mutable-instruments/elements

Elements

Mutable Instruments

Full-blown modal synthesis voice with three exciter generators (BOW, BLOW, STRIKE) feeding a resonator that models vibrating structures such as plates, strings, bars, tubes, and bowls.529

Capabilities 1

Physical Modelingphysical-modeling
Implements modal synthesis: a bank of band-pass filters (the resonator) is excited by bursty/impulsive signals from three generators (BOW, BLOW, STRIKE) to simulate vibrating structures.529

Jacks 10 (8 in / 2 out)

NameSignalVoltageDescription
Inputs (8)
EXT IN 1audio—External audio input that follows the same path as the BLOW generator: diffused, enveloped by the BOW/BLOW contour, amplified by the STRENGTH VCA, then sent to the resonator.529
EXT IN 2audio—Second external audio input; unprocessed and directly sent to the resonator without envelope or diffusion.529
Exciter CV inputscv—529
FMcv—Additional CV modulation source for the fundamental frequency of the resonator.529
GATEgate—Enables the exciter: triggers the percussive generator and starts the BOW/BLOW envelope. Equivalent to pressing the PLAY button.529
Resonator CV inputscv—529
STRENGTHcv—VCA for the excitation signal. Positive CV boosts, negative CV attenuates. Scale is 3dB/V with ±15dB maximum range.529
V/OCTcv—Controls the fundamental frequency of the resonator and the perceived pitch of the note.529
Outputs (2)
OUT Laudio—Left channel of the dual audio output. At minimum SPACE contains exciter output; as SPACE increases becomes true stereo left.529
OUT Raudio—Right channel of the dual audio output. At minimum SPACE contains resonator output; as SPACE increases becomes true stereo right.529

Parameters 16

NameTypeRangeBehavior
BLOWknob—Controls the amount of granular blowing noise sent to the resonator.529
BOWknob—Controls amplitude of bowing/scratching noise sent to the resonator; also simulates increased bow pressure at higher values, producing a brighter and noisier sound.529
BRIGHTNESSknob—Controls damping of high-frequency modes. Low values simulate wood/nylon materials; high values simulate glass/steel materials.529
COARSEknob—Sets the fundamental frequency of the resonator in semitone increments spanning 5 octaves.529
CONTOURknob—Morphs through preset envelope shapes for the BOW and BLOW exciters: short AD envelopes becoming longer and slower, then ADSR shapes, then faster AR envelopes.529
DAMPINGknob—Controls how quickly energy dissipates through the resonating material. CV modulation recreates damping/muting effects.529
FINEknob-2semitone – 2semitoneUnquantized fine-tuning of the fundamental frequency, spanning -2 to +2 semitones.529
FLOWknob—Scans through various colors of noise for the BLOW generator, similar to wavetable scanning. Automating with a slow LFO creates evolving turbulent-air textures.529
FM attenuverterknob—Controls amount and polarity of FM CV modulation with an exponential scale providing very progressive attenuation away from center.529
GEOMETRYknob—Controls the geometry and stiffness of the resonating structure, morphing from plates to strings to bars/tubes to bells/bowls.529
Zones
Plates
Strings
Bars and Tubes
Bells and Bowls
  • Plates -100–-50%529
  • Strings -50–0%529
  • Bars and Tubes 0–50%529
  • Bells and Bowls 50–100%529
MALLETknob—Morphs through percussive noise types for the STRIKE generator: hammer/mallet/stick samples, damped mallet models, plectrum models, and bouncing particle models.529
Zones
Hammer/Mallet/Stick samples
Mallet models
Plectrum models
Bouncing particles
  • Hammer/Mallet/Stick samples -100–-50%Plays back samples of actual hammers, mallets, and sticks.529
  • Mallet models -50–0%Physical models of mallets, played with or without damping.529
  • Plectrum models 0–50%Physical models of plectrums played with varying picking speeds.529
  • Bouncing particles 50–100%Physical models of particles bouncing on a surface.529
PLAYbutton—Triggers the exciter and its envelope while held. Equivalent to sending a positive gate to the GATE input.529
POSITIONknob—Controls the excitation point on the resonating surface. Center position cancels even harmonics producing a hollow square-wave-like sound similar to PWM or phaser comb-filtering.529
SPACEknob—Controls stereo width and reverb. At minimum: left=exciter, right=resonator. Increasing SPACE widens stereo angle. Past 12 o'clock adds algorithmic reverb. A very high CV at maximum position freezes the reverb tail.529
STRIKEknob—Controls the amount of percussive noise sent to the resonator. Past 2 o'clock the signal also bleeds to the main output for a more biting percussive sound.529
Zones
Bleed to output
  • Bleed to output 45–100%Past 2 o'clock the percussive signal also bleeds directly to the main output for a more biting percussive sound.529
TIMBREknob—Tone color control for each exciter generator: for BOW sets smoothness/granularity; for BLOW sets pitch/granulation rate; for STRIKE sets brightness/speed of the percussive excitation.529

Firmware history 0 versions

No firmware history recorded.

References 2

  1. [529]
    Elements Manual (full)manual
    source 529 canonical ↗ archived ↗
    ● verified 2026-05-19
  2. [530]
    Elements Quickstart Bookletmanual
    source 530 canonical ↗ archived ↗
    ● verified 2026-05-19