FabFilter has released the latest version of its award-winning virtual analog synthesizer. Almost two decades after FabFilter’s plug-in debut with the FabFilter One synthesizer, Twin 3 expands and improves on its predecessor in every area, including a complete redesign of the GUI and workflow, more and better oscillators and filters, a radically powered-up modulation system, an all-new FX section, and much more.
Sonically versatile, supremely intuitive, and spectacularly ‘analog’, Twin 3 is a dream instrument for creating synth sounds of all kinds, from basses, leads, and pads to plucks, drums, effects, and beyond.
Beautiful new interface and improved workflow
FabFilter has completely redesigned Twin 3’s interface and workflow, making it more immediately accessible, visually informative, and speedy to navigate than ever, and adding new scaling options and a luxurious Full Screen mode for taking its synth programming environment to the spatial extreme.
Individual oscillators and filters can now be added and removed as required, every aspect of the filters is accessed and manipulated within a stunning interactive EQ-style display, and the darker color scheme is less tiring on the eyes over long sessions. Responsive per-oscillator oscilloscopes, a beautiful spectrogram, and full visualization of modulation signals throughout the signal path let users see everything they hear, while the floating slot panels group active modulation sources at each target control for collective tweaking.
Improved oscillators and filters
It all starts at the oscillators, and Twin 3 provides four of them — up from Twin 2‘s three — with which to build synth sounds of limitless depth and intricacy. Completely overhauled and featuring analog-modelled drift for subtle random pitch and phase fluctuation, as well as pulse width modulation, hard sync, and phase sync, Twin 3’s oscillators are flawless in their analog authenticity.
Polyphony has been given a boost, too, with an upgraded maximum of 64 voices — double the 32 of Twin 2 — and the Per Oscillator polyphony mode, which steps through the oscillators with each incoming note. Twin 3’s filters have been doubled in number from two to four and similarly enhanced, with new vintage-style Bell, Shelf, and Notch types delivering characterful non-linear distortion, and the 6dB/octave slope option and modulatable Cutoff/Peak Offset knobs opening up even more sound design possibilities. And for anyone demanding the absolute best from their Twin 3 patches, the new 4x oversampling High Quality mode is just a click away.
Massive FX section and new Arpeggiator
Twin 3 introduces a supercharged new FX section, comprising six colorful processing modules for transforming and polishing signals. Shape dynamics and apply saturation with Compressor and Drive effects; create space and generate rhythmic echoes with Reverb and Delay; and thicken and widen the sound with Chorus and Phaser.
Needless to say, every FX parameter is available as a modulation target, so users can really bring them to life using Twin 3’s Envelope Generators/Followers, XLFOs, XY controllers, Sliders, and MIDI sources. The new Arpeggiator, meanwhile, provides endless creative inspiration, with host sync, Groove/Legato, and Rate Offset controls, and the gamut of note value and order options.
Full-featured preset browser
Replacing the simple menu of previous versions, Twin 3’s slick new preset browser makes navigation and management of factory and user patches quick and easy. Within the browser’s streamlined interface, presets can be assigned freely editable tags for filtering within the Search engine, set as favorites, and given author names and text descriptions. If anyone has Twin 1 and/or 2 installed, then all of their presets will appear in Twin 3 as well.
FabFilter Twin 3 for Windows and Mac (VST/VST3, AU, AAX and AudioSuite) is now available to purchase at distributor Plugin Boutique and from the FabFilter store for 129 USD/EUR, or £109 GBP.
Bundles with FabFilter Twin 3 and other FabFilter plugins are also available and existing FabFilter customers can purchase or upgrade to FabFilter Twin 3 with discounts by logging into their online user account. A free 30-day evaluation for Twin 3 is available to download.
