Manifest Audio have just released Tactum, a new Max for Live monosynth that builds its identity around controlled randomness. It’s free, experimental, and manages to offer something genuinely different without slipping into gimmickry.
At a glance, Tactum is a dual-oscillator monosynth with a third oscillator dedicated to click-style transients. Oscillator types span everything from FM and bit reduction to metallic tones, classic wavetables, and noisy textures, while the two-stage envelope places emphasis on event-based - rather than sustained - sound design. Everything from booming bass to sizzling percussion and melodic oddities are easily available.
Each oscillator bank includes two assignable effects, with parameters that can be randomized on a per-note basis. Embracing the power of unpredictability to bring sounds to life, it provides direct control over the range and amount of randomization applied independently to each parameter with each new note, allowing for intentional instability to animate any output.
It's technically monophonic, so traditional chords are off the table - but a key feature is the synth’s optional scale awareness. Applied to each oscillator even when transposed internally, this allows for uniquely harmonized duophonic output that stays in key with your Live set. This makes it well-suited to musical chaos without ever drifting completely off-track.
The interface is focused around a central XY pad that doubles as a visual feedback hub—displaying waveforms, pan meters, and parameter changes in real time—while functioning as a modulation plane for hands-on exploration. Other highlights include cross-modulation options between oscillators, filter randomization, output limiting (or hard clipping) and a motion control to impose randomization to all parameters at once.
It's clear Tactum is designed for producers who want sound design with dynamic motion from the outset. Percussion comes to life with attack and decay randomization and melodies percolate perpetually with oscillator FX and filter randomization, all within controlled ranges.
It requires Ableton Live 12.3 Suite and Max 9.0.9 or later, and comes optimized for Push 3 (and standalone) with every parameter annotated for Live's Info View, making the learning curve manageable. While the instrument is free, Manifest Audio is collecting optional donations from those in a giving mood, with proceeds going to World Central Kitchen.
TACTUM: Key Features
- Two-stage envelope with Attack and Decay randomization within specified ranges
- Multimode filter with LP, HP, BP, and Notch options, plus Filter and Resonance randomization
- Two independent oscillators, selectable from Noise, Metal, Texture, Waves, FM, Bits, and Boom
- Two FX per oscillator each with randomization within specified ranges
- Mute, volume, transposition, detune, and envelope time factor per oscillator