If you have used it in the past, it will be like welcoming an old friend back into your life. If you are new to Surge XT, welcome to the party. Come on in, the water is fine.
Synthesis method: Subtractive hybrid
Each patch contains two scenes which are separate instances of the entire synthesis engine (except effects) that can be used to create layered or split patches.
Quick category-based patch browser with textual search and favorites
Runs on a variety of operating systems, plugin formats, and architectures
Over 2800 patches
Over 700 wavetables
3 oscillators per scene, with 12 versatile oscillator algorithms: Classic, Modern, Wavetable, Window, Sine, FM2, FM3, String, Twist, Alias, S&H Noise and Audio Input.
Classic oscillator is a morphable pulse/saw/dual saw oscillator with a sub-oscillator and hard sync.
Modern oscillator is a mixable saw/pulse/triangle oscillator with an optional sub-oscillator mode for triangle (which can also change to sine or square) and hard sync.
FM2/FM3 oscillators consist of a carrier and 2 or 3 modulators and various options.
String oscillator uses two filtered waveguides to emulate plucked or bowed string sounds.
Twist oscillator is based on a very famous Eurorack macro oscillator, and it offers a myriad of synthesis options in a very simple and quick way.
Most algorithms (except FM2, FM3, Twist and Audio Input) offer up to 16-voice unison at the oscillator level.
Oscillator FM in 3 different configurations and ring modulation between oscillators 1-2 and 2-3.
Most oscillator algorithms (except FM2, FM3, Sine and Alias) are strictly band-limited, yet still cover the entire audible spectrum, delivering a clear, punchy and clean sound.
Noise generator with variable spectrum (available directly in the oscillator mixer).
Two filter units in 8 different configurations, with feedback loop available in 7 of them.
Available filter algorithms: Lowpass (12 and 24 dB/oct, each with 3 variations), Legacy Ladder Lowpass (6-24 dB/oct), Vintage Ladder Lowpass (2 variations, each with and without gain compensation), Highpass (12 and 24 dB/oct, each with 3 variations), Bandpass (12 and 24 dB/oct, each with 3 variations), Notch (12 and 24 dB/oct, each with 2 variations), Allpass (3 variations), Comb (positive and negative), S&H.
Open-source additions to our filter algorithms include: K35 and Diode Ladder filter types from Odin 2 synthesizer, 12 and 24 dB/oct multimode filters from OB-Xd, and weird but fascinating Cutoff Warp, Resonance Warp and Tri-Pole filters by Jatin Chowdhury!
Filters can self-oscillate (with excitation) and respond amazingly fast to cutoff frequency changes.
Waveshaper (43 shapes).
12 LFO units available, 6 are per voice and 6 are global for the whole scene.
DAHDSR envelope generators on every LFO.
LFO shapes consist of 7 deformable LFO waveforms, step sequencer, a fully-fledged multi-segment envelope generator (MSEG) with various curves and up to 128 nodes, and last but not the least - a formula modulator which utilizes Lua scripting language to provide completely custom modulator output.
Voice LFOs allow envelope retriggering in step sequencer mode.
Extremely fast and flexible modulation routing. Almost every continuous parameter can be modulated!
16 effect units arranged as 4 inserts per scene, 4 sends and 4 master effects.
27 effect algorithms:
FILTERING: 3-band fully parametric EQ 11-band graphic EQ Exciter Resonator
DISTORTION: CHOW Distortion Neuron Tape (based on ChowTapeModel!) Waveshaper
MANGLING: Combulator Frequency Shifter Nimbus Ring Modulator Treemonster Vocoder
MODULATION: Chorus Ensemble Flanger Phaser Rotary Speaker
TIME & SPACE: Delay Reverb 1 Reverb 2 Spring Reverb
MULTIEFFECTS: Airwindows (itself containing 56 effects!) Conditioner Mid-Side Tool
Surge XT is supported by a community of volunteer open source developers, designers, testers, musicians,
synthesizer enthusiasts, and content creators.
Without them, none of would have been possible. If
you're interested in seeing what's going on with the project, the best thing to do is:
If you are interested in contributing, we welcome developers who know or want to learn C++, git,
graphics and Web design.
There’s plenty of open issues and our Discord server can help you
find a good first one if you want.
Hop over to the Issues page on GitHub to see what we need
help with.
You can also join the conversation in #surge-development channel at the Surge Synth Team Discord
server. We'll help get you started!
If you would like to pitch in and have interests in UX, UI, visual design or any other design related
topics, there are plenty of open issues.
The #surge-design channel on Surge Synth Team Discord
server can help you find something to get started with.
Know any testers? Umm, asking for a friend.
Testing is a way that everyone can help
contribute. All you would need to do is install a copy of Surge XT and use it in your own workflow.
There are so many combinations of operating systems and DAWs that it is really difficult to make sure
everything gets tested under all contexts.
If you would like to get involved, jump in over here:
If you love to use Surge XT and make amazing presets or music, we want to hear from you!
In
fact, we would love to have you pitch in and help out with the project!
We are looking for
people that have content which showcases Surge XT in all of its glory.
If you make patches,
write entire songs using only Surge XT or anything in between, we would love for you to be involved!
We love Surge XT. We also love people.
Community is a
big thing to us on this project. We want an inclusive, positive, and happy
community with contributions from a large set of differing viewpoints and backgrounds.
Let's
be kind to each other and treat each other with respect. It takes all of us working together to make the
community great.
We are looking forward to your insights and contributions.
Let's make something amazing!
~ Surge Synth Team
This project is maintained by the community at the surge-synthesizer open source project on GitHub.