Spire is the first software

synthesizer A synthesizer (also synthesiser or synth) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis a ...

developed by Reveal Sound. The synthesizer utilizes multipurpose oscillators, filters, and effects units within a digital graphic interface. Spire combines elements from both

Analog Analog or analogue may refer to: Computing and electronics * Analog signal, in which information is encoded in a continuous variable ** Analog device, an apparatus that operates on analog signals *** Analog electronics, circuits which use analog ...

and

software synthesizers A software synthesizer or softsynth is a computer program that generates digital audio, usually for music. Computer software that can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed now allow softsynths to accomplish the same t ...

. The synthesizer utilizes wavetable synthesis. The software can be run by itself or within a

digital audio workstation A digital audio workstation (DAW ) is an electronic device or application software used for Sound recording and reproduction, recording, editing and producing audio files. DAWs come in a wide variety of configurations from a single software pr ...

. The plugin has been used almost exclusively in dance music.

Synthesis

Spire combines multiple forms of digital synthesis with reproductions of classic analog synthesis techniques. The synthesis techniques used by Spire are most easily described as subtractive, although the options available are much more complex than most real analog synthesizers. There are seven modes available for each oscillator: ''Classic'', ''Noise'', ''FM'', ''HardFM'', ''SawPWM'' , ''AMSync'', and ''Vowel''. The sounds from the four oscillators can then be routed to the modulation units, which include four

envelopes An envelope is a common packaging item, usually made of thin, flat material. It is designed to contain a flat object, such as a letter or card. Traditional envelopes are made from sheets of paper cut to one of three shapes: a rhombus, a sho ...

, four Low Frequency Oscillators, two step sequencers, and routing matrix. There is also an effects section, which contains five effects:

delay Delay or DeLay may refer to: People * B. H. DeLay (1891–1923), American aviator and movie stunt pilot * Dorothy DeLay (1917–2002), American violin instructor * Florence Delay (born 1941), French academician and actor * Jan Delay, stage name ...

, phaser,

chorus Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song), the part of a song that is repeated several times, usually after each verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in whic ...

reverb In acoustics, reverberation (commonly shortened to reverb) is a persistence of sound after it is produced. It is often created when a sound is reflected on surfaces, causing multiple reflections that build up and then decay as the sound is a ...

, and

waveshaping In electronic music, waveshaping is a type of distortion synthesis in which complex spectra are produced from simple tones by altering the shape of the waveforms. Uses Waveshapers are used mainly by electronic musicians to achieve an extra-a ...

References

{{Reflist, refs= {{cite web, title=Spire: User Manual, url=https://static.reveal-sound.com/downloads/manuals/Spire_Manual_EN.pdf, website=Reveal-sound.com, publisher=Reveal Sound, accessdate=12 February 2015 {{cite web, title=Reveal Sound Spire, url=http://www.musicradar.com/us/reviews/tech/reveal-sound-spire-579146, website=www.musicradar.com, publisher=Music Radar, accessdate=13 February 2015 Software synthesizers