mutable-instruments/plaits

Plaits

A macro-oscillator with 15 synthesis models spanning virtual-analog, FM, wavetable, additive, granular, modal-resonator and Karplus-Strong string-machine physical modeling, noise, and percussion. Three master controls (HARMONICS, TIMBRE, MORPH) rebind their meaning per model.523

Visualization oscillator_morph

Capabilities 2

Internal Low-Pass Gateinternal-lpg: Internal LPG controls amplitude and brightness simultaneously via LEVEL CV or TRIG. Response (VCFA to VCA) and ringing/decay time adjustable via TIMBRE and MORPH knobs while holding first button.523
Physical Modelingphysical-modeling: Realized by specific modes — string-machine (modal_string_synth), particle-noise, and v5.0 alt-firmware models (modal resonator, inharmonic string, plucked string / Karplus-Strong). The other modes (VA, FM, wavetable, additive, drum) are not physical modeling.523

Jacks 10 — 8 in / 2 out

Name	Signal	Voltage	Description
Inputs (8)
FM CV input	cv	—	CV input for FM (frequency) modulation. The corresponding FM attenuverter knob controls modulation depth.523
HARMONICS CV input	cv	—	CV input for the HARMONICS parameter (model-dependent — see modes).523
LEVEL CV input	cv	—	Opens the internal LPG to control amplitude and brightness simultaneously. Acts as accent control for physical/percussive models.523
MODEL CV input	cv	—	Selects synthesis model via CV. Two LEDs show current model and center value (0V). Model changes occur only on trigger when TRIG is patched.523
MORPH CV input	cv	—	CV input for the MORPH parameter. The MORPH attenuverter controls depth. When MORPH CV is unpatched and TRIG is patched, the MORPH attenuverter sets internal-envelope depth on MORPH.523
TIMBRE CV input	cv	—	CV input for the TIMBRE parameter. The TIMBRE attenuverter controls depth. When TIMBRE CV is unpatched and TRIG is patched, the TIMBRE attenuverter sets internal-envelope depth on TIMBRE.523
TRIG input	trigger	—	Triggers internal envelope, excites physical/percussive models, strikes internal LPG (when LEVEL unpatched), and S&H the MODEL CV input.523
V/Oct CV input	cv	—	1V/octave pitch CV input. Controls fundamental frequency from -3 to +7 octaves relative to the FREQUENCY knob setting.523
Outputs (2)
AUX	audio	—	Auxiliary output carrying a variant, sidekick, or by-product of the main OUT signal. Content is model-dependent.523
OUT	audio	—	Main audio output. Carries the primary synthesis signal for the active model.523

Parameters 8

Name	Type	Range	Behavior
FM attenuverter	knob	—	Attenuverter for the FM CV input. When FM CV is unpatched and TRIG is patched, controls modulation depth of the internal envelope on FM. In speech model, controls intonation.523
FREQUENCY	knob	—	Coarse frequency control. By default covers 8 octaves (C0 to C8), but can be narrowed to 14 semitones via the HARMONICS knob while holding the second button.523
HARMONICS	knob	—	Model-dependent tone control. Generally controls frequency spread or balance between constituents of the tone. Also adjusts FREQUENCY knob range when held with second button.523 Zones wavetable-oscillator Bank A (interpolated) Bank B (interpolated) Bank C (interpolated) Bank D (interpolated) Bank D (no interpolation) Bank D (non-interpolated) Bank C (no interpolation) Bank C (non-interpolated) Bank B (no interpolation) Bank B (non-interpolated) Bank A (no interpolation) Bank A (non-interpolated) Bank A (interpolated) -100–-75%Harmonically poor waveforms via additive synthesis: sine harmonics, drawbar organ waveforms.523 Bank B (interpolated) -75–-50%Harmonically rich waveforms via formant synthesis or waveshaping.523 Bank C (interpolated) -50–-25%Wavetables from the Shruthi-1 / Ambika, sampled from classic wavetable or ROM playback synths.523 Bank D (interpolated) -25–0%Semi-random permutation of waveforms from Banks A, B, and C.523 Bank D (no interpolation) 0–25%Semi-random permutation of waveforms from other 3 banks, without interpolation.523 Bank D (non-interpolated) 0–25%Same permutation as interpolated Bank D, but without interpolation between waves.523 Bank C (no interpolation) 25–50%Wavetables from Shruthi-1 / Ambika, without interpolation.523 Bank C (non-interpolated) 25–50%Same Shruthi/Ambika wavetables as interpolated Bank C, but stepped.523 Bank B (no interpolation) 50–75%Harmonically rich waveforms via formant synthesis or waveshaping, without interpolation.523 Bank B (non-interpolated) 50–75%Same formant/waveshape waveforms as interpolated Bank B, but stepped.523 Bank A (no interpolation) 75–100%Harmonically poor additive synthesis waveforms, without interpolation.523 Bank A (non-interpolated) 75–100%Same additive/drawbar waveforms as interpolated Bank A, but stepped.523 speech-synthesis Formant filtering SAM vowels LPC vowels LPC words Formant filtering -100–-33%Formant filter sweep — sustained vowel-like sounds.523 SAM vowels -33–33%SAM-style vowel synthesis.523 LPC vowels 33–50%LPC-encoded vowel banks.523 LPC words 50–100%Banks of pre-recorded LPC words — MORPH scans within a word; TRIG can re-utter.523 filtered-noise Low-pass Band-pass High-pass Low-pass -100–-33%Low-pass filter response on the variable-clock noise.523 Band-pass -33–33%Band-pass filter response.523 High-pass 33–100%High-pass filter response.523
Model selection buttons	button	—	Two buttons cycle through synthesis models. First button cycles the primary (melodic/tonal) bank of 8; second button cycles the secondary (noise/percussive) bank of 8. Holding both buttons enables v5.0 alt-firmware variants.523
MORPH	knob	—	Model-dependent tone control. Generally explores lateral timbral variations. Also adjusts LPG ringing time and envelope decay when held with first button.523 Zones two-operator-fm Chaotic Rough Chaotic -100–0%Operator 1's phase is modulated by operator 2 — chaotic character.523 Rough 0–100%Operator 2 modulates its own phase — rough character.523 particle-noise All-pass All-pass network Resonant Band-pass Band-pass filters All-pass -100–0%Reverberating all-pass filter network.523 All-pass network -100–0%Reverberating all-pass network — diffuse, resonator-like response.523 Resonant Band-pass 0–100%Increasingly resonant band-pass filters.523 Band-pass filters 0–100%Increasingly resonant band-pass filters — sharper, peakier response toward fully CW.523 chords String-machine waveforms Wavetable String-machine waveforms -100–0%Scans string-machine raw waveforms: combinations of organ and string drawbars.523 Wavetable 0–100%Scans a small wavetable containing 16 waveforms.523
MORPH attenuverter	knob	—	Attenuverter for the MORPH CV input. When MORPH CV is unpatched and TRIG is patched, controls modulation depth of the internal envelope on MORPH. In speech model, controls speed.523
TIMBRE	knob	—	Model-dependent tone control. Generally sweeps spectral content from dark/sparse to bright/dense. Also adjusts LPG response (VCFA to VCA) when held with first button.523
TIMBRE attenuverter	knob	—	Attenuverter for the TIMBRE CV input. When TIMBRE CV is unpatched and TRIG is patched, controls modulation depth of the internal envelope on TIMBRE.523

Firmware history 1 version

Version	Released	Notes
5.0	2019-04	524

References 2

[523]
Plaits Manual (full)manual
source 523 canonical ↗ archived ↗

● verified 2026-05-19
[524]
Plaits Firmware v5.0 release notesfirmware_notes
source 524 canonical ↗ archived ↗

● verified 2026-05-19