The semi-modular fan-favourite has been overhauled for a new generation of musicians, featuring surround support, an AI-powered browser, and full MPE polyphonic aftertouch.
Big news for Absynth fans: nearly three decades after Native Instruments launched with a synthesizer as their very first product, they’ve brought back one of electronic music’s most distinctive instruments. Absynth 6 marks the return of the semi-modular synth that helped shape ambient, dance and film scoring across multiple generations of producers.
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Developed in partnership with Brian Clevinger, who created the original Absynth, this iteration retains the signature ability to create evolving soundscapes but adds modern compatibility and an AI-powered preset explorer. “I wanted an instrument that invited people to lose themselves in sound,” Clevinger explains. “Seeing it evolve into Absynth 6 has been genuinely moving.”
The hybrid engine remains at the core, combining granular, FM, wavetable and subtractive synthesis methods. This semi-modular architecture allows for textures that morph and transform, particularly when paired with Absynth’s hyper-detailed 68-point envelope generator. Full MPE and polyphonic aftertouch support brings per-note performance control, while true multichannel surround spatialisation and MTS-ESP support for microtuning open up new harmonic possibilities.
Absynth’s classic Mutator returns, offering intelligent preset generation with adjustable depth and randomness controls. The included effects suite features spatial processing on creative tools like the Aetherizer and Cloud Filter, with per-effect surround control. Legacy compatibility extends all the way back to Absynth 1, and users can load their own presets from versions 4 and 5.
Launch presets come from iconic artists, including Brian Eno, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith and Richard Devine. More artist presets will be added in future updates, reflecting the diverse range of musicians who’ve relied on Absynth over the years.
The new Preset Explorer uses deep learning to analyse timbral characteristics of every preset, arranging the library into a visual map. You can browse by sonic quality and tone rather than scrolling through lists, with filters to shape your own path through the collection. “AI should widen the creative field, not collapse it,” says Andy Sarroff, Head of Applied AI at Native Instruments. “The Preset Explorer listens closely, then gives that insight back to the musician in a way that sparks discovery.”
Digital artists Weirdcore and Swarmm created the visual campaign for Absynth 6, with Weirdcore continuing to produce visualizer artworks for original compositions. Australian artist HAAi has contributed the first track, with more to follow.
Simon Cross, Chief Product and Technical Officer at Native Instruments, notes: “Returning to Absynth brings us back to the heart of what inspires us. It remains one of the most singular instruments in electronic music.”
Absynth 6 is available now from Native Instruments. For local enquiries, head here.
