Melatonin has officially launched Sine Machine. This innovative additive synthesizer aims to demystify an often complex synthesis method. After over six years of dedicated research and development, this instrument is now available for macOS, Windows, and Linux users. It has exited its early access phase. A free 14-day demo is also provided, allowing musicians to explore its capabilities firsthand.

Sine Machine distinguishes itself with a unique approach to additive synthesis, powered by an impressive array of up to 10,000 time-domain oscillators. Each of its 20 voices can utilize 511 individual oscillators, offering unparalleled depth in sound design. Sudara Williams, Melatonin’s founder, aimed to create a tactile and inspiring instrument. He sought to move away from additive synthesis being perceived as merely a technical lab tool. Consequently, Sine Machine is designed to be user-friendly. It features colorful real-time visualizers that clearly illustrate the sonic processes.

Unlocking Sonic Potential

This synthesizer excels at crafting evolving pads, shimmering textures, and intricate leads or effects. Its per-harmonic controls enable musicians to sculpt timbres. These are generally unachievable with traditional subtractive or wavetable synthesizers. For instance, users can create lush, shifting drones or glitchy, animated patterns with precision. The engine’s direct method of additive synthesis avoids reliance on resynthesis, FFT analysis, or wavetables. Instead, it directly manipulates its vast array of sine waves. These are further shaped by over 20,000 LFOs.

Key Features and Accessibility

Sine Machine offers extensive control, including bulk-editing of per-harmonic ADSR, volume, and pitch LFOs. Moreover, it introduces innovative ‘additive reverb,’ crafted from 1,000 additional sine waves. It also features ‘additive filters,’ such as brickwall and gaussian band-pass shapes. Per-harmonic gaussian pitch noise is also included for generating organic and lo-fi textures. The interface notably features ‘0 knobs,’ relying instead on visual feedback to guide users. For advanced users, the plaintext JSON presets are hackable, providing deep engine experimentation. Furthermore, the synthesizer supports MTS-ESP for microtonal scales. It also offers keyboard and screen reader accessibility, ensuring a broad user base can engage with the instrument.

Features

• 20 voices, each with 511 time-domain oscillators (10,000 total)
• Bulk-editing of per-harmonic ADSR, volume, and pitch LFOs
• Additive “reverb” built from 1000 sine waves
• Additive “filters” including brickwall and gaussian band-pass
• Per-harmonic gaussian pitch noise
• Hackable plaintext presets (JSON format)
• 140+ factory presets
• MacOS, Windows, and Linux support
• VST3, AU, CLAP, and Standalone plugin formats
• MTS-ESP microtonal support
• Keyboard and screen reader accessibility
• Online and offline licensing with 3 activations per license
• Harmonic arpeggiation for animated patterns

Pricing and Availability

Sine Machine is available now, with pricing starting at $60 USD. Melatonin provides a ‘pay what you want’ option. This allows users to choose a price that feels right. The developer explicitly states a commitment to straightforward pricing, meaning no sales, Black Friday deals, or third-party distribution. A 14-day trial is available for download directly from the Melatonin website, allowing prospective users to fully test the software before purchase.

More info: Melatonin | Sine Machine