Although it’s an additive synth, Blade entirely sidesteps the concept of adjusting loads of individual partials (aka harmonics) in isolation. Instead, you get an oscillator section known as the Harmolator.

Once you've gotten past the Harmolator you'll find a familiar virtual analogue-style synth engine, including a fully loaded distortion section and a multimode filter with no less than 14 filter modes. The envelope generators are fairly standard five-stage models, and there’s also an arpeggiator.

This is an instrument that excels at evocative, evolving soundscapes. If you like deep, moving pads or wild wobbulating effects, this is the place to find them, and Blade will be of particular appeal to those who are growing weary of the same old virtual analogues and sample-playback instruments.

READ:Rob Papen Blade review