Spitfire Audio has launched BT Phobos, a synthesizer instrument developed in collaboration with BT (Brian Transeau). Phobos lends itself to writing cinematic electronic, epic, and hybrid compositions, courtesy of its liquid, morphing, and transformational convolution capabilities.

One of Mars’ moons? A synthesizer? A tool for creating massive cinematic and electronic rhythms? An engine for endless spectral combinations of wide, lush pads and ambiences with propulsive rhythmic figures? Is it a sound library of bespoke percussion, beats, micro rhythms, field recordings, live acoustic and orchestral treatments, textures and a massive vintage synthesizer collection? That is just scratching the surface.

At its core, Phobos is a synthesizer based on the unexplored precept of polyconvolution as a synthesis engine. BT came up with this idea many years ago doing sound design. What does that mean exactly? Polyconvolution as a synthesizer? Well, it means instead of using convolution for reverb or modeling an amplifier’s distortion circuit, why not make a “reverb” impulse response tonal?

Combining something rhythmic with something tonal (as an impulse response) yielded some of the most modern, liquid and percolating ambiences and textures BT had ever heard. These are the kinds of sounds he has been searching for whilst scoring; those elusive sounds where the director asks for “movement and a feeling of drive, yet subtly”. That’s not to say that Phobos only excels at subtlety – it can sound massive, driving and aggressive, like an army of monsters in its scope and power.

BT Phobos features

  • Revolutionary polyconvolution synthesizer, across 3 separate convolvers.
  • Contains more than 2000 unique sounds, created by BT, that can be used both as a source or as an impulse response.
  • Over 650 presets showcasing the possibilities of Phobos.
  • Plugin that loads directly into any DAW that supports VST / VST3 / AU / AAX.

BT Phobos is available for a time-limited introductory promo price of £209 GBP/$229 USD/239 EUR until April 27th, 2017 (regular £269 GBP/$299 USD/309 EUR). Prices inc. VAT.

More information: Spitfire Audio / BT Phobos