Stemwire Releases Mica Synth with 70+ Engine Models

Stemwire has released Mica, a new software synthesizer for macOS and Windows. The instrument combines experimental sound sources with a conventional workflow. According to the developer, synthesizers with unusual sources often lack standard envelopes, familiar filters and deep modulation. Mica therefore pairs its experimental engines with the tools producers expect from a modern instrument.

Four Engine Types Across Two Sound Sources

Mica offers two main sound slots. Each slot selects independently from four engine types: analogue and digital oscillators, physical and synthesis models, a struck-and-bowed modal resonator, and a two-operator FM engine. The first three are built on the open-source DSP of Mutable Instruments Braids, Plaits and Elements. In total, the instrument provides more than 70 engine models. Moreover, a utility oscillator and a sample-based noise generator sit alongside the main sources. The noise generator also supports user-loadable samples. Additionally, each source features its own unison with up to eight voices, adjustable detune and stereo width.

Modulation Routing Without a Matrix

The modulation system routes fourteen sources to every parameter on the instrument. These include three envelopes, three LFOs, three drawable functions, three macros, key tracking and velocity. Users simply drag a source onto a knob and set the amount. Furthermore, every target supports a depth source, so one modulator can scale how much another one does. As a result, no matrix page or cable view is needed. The whole modulation system lives on the same screen as the sound.

Dual Filters and Reorderable Effects

Mica includes two filters with low pass, band pass or high pass modes, 12 or 24 dB slopes, and serial or parallel routing. In addition, four reorderable effect slots provide twelve effect types, such as reverb, stereo delay, chorus, granular processing, frequency shifting and compression. The granular processor and the resonator are based on Mutable Instruments Clouds and Rings. Importantly, every slot stores independent settings for each effect type. Consequently, switching engines or effects never loses the settings you tried before.

Features

• Two multi-engine sources with four engine types each, plus utility oscillator and sample-based noise generator
• More than 70 engine models, including Braids, Plaits, Elements and two-operator FM
• Dual filters: LP/BP/HP, 12 or 24 dB, serial or parallel routing
• 14 modulation sources with 622 destinations
• Four reorderable effect slots with 12 effect types
• Up to 32 polyphonic voices, per-source unison up to 8
• 50 factory presets across eight categories
• VST3 and AU on macOS, VST3 on Windows

Price and Availability

Mica is available now for $89. However, an introductory offer reduces the price to $59 until 11 September. A demo with no time limit is also available. The demo includes every engine, all presets and state saving, with occasional noise bursts as the only limitation. Moreover, the plugin requires no dongle, no iLok and no subscription. Users activate once and can then work offline on up to five devices.

Price
Intro: $59.00
Regular: $89.00

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More info: Stemwire | Mica