CYCLES is an innovative and powerful loop manipulation and granular synthesis environment. Through a variety of idiosyncratic and interactive processes pull apart and reconstruct audio instantly into an endless myriad of collaged loops, performable textures, modulating rhythms, generative sequences and playable pads.
The LOOPS engine is an audio looper, splicer and synthesiser.
Audio is manipulated using an interactive visual timeline that slices the loops into rhythmic segments and re-collages them to create new and irregular formations. Playback parameters facilitate detailed loop manipulation whilst parameter modulation and slice randomisation can create further rhythmic evolution.
→ LOOPS
The GRAINS engine operates at the micro level, deconstructing loops into tiny fragments and then rebuilding them into diffuse and amorphous clouds of texture.
Grains of variable size, shape, pitch, volume, pan and direction interact to create a multitude of generative soundscapes and gestural movements, with physically simulated modulation introducing natural repetition by animating parameters in cyclical patterns.
→ GRAINS
EXPLORE NEW SONIC WORLDS
CYCLES includes over 450 loop sources divided into six distinct packs, each designed to inspire new and idiosyncratic directions in music creation. Loops can be used straight out of the box in order to generate and develop existing ideas, or alternatively taken purely as source material to be manipulated within the engine into entirely new worlds of sound.
MACHINE DRUMS
MODULAR
ANALOGUE
FRETS
METALLOPHONES
BOWED
Driven by pulses gates and triggers. Electronic drum machines, mechanical beaters, electroacoustic tape loops and snares pulsed by amps.
PLAY
00:00 / 00:00
TRANSFORM LOOPS INSTANTLY
CYCLES includes 100 preset engine states to help find inspiration and aid exploration.
Each of these transforms the engine into a different set of parameters, settings, and modulation, creating an entirely new world of sound in which a loop or sample is then performable. This produces a huge palette of tens of thousands of unique processed loops and textures, existing anywhere from energetic pulses and plucks to rich cinematic ambiences.
→ STATES
A VAST LIBRARY OF UNIQUE SOUNDS
As well as the source loops, over 150 bespoke pads, textures and sequences are included, each created by taking a single source loop and transfiguring it within the CYCLES engine.
The result is a vast library of unique timbres and rhythms full of granularised swarms, lush organic textures and precise cyclical pulses. Patches can be performed interactively, with mod wheel movement creating dynamic rises and evolving cinematic transitions.
→ PRESETS
IMPORT YOUR OWN SAMPLES
By simply dragging and dropping a sample anywhere onto the CYCLES interface, it will be loaded into the LOOPS and GRAINS engines.
Up to 25 loops or samples can be loaded simultaneously into a single instrument, making mixing and matching loops easy. The engines can then be used to manipulate and reinvent the sounds, or can be switched into any of the 100 preset states, transforming user samples instantly into a huge variety of sound designed textures and rhythms. Any user patches can then be saved within the CYCLES file structure and will be accessible within the library tab.
→ DRAG + DROP
GO DEEPER INTO CYCLES
→ ENGINE OVERVIEW
SEQUENCER
XY
MODULATION
MACROS
PERFORMANCE
Within the cartesian grid sequencer, a sequence is no longer a list of numeric values but an intuitive display of generative patterns and tones. Instead of being arranged linearly, sequence steps appear in a two dimensional grid and are moved through using various non-linear patterns and rhythms. Pitch is quantised through a number of scales, making arpeggios and angular melodic sequences easy to produce. Grid values can be continuously reconfigured by the user, adopted from preset patterns, or randomised to generate a continuous exploration of abstract melodic and rhythmic ideas.
LEARN MORE
Deep dive into an encyclopedia of sound design concepts and techniques using CYCLES STUDIES, expanding your knowledge and inspiring new ways of working with it.
→ EXPLORE CYCLES STUDIES
CYCLES IN CONTEXT
→ Ritual — Simon Ashdown
Hykler — Will Slater
Body Turns — Simon Ashdown
Fragments — Will Slater
Paper Dragon — Simon Ashdown
Made of Glass — Will Slater
00:00 / 00:00
PLAY
CREATIVE USES
Watch Matt Lowery sample a SOMA Laboratory Lyra-8 into CYCLES to create controllable shifting synth textures and patterns.
→ CYCLES + LYRA
TESTIMONIALS + REVIEWS
"THE MOST INSTANTLY INSPIRATIONAL COLLECTION OF ONES AND ZEROS I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS"
— OLAFUR ARNALDS
"I GUESS MY SECRET WEAPON ISN'T SO SECRET ANYMORE"
— MAC QUAYLE (THE LAST OF US, MR. ROBOT)
"BY FAR ONE OF THE COOLEST INSTRUMENTS I HAVE USED IN A LONG TIME"
— RICHARD DEVINE
"CYCLES IS BLOWING MY MIND"
— BT
"AN INSPIRING AND STUNNING KONTAKT INSTRUMENT THAT YOU CAN IMMERSE YOURSELF IN FOR HOURS, AND COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE WITH OTHERWORLDLY SOUNDS. 10/10"
— MUSICTECH MAGAZINE
"AN ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER. IT IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE LOOP MANGLING SAMPLE ENGINE AROUND"
— PROSPA
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
SOFTWARE
Kontakt or Kontakt 6.3.2 or higher
Free Kontakt Player included
SYSTEM
Intel Macs (i5 or higher): macOS 10.15 or later; Apple Silicon Macs: macOS 11 or later (latest update); Windows 10 or 11, Intel Core i5 or equivalent CPU
SIZE
2.8GB samples compressed
CONTENT
189 presets patches
100 preset engine states
494 sound designed loop sources
