MetaSynth 2.5 Now Shipping

A sample displacement map image - a new feature in version 2.5 (Click for a close-up)

MetaSynth is the only audio software that applies the power of advanced computer graphics to music, synthesis and sound design. A stand-alone MacOS sound editing application, MetaSynth integrates a wide assortment of built-in synthesis and sample playback technologies. It's an environment in which familiar graphics tools become powerful implements of sonic sculpture and it provides new ways of looking at sound.

Version 2.5 of MetaSynth includes innovative new synthesis processes, sound design features, tuning architecture, filters and improvements to the interface and time control.

Highlights of MetaSynth 2.5 include:

• New Wave Shaping Tool lets you remap the waveform of any sound, by hand. Displacing the waveform can induce phenomenal amounts of new harmonics.
• New Spectrum Synthesis Process derives Spectrum files from any piece of audio. Use Spectrums to design or filter other sounds. It's a powerful way to generate rich new waveforms from existing audio material.
• New Master Tuning Feature and Custom Scales makes MetaSynth the most powerful and precise microtonality tool ever developed. Includes hundreds of ready-made tuning tables.
• New Displacement Mapping technique causes unbelievable time acceleration/deceleration, diffusion, bending, dephasing and vibrato effects.
• New Time Control conveniently adjusts the tempo and duration of an image, even sets the duration to match the length of the current sample.
• New Filter Processes including Quantize, Blur, Trace Edges, Remap Scale, Add Harmonic.
• New Instruments Support includes stereo multi-samples plus fine tuning option.
• Optimized DSP algorithms and improved Preview playback for better performance and higher sound quality.
• Plus new Pitch Filters, Brushes, Transfer Functions, a brighter cleaner look, a completely revised manual, step-by-step tutorials and hundreds of sound files and presets on CD.

MetaSynth combines sampling, wavetable, additive, subtractive, granular, wave shaping and frequency modulation techniques with the world's most intuitive display for visualizing and manipulating audio. Start with any synthesized waveform, real world sampled sounds or a combination of the two. The Image Synth Palette draws FFT sonograms-"sound pictures"-from any audio source. And lets you paint with them, cut/paste, use them as filters, even feed the original sound through the graphic representation for dazzling resynthesis effects.

MetaSynth is already in use by thousands of people worldwide. MetaSynth applications include:

• Electronic Music Production: There's simply no quicker way to develop original "signature" sounds.
• Sound Design: MetaSynth is used by top film, video and multimedia professionals who rely on MetaSynth for creating unique effects, unusual beds, attention-getting stingers and other distinctive audio elements.
• Education: MetaSynth is the most immediate way to look at sound. The Image Synth palette gives an instantly understandable visual representation of sound activity, captured as a still image. The Wave Table palette demonstrates the direct relationship between wave shape and timbre.

MetaSynth requires a Power Macintosh or G3 computer 80 Megahertz or faster running MacOS 7.3 or later with Sound Manager 3.1 or higher. Requires a minimum of 16 Megabytes of Ram, 32 to 80 MB recommended. MetaSynth 2.5 is now available at a suggested US retail price of $299, international pricing may vary. Registered owners of earlier versions may upgrade to MetaSynth 2.5 for $50. A free demo version of MetaSynth is available for download and may be freely distributed. Also available: Xx, a MetaSynth midi companion.

MetaSynth was created by programmer and artist Eric Wenger, the inventor of KPT Bryce. Manufactured by User-friendly and innovative software LLC, distributed worldwide exclusively by Arboretum Systems.

MetaSynth is a trademark of U&I software LLC, all rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. MetaSynth is distributed worldwide exclusively by Arboretum Systems. Copyright 1999 Arboretum Systems Inc. All prices, features and specifications are subject to change without notice.