Tracktion Dawesome MYTH: Reinventing the Resynthesis Wheel?
Tracktion are building a reputation for delivering some leftfield and ultimately fascinating instruments. Dawesome MYTH is the next in line but is it something new or just a pretty interface?
It is always exciting to see developers and manufacturers come up with new and inventive ways to synthesize sound. With computing power increasing at an exponential rate, software synthesizers seem to benefit most. Dawesome MYTH by Tracktion seems, on the surface, to be one such leap.
But is it though? I mean, it certainly looks very appealing. Two big, circular graphics with lots of pretty colours.A seemingly clear and well-presented interface that invites interaction. And, if the audio demos are anything to go by, a sound that is very impressive.
Resynthesizer
Dawesome MYTH is a resynthesis synthesizer. Try saying that five times at speed! Instead of a bunch of static waveforms that you then shape with filters, you can drag and drop samples into an Iris, of which there are two. MYTH then resynthesizes that audio into a complex waveform.
This process, we are told, uses machine learning to deliver this waveform. Quite what this does and how is not immediately clear, but it feels somewhat akin to what a granular synth does. You can now manipulate, or transform in MYTH-speak, these sounds using ‘Transformers’ as well as more traditional sound-shaping tools.
Transformers
Transformers shape the sound based on a number of different principles. You can choose from Saw, String, Brass and Square which each process the audio as if it were created using one of those methods. You can apply frequency modulation and move the “playhead” around the Iris.
Under these, there is a ‘modular’ space where you can drop in additional oscillators, FX, filters and arpeggiators. No need to worry about connecting these up. Simply insert them in the order you wish them to work from left to right. All connections are made in this linear fashion.
First Impressions
I had a play with the very generous 90-day demo and whilst the presets all sounded very impressive, adding my own samples was a bit hit and miss in terms of results. Maybe that’s down to my inexperience with this instrument. Or maybe you just have to experiment for longer.
In Conclusion
The marketing spiel is full of hyperbole and is a little off-putting, but on first impressions, Dawesome MYTH does seem to be a very compelling instrument with a lot of potential. Is it as ground-breaking as it seems to claim? Or is it just a re-hash of stuff that already exists, using the ‘machine-learning’ label to make it more relevant.
The best thing is that you can judge for yourself by taking it for a free 90 day spin before deciding. That kind of trial is very welcome indeed! Credit to Dawesome and Tracktion for continuing to develop new and interesting instruments.
MYTH is available for 64-bit macOS Intel/Native 10.13+ (AU/VST3) and 64-bit Windows 10+ (VST3)
Dawesome MYTH by Tracktion is available now for a launch offer of £99.95 from our affiliate, Plugin Boutique.
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