Following their recent cryptic hints, Dreamtonics have officially revealed the latest addition to their software instrument range. Instrument X sees the company step away from vocal synthesis and put their modelling expertise to work on creating an alternative approach to traditional orchestral sample libraries.
Described as a Neural Acoustics Modeling platform, the new arrival promises to provide composers and producers with unprecedented command over the likes of bowing and breath control, as well as offering a more intuitive way to trigger articulations than typical sample libraries. Rather than relying on keyswitches, Instrument X carries out technique switching based on note pitch and length, allowing users to ‘play in’ changes rather than triggering them manually — manual per-note control is still available.
In addition to accurately replicating the sound of the instruments themselves, Dreamtonics have also taken great care to ensure that Instrument X is capable of producing the sound of a scoring stage. They’ve captured the response of some real spaces with a custom-built dodecahedral speaker array, with the neutral networks that power the plug-in using the resulting information to allow instruments to be placed accurately within a virtual space. a comprehensive mixer section includes virtual spot mics, Decca tree arrays and spaced stereo pairs, providing detailed control over each instrument’s overall sound and character. Everything runs locally on the user’s computer, with no requirement for any cloud-based processing.
Key Features
- Unified Articulation Editor: Seamlessly manage performance techniques through a single, intuitive interface, with the flexibility to switch effortlessly between automated Smart Articulation and hands-on, per-note granular control. Instrument X enables you to unify standard symphonic expressions — such as staccato, legato and tenuto — with highly specialised, instrument-specific techniques like string col legno or brass mute configurations. Arbitrarily stack and combine these articulations on a single note, unlocking complex, hybrid performance textures that traditional sample libraries cannot replicate.
- Dynamics Lane: Experience natural musicality without tedious manual programming. Instrument X automatically maps context-appropriate dynamics across your arrangement based on pitch, note duration and performance flow, while offering a full manual override lane for absolute creative control. Adjusting these curves does not merely alter output volume; it dynamically morphs the underlying physical timbre, harmonic saturation and kinetic response of the instrument to mirror a real player's physical execution.
- AI Performance Retakes: Instantly break past creative blocks by generating alternative, highly organic performance ‘takes’ for specific note phrases. Creators can choose to re-roll an entire section at once or target separate musical vectors such as timbre, micro-pitch curves or kinetic intensity.
- Advanced Polyphony & Infinite Scale: Effortlessly write complex chords, dense contrapuntal lines and evolving harmonies inside a single track. Overlapping notes are automatically rendered as completely separate voices instead of cutting each other off mid-bar.
- Microphone Mixer Panel: Users can adjust and balance immersive, real-world microphone configurations — including hyper-detailed spot mics, pristine Decca tree arrays and wide stereo room ambient pairs — accurately reproducing the sound of a physical scoring stage.
Expansions
Instrument X will launch alongside 15 instrument expansions that are grouped into three core collections:
- Orchestral Strings Collection: Features Violin 1, Viola 1, Violoncello 1 and Contrabass 1, and has been designed for fluid legato lines, cinematic swells and continuous micro-pitch bowing adjustments. It offers control over the likes of breath rests, major/minor interval trills, tremolos, falls, portamentos and harmonics, alongside dedicated pizzicato, col legno, sul ponticello and sul tasto techniques. Fully modelled con sordino mute integration provides authentic physical dampening.
- Orchestral Woodwinds Collection: Features Flute 1, Piccolo 1, Oboe 1, Clarinet in A1 and Bassoon 1. Captures organic breath dynamics and true register transitions. Specialised articulations include inhalation breath triggers, major/minor interval trills, expressive falls (Clarinet and Bassoon) and native harmonics (Flute 1).
- Orchestral Brass Collection: Features Trumpet 1, Trombone 1, Horn 1 and Tuba 1. Includes deep breath tracking across all sections, alongside specialised techniques like trumpet trills/tremolos, trombone portamento glides and horn stopped notes. Trumpet 1 and Trombone 1 feature full modelling for straight, cup and harmon mutes.
Compatibility
Instrument X is supported on PCs running Windows 11, and Macs running macOS 11 and above.
Pricing & Availability
Instrument X is available now. Individual instruments are available from $99, and there’s a whole host of curated bundles and custom ‘mix and match’ offers starting at $158. a free 14-day trial is available, and Dreamtonics are also offering a selection of bundles that include their other instruments.
