Parallels

There are many possible approaches to take in creating a brand new instrument. Parallels focuses on two main things. First, it should always sound fantastic, with a minimum of fuss. And second, it should inspire the artist with elegant workflow, superb layout and visual feedback, and a sense of endless possibility.

A huge part of the first point is taken care of by the source material. Almost a hundred high-quality pre-recorded multi-waveforms live at the heart of Parallels. These come from classic synths, digital and analog, hard-wired and modular, FM and phys mod, and from environmental and combined sources too. Even some super-rare and unreleased pieces are represented.

Each waveform has a progression of some kind in its 15 second duration – a filter sweep, or a pitch diffusion for example – and playback can start from any point of the artist’s choosing, providing almost infinite sounds-per-sound, even at the source.

The playback method can be described as wavescanning, with pre-calibrated loop lengths per source for the best possible sonic outcome. The artist can choose how far the playhead will move through the source scene, and at what rate, before returning to its start point and settling into its sustain loop. All this with up to 14 voices at once.

Even just one of these source sections would be an intriguing instrument on its own. Parallels has two –  independent and blendable in parallel – and much more besides.

Each source can pass through its own shaper section, for example, with a choice of three analog-modeled filter types; a state-variable filter (low, high, or band-pass), a vactrol-style low pass gate, or a triad of resonant peaks.

And what about the four ‘mod pods’ on the left! Each one can be filled by one of five modulator types (LFO, random, Euclidian sequencer, step sequencer, or envelope) and can modulate almost any parameter in the instrument, even pairing up to co-modulate single parameters in a blend amount selected by the artist. Apart from being utterly beautiful, the five modulation source options are versatile and intuitive, bringing all sorts of possibilities to the rest of the instrument.

Perhaps best of all; the effects. Softube’s track record for rich, living effects in software is well-established. Many synthesizer effects are an afterthought. Ours have been our very essence for more than a decade. Parallels features five three-knob effects in sequence; individually adjustable, modulatable, and bypassable. A hot and hairy distortion precedes a chewy, tasty chorus. Then a flanger with stereo spread built into its feedback control. Finally delay, and a succulent purpose-built algorithmic reverb to kiss the output signal goodbye.

Parallels is a software instrument like no other; a beautiful, intuitive, single-page interface concealing a wealth of treasures within. Created by dreamers, controlled by you.

Our preset manager allows for the import and sharing of additional presets, so we've asked composer and sound designer Yoel Kumbolu, a.k.a. Bjulin, to create a collection of 100 sounds which further showcase the unique approaches to high quality creation allowed by Parallels.

Click through to learn more, and download your additional presets.

Parallels Instrument

Parallels instrument is a synth plug-in with dual wavescanning source sections and near-infinite source material for your unique sound creation needs.

Modular Ready

The Source, Shape, Mod, Env, and FX sections of Parallels are included as modules for Modular, for when you want a section of a synth to be able to combine with something else. It’s easy to use and combine single parts of the synthesizer in a modular workflow to build patches and get an extraordinary, otherworldly sound. This really opens up possibilities for innovative sound creation. Learn more about the individual modules below.

Parallels Source

Parallels Source is the source engine from one half of Parallels as a stand-alone module. It has a built-in amp and color envelopes, vibrato, and one-shot mode. It can be played polyphonically within modular over midi and/or monophonically at the same time via the gate and note jacks. All envelopes stages, pitch parameters, and color parameters have CV control via the external jacks.

Parallels Shape

Parallels Shape is the shaper section from Parallels as a stand-alone module. It has three built-in modes, LPG, SVF and RES. All controls have external CV control.

Parallels Mod

Parallels Mod is the modulation section from Parallels as a stand-alone module. It has four different modulation modes that can be externally controlled in different ways. The random source, Euclidian sequencer, and step sequencer can be externally clocked. The sequencers have extensive CV control over the first step, the last step, and the output slew. When not externally clocked, the sequencers are automatically locked to the DAW tempo at all times.

Parallels Env

Parallels Env is the modulation envelope from Parallels as a stand-alone module. It’s externally triggered by a gate over 1.33v and has CV control over each phase at any time. When decay is activated, it shifts from ASR to ADSR type.

Parallels FX

Parallels FX is the effects engine for Parallels as a stand-alone module. It has five modes, distortion, chorus, flanger, delay, and reverb, that can be run one at a time. Three parameters in each mode have external CV control.