Kaivo
by Madrona Labs · Synth · Granular and physical modeling synth
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Kaivo is a semi-modular software synth from Madrona Labs that combines granular synthesis with physical modeling.
A granulator excites tuned resonators and instrument body models, all patchable on one panel. It costs $129 and has a demo mode.
Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Ambient & Cinematic, Electronic & EDM.
Keywords: granular, physical modelling, evolving, modular, textures, plucks, creative, cinematic, glassy, metallic, organic, pads, sound design, steep learning curve, strings, world instruments.
What it does
Kaivo is a semi-modular synth from Madrona Labs that joins granular synthesis and physical modeling: grains of sound excite tuned resonators and modeled instrument bodies. The developer aims it at "organic, evolving textures".
- Granulator: plays grains from samples laid out on a 2D sound map, with up to four channels; you can load your own samples to build a granular instrument.
- Resonators: eight tuned resonator types, including strings, chimes and springs, excited by the grains.
- Body models: four true 2D bodies (two wooden bodies, a metal plate and a frame drum), computed with finite-difference time-domain models.
- Pickups and panning: left and right pickups on the body mix different frequencies into a stereo image, and grains, resonator and body each have their own pan.
- Patching: modules are connected with virtual patch cords on a single page, as in Madrona's other synths.
- Manual: a manual of over 50 pages covers both granular and physical modeling synthesis.
Version 1.9.5 (macOS) and 1.9.4 (Windows). The demo has a reminder sound every minute and no patch saving.
Source: Madrona Labs product page
When to use it
Kaivo is the pick for plucked, struck and bowed sounds that sit between acoustic and synthetic, made inside one patchable instrument. Compared with Kilohearts Resonator, which adds tuned resonances to any input, Kaivo brings its own granular exciter and modeled bodies. Unlike Output Portal, a granular effect for existing audio, it is a playable synth. Compared with Omnisphere 3 or Pigments 7 it has a much smaller preset library and asks you to patch, but its granular-into-model chain does things those synths don't.
- Best for: evolving textures, metallic and wooden percussion, koto- and string-like plucks, and acoustic-sounding pads.
- Genres: ambient, cinematic and experimental electronic music.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a simple preset player or work on a low-powered computer; Pigments 7 covers granular in a broader synth.
- Tip: modulate grain pitch and rate together for smooth pitched tones, and randomize grain creation for more character (MusicRadar).
What producers say
Reviewers find Kaivo inspiring and unlike other synths, with high CPU use the main complaint.
- MusicRadar (Ronan Macdonald, 2014) found it "truly inspiring to use" and said it "does things that no other synth can"; the learning curve is real but smaller than it first seems.
- KVR users rate it 5 out of 5 from 1 review, praising the patchbay, the 16-step sequencer and the 2D LFO; the reviewer put it in their top three synths.
- Criticisms: MusicRadar called the CPU use "extraordinarily high" and found loading your own samples awkward at the time; the KVR reviewer also called it "quite CPU-hungry".
Where to buy
- Madrona Labs: $129
Tutorials and reviews
- Madrona Labs Kaivo sneak preview
- Sound Creation with Kaivo
- Kaivo Drones (How to make drones and textures)
- Madrona Labs - Kaivo - some of my factory patches
- Self Generating Patch: Sound Exploration on Madrona Labs Kaivo
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