SWAM Clarinets
by Audio Modeling · Instrument · Physically modeled clarinets
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SWAM Clarinets is Audio Modeling's physically modeled clarinet and bass clarinet set, generated in real time rather than played from samples.
It offers continuous control of dynamics, timbre and articulation, and costs $149 with a 15-day trial.
Best for: Acoustic Instruments. Genres: Jazz, Acoustic & Classical, Ambient & Cinematic.
Keywords: woodwinds, physical modelling, monophonic, cinematic, fat.
What it does
SWAM Clarinets (version 3) uses Audio Modeling's SWAM physical modeling to recreate the clarinet and bass clarinet. Instead of playing back recordings, it gives "continuous control over dynamics, timbre, and articulation", so phrasing follows your controller the way it would follow a player's breath.
- Two instruments: B-flat clarinet and bass clarinet, each as its own plugin.
- Expressivity and Play Modes: set how the instrument responds and behaves, including how legato, vibrato and note transitions react to your playing.
- Timbre and noises: tone controls for shaping the sound, plus adjustable key noise.
- Pitch: master tuning with transpose and pitch-bend range, and micro-tuning; Sound On Sound noted a glissando range of 18 semitones, enough for the famous Rhapsody in Blue slide.
- MIDI mapping: one-touch MIDI learn, curve remapping and controller presets for keyboards, breath and wind controllers.
- Room and effects: built-in effects and an acoustically modeled room with several room types.
- Workflow: a preset manager that can save, load, import and export all or part of a setup, and a search function for finding any parameter on one screen.
It has NKS support. All SWAM instruments work with the native accessibility tools on macOS and Windows. A 15-day trial is available.
Source: Audio Modeling product page
When to use it
SWAM Clarinets is the better choice when the clarinet is exposed: solos, jazz lines and long legato phrases where sampled transitions and fixed vibrato give the game away. It asks more of you than the sampled clarinets in BBC Symphony Orchestra Core and Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition, which sit well inside a full orchestral mockup and need no special controller. Unlike Arturia's Augmented WOODWINDS, which goes towards hybrid textures, it aims at realism. SWAM Clarinets is also the cheapest entry into the SWAM woodwinds, and its footprint is tiny next to an orchestral library.
- Best for: solo clarinet and bass clarinet lines that need real legato, vibrato and glissando, played from a breath controller, wind controller or expressive keyboard.
- Genres: classical and chamber music, film scoring, jazz and klezmer-style lines.
- Look elsewhere if: you need a whole woodwind section quickly or program with a mouse; an orchestral library such as BBC Symphony Orchestra Core is simpler.
- Tip: turn the key noise down if it feels too present; Sound On Sound found the default a little intrusive.
What producers say
Reviewers find the SWAM clarinets highly playable and convincing, with only small gripes.
- Sound On Sound (Dave Stewart, August 2019, an earlier version) praised the liquid legato, the authentic vibrato and the bass clarinet's "fat, rich timbre".
- Synth and Software (Nick Batzdorf, January 2025) said every SWAM solo instrument sounds "totally credible".
- Criticisms: Sound On Sound found the key noise a little intrusive by default and missed a contrabass clarinet; Synth and Software notes SWAM needs an expressive MIDI controller to shine.
Where to buy
- AudioDeluxe: $99.83
- Best Service: $127
- Audio Modeling: $149
Tutorials and reviews
- SWAM Clarinets v.3 Explained
- SWAM Clarinets In Action
- Audio Modeling Swam Engine Clarinet + EWI 4000s - Review and Demo
- Gerald Peter performing with SWAM Clarinet
- SWAM Bass Clarinet - contemporary instrumental techniques
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