Absynth 6

[Rivanni]

So no bi-polar options for macros (and therefor mpe expressions either) right? Everything is unipolar?

And the top of the range of the macros and envelopes are always the current value of the parameter right?

Aren’t all MPE values unipolar? (Aside from pitch, obviously)

Like Pitch, Slide can be set as bipolar on many controllers.

[Echoes in the Attic]

So no bi-polar options for macros (and therefor mpe expressions either) right? Everything is unipolar?

And the top of the range of the macros and envelopes are always the current value of the parameter right?

Aren’t all MPE values unipolar? (Aside from pitch, obviously)

No, Y axis (or Slide) is typically bi-polar. You can slide upwards or downwards. You can use uni-polar to send the same positive modulation either up or down, or can ignore a direction, so that for example only upwards modulates. Pitch Glide is also bi-polar (as you can glide the pitch up or down) but Absynth doesn't have that as a modulator.

So often times software will have optional uni-polar or bi-polar response with Y axis. If expressions map to macros, it would make sense for it to just follow the macro polarity.

some examples of software options below.

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 12.17.54 PM.png

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 12.18.10 PM.png

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 12.21.44 PM.png

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 12.22.35 PM.png

[Echoes in the Attic]

But more importantly here I would have thought there would be bipolar macros. Like how Ableton Live does macros with their racks.

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 12.28.48 PM.png

[Sound Author]

Anyone else have the factory samples suddenly become invisible to Absynth and magically reappear once you close and reopen the plugin? Ugh. Well that's annoying.

[foosnark]

But more importantly here I would have thought there would be bipolar macros

Overall the modulation is just a bit weird. Probably it's how it was in Absynth 5, but I'm so used to the standard of a main parameter knob being the baseline, and any modulation being added to it (whether bipolar or unipolar).

Is there some way to offset a modulation source? Like if I want a minimum filter frequency but aftertouch can increase it?

[_leras]

I'm glad they kept the overall sound the same for backwards compatibility, and nice to have some higher quality filters. But I'd like to see a little more flexibility in routing, so that for example multiple oscs could go through the same waveshaper or filter. The ones on the bottom row are not per voice so those don't count. Or inter-osc fm, ring mod etc. Would leave the original sound the same but open up routing enhancements. Also would be cool to have allowed multiple effects.

The new UI is cool, especially the new controls are much better. But I do wish they would keep an "Original color" skin. Kind of like a light and dark modes except the OG wasn't exactly all light. But come on the green was cool!

I also think the new UI is great, much easier on the eye. But yes a dated looking skin with the weird original colours would be good.

Totally agree, new filters are great to have, but better routing, multiple and stereo spread etc would be great additions. Perhaps now it's updated it may allow this in the future.

[EvilDragon]

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 12.28.48 PM.png

That Osc 1 Detune knob looks decidedly unipolar tho!

[Rivanni]

But more importantly here I would have thought there would be bipolar macros. Like how Ableton Live does macros with their racks.

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 12.28.48 PM.png

Macros are only bipolar when the mapped parameter is bipolar, such as detune in the example.

[Echoes in the Attic]

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 12.28.48 PM.png

That Osc 1 Detune knob looks decidedly unipolar tho!

Is bi-polar not the right word for that when a macro is assigned? I think of it as the modulation source modulates positively or negatively around the central current value.

For example with an LFO that has a bipolar or unipolar mode, it can be visualized like this (on a filter cutoff in this case where the value is at the mid point):

Unipolar mode:

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 2.17.44 PM.png

Bipolar mode:

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 2.18.09 PM.png

So in the case above with the Ableton Macro, where the detune is sitting at 0 and can be modulated positively or negatively, in this case by the macro, is that not the same idea? The Ableton macro automatically knows the polarity of the target here but sometimes macros can be selectable.

[Echoes in the Attic]

But more importantly here I would have thought there would be bipolar macros. Like how Ableton Live does macros with their racks.

Screenshot 2025-12-11 at 12.28.48 PM.png

Macros are only bipolar when the mapped parameter is bipolar, such as detune in the example.

Yeah but that's my point. There aren't in Absynth. For example transpose goes positive or negative from 0, and yet when you assign it to a macros, it's still uni-polar.

So I guess like the envelopes, the macros only subtract from the value that is set, so teh value of the parameter is always the maximum of the macro or envelope range.

[zerocrossing]

Is there an easy way to just apply keytracking to a filter, or is it just Assign/Note Scaling/FilterName/ and then that note by note scale tool?

[Satch1]

Is there an easy way to just apply keytracking to a filter, or is it just Assign/Note Scaling/FilterName/ and then that note by note scale tool?

Click on ‘Hz’ above the cutoff and choose’Transpose’.

[zerocrossing]

Is there an easy way to just apply keytracking to a filter, or is it just Assign/Note Scaling/FilterName/ and then that note by note scale tool?

Click on ‘Hz’ above the cutoff and choose’Transpose’.

Ah, thanks. I couldn't find that in the manual. It also shines a light on how bad a lot of modern UI design is. If something is a data input and not just a label, there should be some graphic indication that this is the case.

[Echoes in the Attic]

Is there an easy way to just apply keytracking to a filter, or is it just Assign/Note Scaling/FilterName/ and then that note by note scale tool?

Click on ‘Hz’ above the cutoff and choose’Transpose’.

Ah, thanks. I couldn't find that in the manual. It also shines a light on how bad a lot of modern UI design is. If something is a data input and not just a label, there should be some graphic indication that this is the case.

Yeah the ultra flat look has gone a bit far these days where you can’t always tell what’s a clickable button.

[twal]

I finally came around to looking at Absynth 6 and it looks amazing. I am so happy that it's here again and it looks like such a great musical instrument. Absynth was one of my first synths and all-time favorites and it's wonderful that NI teamed up with Brian to bring it back to part of the evolution of NI.