Polyverse Music - Supermodal (Public Beta)

[hybrid gorge]

Polyverse (makers of Gatekeeper, Manipulator, Wider, etc.) have announced a new plugin, Supermodal, that's currently in a public beta. It's a combination SVF filter (w/ LP/BP/HP modes, self-oscillation, drive) and a so-called "modal filter", a filter that runs the signal through one of 27 physically-modeled filter structures (9 models w/ 3 variations each). Seems to me like a similar sort of thing as what a convolution reverb does, but as a "filter" as opposed to a "reverb." It's also got the same internal modulation setup as Manipulator.

https://polyversemusic.com/products/supermodal/

Personally it doesn't really appeal to me - I see no reason why I couldn't accomplish more or less the same thing with short impulse responses in a convolution reverb, or with other plugins like the Kilohearts formant filter, and without being limited to 27 models. It seems like Supermodal can also modulate smoothly between the different modal filter models, which is a nice touch, but may not be worth $50 (beta price, $100 retail) depending on taste.
I'm not your dad, get it if you like it.

[hidden cape]

but i looks nice and has mseg. all you need to sell stuff

[hybrid gorge]

Video and blog post from @worldly sentinel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwikEq5Rabo
https://www.databroth.com/blog/polyverse-supermodal-review
Indeed, you can smoothly transition between the 27 modal filter types, similar to an XY pad, which definitely does elevate this above a simple convolution reverb or another analogous plugin in that regard.

[worldly sentinel]

it's not really similar to a convolution reverb at all
well, that's not a full statement, but literally any eq/ resonator/ delay/ reverb can be replicated with a convolution reverb
hell, you can use convolution reverbs as samplers

specifically supermodal is a modal resonator

usually convolution reverbs come with emulations of rooms/ambiences, and maybe a handful of resonators
which means to emulate this plugin or other resonators would require making your own samples and loading them into a convolution

you could do the same to replicate disperser or eq curves as well actually

the part where this falls short is having to export a new sample every time you want to change settings, so it's not really a fair comparison

but other resonators definitely exist, can you replicate this one

sure, definitely in static settings as well

but as with any plugin, the UI is a selling point, it's not just what the controls do, but their range, and curve
curve is how much a value changes in relation to knob depth, this can really focus in on control in specific ranges
there's also sometimes more subtle stuff going on in plugins, where one control actually does a couple things in tandem
again, this could all be replicated, and you might only lose the layout/ look at a certain point, but you still have to build it yourself

it's fair to criticize new plugins are replicable using other methods, but I don't think that is a complete criticism
and can be said about almost anything, you don't need bitwig, you can just draw out whole tacks wave by wave in audacity
it's all about workflow and how much that workflow applies to you

[nimble mural]

super cool plugin

[late forum]

this is one of my fav releases in a while

[hybrid gorge]

Very true @worldly sentinel, I have to agree. I was definitely too hasty in my initial review. Indeed, I can see the workflow of the plugin being appealing, and I do agree that the parameter options have been dialed in quite well. It just doesn't appeal to me personally, not when I would prefer a setup that I've configured myself over being limited to the factory options. I think something similar could be done with SnapHeap and Slice EQ if you're willing to dial in the resonators manually, but no doubt it's faster to just load Supermodal and find a model you like. If it sounds good, it is good.

[worldly sentinel]

yes, this would be quite the build in snapheap, but should be possible, there are 100 resonators, so it would be a feat
also heavier on CPU
but yeah, not everyone needs this, it's a bit niche, but so is manipulator and I wish

[crimson moat]

i'd say what makes this differ most from a convolution based plugin is that it uses resonant filters, ones that self-oscillate potentially infinitely, while convolution uses impulse responses, which are not infinitely long. this appeals to people who are just fascinated by making music from feedback delays, no matter on what scale, cause that is what thos types of filters are, really specific and super short feedback delays

[worldly sentinel]

yeah, it's just not a convolution based plugin

[hybrid gorge]

I could imagine some Richard Devine-style morphing craziness coming out of this plugin with some rhythmic modulation.

[worldly sentinel]

I tried a bit, it's almost too safe

in objeq delay, SH modulation really pops and clicks

as it's bugging out the system from sharp jumps

where this one seems like they really made sure to keep it clean almost no matter what

it's capable of some cool stuff though, and because it's so clean you can kinda get away with pushing it harder into other effects

I'm excited to use it more, so far I've only really had one session with it

[late forum]

I've been using it a ton, made 2 entire songs with it already using it for main sounds

[crimson moat]

i only just watched a video. it's a physical modelling thing 😮 i love that kinda stuff