If you’ve seen our demos for the Buchla Thunder Overlay - online or in person - then you’ve probably seen us show how easy it is to get incredible sounds from Madrona Labs’ Aalto plugin. Inspired by Don Buchla’s West Coast Synthesis paradigm, Aalto is a versatile and easy-to-use plugin which works particularly well with an expressive, MPE-ready controller like the Morph with Buchla Thunder Overlay.
Aalto uses a patching paradigm to map velocity, pressure, and slide gestures to different sound parameters. As the GIF shows (2nd image in the carousel), it's easy to assign how your fingers control the sound.
Order and get a full license to Aalto, plus 30+ custom patches created by Randy Jones, founder of Madrona Labs. These patches have a wide range of sounds and demonstrate how to use Aalto with the Morph via MPE
Please note: We can't accept returns on software. If you're not sure, try the demo before purchase.
About Madrona Labs Aalto
Mac versions require OS 10.7 or higher. Windows versions require Windows 7 or higher. Windows XP and Vista may work but are not officially supported. All versions require a 1.6GHz Intel Core Duo processor or better.
License Terms
You can install Aalto on as many computers as you like. If you want to run the plugin on more than one computer at a time, we require that you buy a license for each computer.
Read the friendly manual
Aalto’s manual has over 50 pages full of Aalto lore, tips and tricks, and a complete introduction to patching synthesis! Click to download: AaltoManual.pdf
Here's a detailed tutorial from Peter on using MPE in Aalto
Artists are digging the Morph + Aalto combo
"A little improvisation on a rainy Saturday morning, as grey skies hang heavily over the mood of the day. I love such simple set ups as this, using the Sensel Morph - a tablet-sized pressure sensor - with Madrona Labs Aalto software.
The Morph offers such a playful and sensitive way of approaching performance, where every little twist and turn of your fingers can affect the sound, very much like a traditional instrument like a piano. Here I'm using one of their overlays which emulates the design and functionality of the Buchla Thunder controller, and at a fraction of the price!
Aalto is one of my favourite pieces of software, a semi-modular software synthesizer with an innovative, patchable U, and here I'm using a patch that Randy, the developer himself, created. So this took all of 30 seconds to set up and play. Happy listening" - source