The company announced the release of the updated Absynth 6 synthesiser by Native Instruments on its official website. This sixth version of the semi-modular software synthesiser was developed in collaboration with Brian Clevinger, the author of the original plugin.
This marks Absynth's return after a three-year hiatus; in 2022, the company officially archived Absynth 5, announcing the end of development and support for the instrument. However, the developers did not specify whether work was underway to create a new version.
The company emphasises that Absynth 6 was developed in collaboration with Brian Clevinger, the author of the original synthesiser. They updated the plugin's interface, upgraded the sound engine and added new features to modernise the synth. Overall, the developers upgraded everything they could and needed to while preserving what made the instrument famous — Absynth remained Absynth.
Brian Clevinger, creator of Absynth:When I originally created Absynth, I wanted an instrument that invited people to lose themselves in sound. Seeing it evolve into Absynth 6 has been genuinely moving. It still has that strange, alive quality, only now with the range and precision to inspire a new generation of explorers.
They preserved the synthesizer's character: its hybrid semi-modular engine still combines subtractive, FM, sample, and granular synthesis. The 68-point envelopes and mutation section have also been retained and now feature a more 'intelligent' preset generation algorithm. The synthesizer still features the signature Aetherizer and Cloud Filter effects, all of which have been upgraded for greater productivity and efficiency.
Native Instruments Absynth 6 main innovations are related to expressiveness and modern working formats. Absynth 6 now supports MPE and polyphonic aftertouch fully, as well as a surround sound mode with multi-channel spatial processing. The instrument supports the MTS-ESP standard for global microtuning and features new harmonic systems. Users now have control over the sound behaviour on each channel in the effects block.
Special emphasis has been placed on working with presets. The new Absynth Preset Explorer module provides a visual map of sounds, with a built-in AI assistant analysing the timbral characteristics of presets and arranging them on the map according to similarity. This makes it easier to find the right timbre and inspires new combinations. Native Instruments emphasises that AI plays a supporting role and is designed to expand the creative scope, not replace the musician's work.
The Absynth 6 library includes archived patches dating back to the first version of the synthesiser. At the same time, the synth itself is fully compatible with presets and patches created in versions four and five of the plugin. The catalogue also features new sounds from Brian Eno, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith and Richard Devine. It is noted that the library of author presets will be expanded in the future.
Overall, the instrument continues Absynth's twenty-year-plus history, offering an updated interface and modern working capabilities while retaining the signature "lively" strangeness that musicians have come to love about the synthesizer.
Absynth 6 is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats, and is compatible with Windows 10 and later, and macOS 14 and later (Intel/Apple) operating systems. The developers note that an internet connection is required for initial installation and activation, after which the synthesiser can be used offline. However, the plugin itself requires a constant internet connection and a video adapter that supports either OpenGL 2.1 or DirectX 9/11.
The Native Instruments Absynth 6 synthesiser is available to purchase now, including from retailers such as Thomann. A new licence costs €199, while an upgrade from previous versions costs €99. Visit the official Native Instruments website for more details about the software synthesizer.
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