Sinusoidal Run Rhythm MIDI
by Unfiltered Audio · Utility · MIDI rhythm generator
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Sinusoidal Run Rhythm MIDI is the MIDI version of Unfiltered Audio's wave-interference rhythm plugin, made with composer Steffen Krebber: it turns his Sinusoidal Run Rhythm patterns into gated notes, CC, pitch bend or channel pressure for any instrument.
$14 on sale (regular $20); a demo is available.
Best for: Drums, Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic.
Keywords: synths, drums, experimental, MIDI-controllable, sound design, mixing, rhythmic, samples & loops, simple, pads, utility.
What it does
Sinusoidal Run Rhythm MIDI (SRR MIDI) is the MIDI-only version of Sinusoidal Run Rhythm, made by Unfiltered Audio with composer and researcher Dr. Steffen Krebber and based on his rhythm theory of the same name. Patterns come from a simple model of interfering waves, which gives "microtemporal" rhythmic grids with accents and amplitude shapes built in, so the result is less on/off than a normal step pattern. Where the audio version applies these patterns to the sound passing through it, this one sends them out as MIDI.
- Gate mode: MIDI notes switched on and off by the active pattern, at the peaks and valleys of the waves; useful for driving a drum synth such as Unfiltered's Battalion or any other instrument.
- CC mode: sends the pattern's shape as continuous values to any MIDI CC target.
- Pitch mode: pattern-driven pitch bend.
- Pressure mode: pattern-driven channel pressure.
- Pattern engine: as in the audio version, the pattern is built from six sine partials with integer ratios, phase and multiplier settings, plus a sample-and-hold stage that pushes the sines towards square or hybrid shapes; patterns can be morphed, browsed as presets or randomised.
- Cross-instance sync: links several SRR and SRR MIDI instances so one leader controls the followers, even across the two plugin types.
It sells for much less than the audio version, and a demo is available from Unfiltered's downloads page. The developer says a pattern system is still in development. Steffen Krebber's website explains the theory and links to his book on it.
Source: Unfiltered Audio product page
When to use it
SRR MIDI is the pick when you want the push-and-pull, accented rhythms of Sinusoidal Run Rhythm on an instrument rather than on audio. The audio version is the better choice for tremolo, auto-pan, binaural and filter movement on a track; the MIDI version plays notes and modulates any synth or drum machine, and the two can run in sync. Compared with Cableguys MidiShaper, it doesn't let you draw your own curves: the shapes come from the wave-interference model, which is less predictable but more organic. Unlike Hornet RhyGenerator or Sugar Bytes Thesys, it has no step grid or note sequencing in the usual sense, so it suits experimental pulses more than programmed parts.
- Best for: humanised, polyrhythmic gate patterns on drum synths and pads, and slow-shifting CC or pitch-bend modulation.
- Genres: experimental electronic, IDM, ambient and sound design.
- Look elsewhere if: you want drawn MIDI modulation curves (MidiShaper), programmable step sequencing (Thesys), or the same rhythms applied directly to audio (Sinusoidal Run Rhythm).
- Tip: Pitch mode sends pitch bend, not quantised notes, so put a quantiser or scale tool after it if you want melodic output (an iPad beta tester's tip).
What producers say
Early users find it unusual and fun once set up, but say it takes some getting used to.
- Loopy Pro forum (iPad public beta) users called the MIDI version "quite fun" and one liked it more than the audio processor; others had "no idea what to do" with it and asked for documentation, and one missed pitch quantising.
- Synth Anatomy (on the SRR plugin family) called the concept "definitely unique" and the results "more experimental and fun" than bread-and-butter.
Where to buy
- Unfiltered Audio: $14 (regular $20)
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