Moving Left, Moving Front, Moving Rear, Moving Right
  EG with multiple types: AR, ADR, ADSR, AHDSR, DAHDSR
  Global octave, transpose, detune
  4 macros, with support for multiple parameters, and custom curves
  Multiple 3D views: 360 view, rear view, top view, spherical view, SkyDust view
  Main volume and main meters
  Mixer panel, with independent control of oscillators (volume, mute, solo, meter), 4 FX dry-wet and main volume (and mute)
  Optional monophonic behavior, with “Mono” or “Legato” mode, and variable glide time
  Curve editor, with multiple point editor and curve adjustment, or using knobs (depth, min, mid, max)
  Ability to filter matrix entries by source or destination
  Matrix sub-presets
  8 extra EGs and 8 LFOs, able to control multiple parameters and associated curve editor
  Extra EGs/LFOs sub-preset
  Arpeggiator with 7 patterns, and ability to add additional octaves (from -2 to + 2)
  Ability to sync Arpeggiator with host (tempo)
  Modern Sequencer with up to 128 steps and multiple parameters
  Keyboard editor per sequencer step, for easy note entry
  Polyphonic sequencer (support of multiple notes per sequencer step )
  3D panning per sequencer step
  Ability to add any parameter to sequencer, with step values
  ​​Intelligent sequencer, with ability to adapt to major/minor sequences, by forcing a scale
  Initial 3D position by oscillator
  Variable Oscillator divergence, to obtain slightly random positions on each note
  Global spatial settings or independent spatial settings by oscillator
  3D position Envelope Generator, to define multiple positions through time
  3D LFO, with independent depth for azimuth and elevation
  Dedicated pitch EG and LFO per oscillator, for maximum flexibility
  Random pitch values ​​for interesting pitch effects, such as pitch convergence/divergence
  Keyboard and MIDI Velocity mapping on filters
  Random presets, with the ability to lock certain sub-modules
  MIDI Learn control or manual assignment to attach a control to a parameter
  Ability to filter presets by bank (factory/user), artist, and type (pads,…)
  Tooltips (on bottom bar) activated by mouse over parameters

Release Notes – Version 1.5.1

Overview

• Corrected a bug with mono output and added some more global presets.
  Improvements
• New Global Presets – Now 404 factory presets.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where mono output was sending only the Left Channel.

TCD Note

Sound.Particles.SkyDust.3D.v1.5.1-TeamCubeadooby
x64: VST3, AAX

Just install… (same AppID as previous, old manual removed.)

Do not try to test Blue Cat’s Patchwork program for incompatibility, specified by the manufacturer. It will just hang and do nothing else on that host.

Light up and enjoy!

Sound.Particles.SkyDust.3D.v1.5.1-TeamCubeadooby
x64: VST3, AAX

Just install… (same AppID as previous, old manual deleted.)

Do not try to test in Blue Cat’s Patchwork as per an incompatibility per manufacturer. It will just hang and do nothing else in this host.

Rock on and enjoy!