Acustica Audio intros SQUID-3: You don’t need make-up when the sound is this good

[JerGoertz]

I gave this a try yesterday; didn't impress as much as THING. Some of the patches did get a nice analog growl going, tho.

After playing with this a bit more, I've concluded it sounds a lot better than I initially gave it credit for. Still hesitant to get it as they apparently haven't fixed the voice-stealing bug in THING yet, but Giancarlo said it should be coming soon...

Edit: I've been told by another user here that the voice-stealing bug in THING has been fixed. Haven't confirmed for myself yet.

[andivax]

Kudos to Acustica Audio!
Amazing emulation of the Moog Sub37 (which I have).
The engine + 5 top level additional effects are insane!!!

Here is some modern sounds from Squid-3

[Echoes in the Attic]

I would buy all 3 if there was a bundle at 150 USD, I know I’m quite cheap and not the target audience, I just like to play with soft synths.

Yeah I'd consider a bundle if it was cheap enough. I find these synths to have so much overlap that I'm not sure I want more than 1. I do like the sound a lot, but they have not been very good about fixing glitches and bugs. They added real values to the controls for automation for the VST and never bothered with the AU. Why? There are brutal cliks in Thing and Expanse when changing presets. I've noticed some inexplicable behavior in thing and expanse with certain settings, strange things like filter sweeps having multiple resonances coming in at different spots that seems like a glitch, and so on.

I have to retract something here: I just downloaded the latest trial version of Expanse and actually the clicks don't happen anymore switching presets, so that's good to see!

Still only real parameters values on the VST3, not the AU. Would be nice if they fixed that. I still can't understand why they fixed that in the VST3 but not the AU.

Really amazing sounding synths though. I just realized also that the SQ3 filter is also in Expanse (as is the J-8 filter). I didn't realize what kind of filter that was until they released Squid-3.

Hey Acustica, any chance for a synth bundle at some point?

Actually I’ll unretract what I said about preset switching causing loud crackles. It still does it often just not always. Not good.

[Seafire Mk2]

Looks like a bog standard va with two terrible guis

[dieterlaser]

wanted an analog sounding synth with mpe features for using my own tunings with it

got a spaceship, instead. not even mad about it

[Acustica Community]

Update available in Aquarius:

Squid-3 gets full MPE support
The new update unlocks true per-note expression – pitch, pressure, and timbre – tracked with sample accuracy and smoothed to eliminate stepping and clicks.

It's not just MPE-compatible, it's designed to make the most of it.

Whether you play on traditional keyboards or next-gen expressive controllers, Squid-3 now responds with the nuance and precision your gestures deserve.

What's new in detail:

• Full per-note MPE response with pitch bend (±48 semitones), channel pressure, and timbre (MIDI CC74), all sample-accurate

• New smoothing controls for Timbre and Aftertouch (Rise/Fall in ms), removing clicks and allowing intentional shape control

• Timbre controller (CC74) is now independent from the Mod Wheel, allowing parallel use with non-MPE sources

• Expanded modulation matrix: Pitch and Filter parameters are now addressable from any MOD slot

• "Off" modulation source added for setting fixed modulation amounts without needing controller movement

This update reflects a deeper integration of the MPE protocol, ensuring that both real-time playability and complex automation behave as expected – even under layered or polyphonic scenarios.

[Echoes in the Attic]

Update available in Aquarius:

Squid-3 gets full MPE support
The new update unlocks true per-note expression – pitch, pressure, and timbre – tracked with sample accuracy and smoothed to eliminate stepping and clicks.

It's not just MPE-compatible, it's designed to make the most of it.

Whether you play on traditional keyboards or next-gen expressive controllers, Squid-3 now responds with the nuance and precision your gestures deserve.

What's new in detail:

• Full per-note MPE response with pitch bend (±48 semitones), channel pressure, and timbre (MIDI CC74), all sample-accurate

• New smoothing controls for Timbre and Aftertouch (Rise/Fall in ms), removing clicks and allowing intentional shape control

• Timbre controller (CC74) is now independent from the Mod Wheel, allowing parallel use with non-MPE sources

• Expanded modulation matrix: Pitch and Filter parameters are now addressable from any MOD slot

• "Off" modulation source added for setting fixed modulation amounts without needing controller movement

This update reflects a deeper integration of the MPE protocol, ensuring that both real-time playability and complex automation behave as expected – even under layered or polyphonic scenarios.

Nice to see those improvements.

Question though, how do you set the input to be absolute or relative for timbre/cc74? Some controllers send 64 as the no modulation value, and it generally you'd want bi-polar modulation from that. E.g. Seaboard Rise, Ableton Push, Linnstrument. Less commonly you might use 0-127 as the timbre range, like with an Osmose.

How can you use relative modulation for timbre in SQ-3, so the initial note on doesn't trigger a 50% modulated signal?

By the way, the audio unit still doesn't pass the real parameter units and value to the DAW, like the VST does. Every other audio unit does. Why did you fix that for VST and not audio unit?

[Acustica Community]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure if some implementation limitations are specific to a particular format; I'll check with the team for more details.

[Echoes in the Attic]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not sure if some implementation limitations are specific to a particular format; I'll check with the team for more details.

Thanks for looking into it. There are not limitations with specific formats. Please test any other audio unit plugin to test for yourself. Plugins report the same units for VSTSs and for Audio Units. If your developers tell you audio units are limited, please have them test some audio units to confirm this is not true.

Also I think you missed my question about MPE.