Physical Audio Preparation 2 is a new physical modeling synthesizer plugin that models a collision between two strings, a rattle and dynamic fretting.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of physical modeling synths, both hardware and software. Many (Chromaphone 3, Anyma V, Pianoteq…) tend to emulate acoustic instruments such as percussion or strings.
The British developer Physical Audio takes a completely different approach. Instead of recreating classic instruments, its synthesizers model combinations of materials to create sounds. After the fascinating Modus synth, Preparation 2 is now an upgrade for one of its first experimentally inspired synthesizers.
Physical Audio Preparation 2
Preparation 2 is a new physical modeling synth plugin (7-voice polysynth) for macOS and Windows like no other. That’s because I don’t know of any PM synth that does it like that.
Physical Audio’s code models a collision of three fundamental elements: strings with a beat configuration option, a rattle that connects strings together, and a dynamic fret. The combination of materials is reminiscent of the sonic experiments that sound designers perform in real life.
You play them with different exciters and record the sounds produced with microphones. The plugin emulates this, but goes much deeper.
The core consists of two fully customizable strings for each voice. You can shape it with various parameters including sustain, tone, inharmonic, non-linear and more. You can also adjust the stereo field of each string.
The second element is the rattle, which sits between the two strings and transfers the energy from the collisions created. You can adjust this in detail, including the mass, stiffness, gap and edge. Next to that, there is the flexible, dynamic fret, which sits under the strings.
To produce sounds, they need to be stimulated, just like in real life. Three different, customizable excitation sources are available: plucking, bowing, or side-chain audio. Plucking, for example, has different impulses for minimum and maximum note-on speed.
Side-chaining audio offers the greatest flexibility, as you can scatter your own sounds over the signal. Modulation is also on board. A little small, but sufficient. You get two multi-wave LFOs to modulate parameters (including FX), keyboard and velocity modulation.
There is no aftertouch, which is a shame, but there is full MPE support which can be configured on a dedicated page.
Physical Audio Preparation 2 also includes a multi-FX processor with EQ, compressor, modulation, shaper (distortion), delay and reverb. You can find these as a shortcut on the first page or completely on the second page. A highlight is the ability to modulate the FX parameters.
Sound demo
The developer ships the plugin with over 160 presets from professional sound designers, including Daniel Stawczyk, who also designed patch libraries for Applied Acoustics System plugins.
Physical Audio has kindly given me a license to test their new synth plugin. Here is a comprehensive sound demo without speech.
First look
I could now spend the last day playing through all the patches, adjusting parameters, etc. It’s a very unique, fascinating synth plugin that is certainly not the same again. Preparation 2 is a nice evolution of its predecessor, showing that physical modeling synthesis can be used in other areas as well.
I would have loved to play the synth with an MPE controller, but that wasn’t possible because I don’t have one yet. The plugin is fun because it offers a wide range of sounds. One can be classical, and the next is super abstract and experimental, from wonderfully snazzy marimbas to dark industrial drones.
What I’m currently missing in the synth is assignable aftertouch, GUI resizing, favorite preset highlighting, and deeper modulators. LFOs are good, but there could be more.
All in all, a great physical modeling synth that I will be working with for a while. I’m sure some factory or custom presets will end up in my tracks for an upcoming gig.
Physical Audio Preparation 2 is now available at an introductory price of €57.60 instead of €96 including VAT. Owners of the original Preparation v1.x can upgrade to Preparation 2 with a 50% discount voucher. You must contact the developer.
It runs as a VST3, AU and AAX plugin on macOS (native Apple Silicon + Intel) and Windows. A free demo version is available on the website.
More information here: Physical Audio
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