Arboretum, U&I Debut Graphic Meta Synth Sound Design Tool

September 26, 1997 -- Arboretum Systems and U&I software today changed the way people look at sound, with the unveiling of their revolutionary MetaSynth program.

MetaSynth is a graphic sound design and composition environment. MetaSynth combines sampling, wavetable, additive, subtractive, granular and frequency modulation techniques with the most intuitive means for visualizing audio information ever created. MetaSynth's Image Synth palette literally lets one paint with sound. Draw in , harmonics and undertones, or paint a vivid tone picture in broad strokes. Users can even import any PICT file and use that picture as a starting point for a new sound or composition.

MetaSynth works with audio just like a graphics program; grab with the hand tool to flip or resize the image, apply brushes, filters or gain/contrast tools. Even non-musicians can instantly interpret and use the Image Syth's picture window ... it's light-years away from confusing conventional notation and grid displays. Audio professionals will love the deep effects toolset, powerful realtime wavetable and FM windows, elegant envelope generators and the sheer flexibility of MetaSynth's design.

Metasynth maps picture coordinates into time and frequency domains. The gray scale of each pixel controls the volume of a specific harmonic at a specific moment in time. Stereo position is determined by pixel color.

Although a preliminary version of the MetaSynth software was made available though IRCAM, this week's AES debut is MetaSynth's first appearance as a commercial product and the program's first public demonstration.

MetaSynth was created and manufactured by U&I software LLC, a San Francisco-based firm. U&I founder Eric Wenger is best known as the creator of KPT Bryce; the U&I board also includes Apple Senior Scientist John Dalton.

MetaSynth is distributed and marketed exclusively by Arboretum Systems Inc., a San Francisco software company. Founded in 1994 by Georges Jaroslaw, Arboretum are the makers of the award-winning Hyperprism sound design packages and the Ionizer noise reduction system.

MetaSynth runs on any Power Macintosh computer, no extra audio hardware or software required. MetaSynth will be shipping in November 1997 at a U.S. suggested retail price of $249.00; international pricing may vary.

For more information, visit their web site at www.arboretum.com.