Axon 3: Neural-Network Drum Sequencer and Percussion Synth by Audio Damage Free Download

Each of the seven neurons drives a FM/VA percussion voice. The developer describes the voices as drawing on both subtractive and FM synthesis, with a model inspired by its Boomtschack analog drum synthesizer hardware. Version 3 adds a full Boomtschack model, a cymbal oscillator and pitch and scale quantizing for the internal voices, which makes melodic programming easier.

The voices can also be bussed together through AM and FM busses, so the seven voices can be combined into a single complex percussion synthesizer. Each voice has its own pan, level, mute and solo controls in the mixer.

Neurons are programmed to create repeating patterns, and version 3 adds trigger likelihood and ratcheting to the sequencer for more rhythmic variation. An extensive randomizer can change some or all parameters, which helps with exploring new patches.

MIDI in and out let Axon 3 drive its voices from a DAW or hardware sequencer, or drive other software and hardware from its own sequencer. An internal transport is available for non-synchronized playback. The interface is vector-based and can be resized, and presets are stored in an XML format that is readable by humans and works across platforms.