Technology

Call us cynical, but we learnt a long time ago
that when a software instrument developer
tells us they’ve ‘invented a new form of
synthesis’, what they usually mean is a diferent
way of coming up with essentially the same
sounds we’re already making with our old-hat
analogue- and digital-style synths.
Bolt (VST/AU), the irst software instrument
from renowned MIDI controller manufacturer
Nektar Technology, makes exactly that claim. It
turns out, though, that in this case, the novel
architecture does bear fruit in terms of worklow
and usability, as well as a certain character and
clarity of sound that we really rather like.
Bolt on
Nektar’s new technique goes by the name
‘harmonics synthesis’ and, similar to additive
synthesis, it enables the inal frequency-shaped
waveform to be created entirely within the
oscillator, doing away with the need for a ilter.
Each of Bolt’s two oscillators directly generates
a series of sine wave harmonics, the amplitude
proiles of which are broadly adjusted using the
Harmonics and Rollof knobs to deine their
output waveforms – see Harmonics synthesis.
Activating the Deep button boosts the lower
harmonics, ‘fattening’ the waveform and
pushing it more towards a saw shape. The Odd
Nektar Technology
Bolt £89
Powered by a brand new oscillator design, this single-window synth
doesn’t need to change the game to earn a seat at the table
“The inal frequency-
shaped waveform is
created entirely within
the oscillator, doing
away with the ilter”
NOISE
Set the balance between
oscillator and white noise
DRIVE
Overdrive the
oscillator into
distortion
HARMONICS
Add harmonics to
the signal, much like
a filter
SUB OSCILLATOR
Dial in a second,
doubled oscillator an
octave down
ROLLOFF
Angle the slope of
the rolloff to shape
the harmonics
ODD
Engage to make
the oscillator output
odd harmonics only
AMP ENVELOPE
Each oscillator has its own
dedicated ADSR envelope
FM/XM
Apply FM or cross
modulation from
Oscillator 2
MODULATION EG
Modulate up to four targets
with this ADSR envelope
LFO
Three LFOs with
fade-in, one-shot
mode and more
DEEP
Boosts the lows and enables
saw- and square-style waves
button sets the oscillator to output only odd
harmonics, and when the Deep function is also
active, the result is pretty much a square wave.
Oscillator 1 can also have FM (via a dedicated
sine wave oscillator) or cross-modulation by Osc
2 brought to bear; and the DYNX control applies
a sort of ‘loudness’ efect, giving the higher
harmonics a hefty kick up in level. The bottom
section of the interface provides access to up to
four unison voices with Detune and Width
ofsets; per-oscillator Glide; and adjustment of
polyphony from Mono to 16 voices.
By playing around with the Harmonics,
Rollof, Deep, Odd and FM/XM controls in the
two oscillators, and balancing and panning
them, a rich and diverse spectrum of combined
waves can be conjured up. Each oscillator also
features an ADSR amp envelope; a sub-
oscillator, mirroring the waveform an octave
below; and a strangely presented Drive control
for great-sounding per-voice distortion.
EFFECTS
Polish your sounds
with EQ, Chorus,
Delay and Reverb
VOICE DOUBLE
Add up to four
detunable, pannable
unison voices
88 / COMPUTER MUSIC / May 2019
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CMU268.rev_bolt.indd 88 2/26/19 12:36 PM