Guys and gals and everything in between… Remember this post where I talked about discontinuing Braids? Well, something has been in the works since March 2016!

So let’s go through my list of gripes about Braids and see how I have decided to fix them.

Braids is too big

Let’s make something around 12-HP. With big knobs for tuning-related things. Smaller than that and we’ll be stuck in the unplayable valley.

Braids’ interface is inadequate for something that is supposed to be fun and immediate

Eliminate the display and menu system, reclaim the space.

Voltage controlled model-surfing is fun: give it a dedicated CV input. Not a special “mode” that takes over the FM input.

Braids is often used as a stand-alone voice: keep the internal VCA, make it a virtual LPG to give it a more natural feel on harmonically rich sounds, give it a dedicated CV input.

Braids is a good stand-alone percussive source: make the internal modulations easy to adjust. The internal envelope is routed to unpatched CV inputs, its amount is thus controllable with the attenuverters.

Quantizing, downsampling, bit reduction: leave that to external modules.

Too many tiny islands of sounds in Braids’ long list of models

Instead of 2 parameters for sound control, make it 3. Connect the dots between all models employing similar synthesis techniques, until we get closer to one model = one synthesis technique.

Add a second output for more opportunities of layering, cross-modulating, post-processing.

Embrace the constraint of a finite number of models, and eliminate the outliers.

Braids’ DSP code is outdated compared to more recent modules

Rewrite. 32-bit floats everywhere!

Carefully use band-limited synthesis techniques whenever possible, and take the best from Warps, Elements, Rings.

Braids is just too much in terms of price and size and mA

Use a modern but lean processor with excellent ADCs, a FPU unit, more RAM and flash memory, able to drive a good audio DAC (with DC-coupled outputs). And an efficient power supply.

Optimize the manufacturing and testing. Take the risk of manufacturing in larger batches.

Braids isn’t fun enough

Now that a whole ecosystem of Mutable Instruments modules is available, look for complementarities and synergies. Make oscillators sound richer for Ripples to cut into, noise sources that work well as exciters for Rings, physical models that can double Rings’ or Elements’ tones, and good (CV-controlled!) percussive models that won’t make you regret Peaks.

Focus on knobs and CVs.

And here’s the result:

More info here!