Brain by Thenatan Audio generative synth plugin interface

Brain: Generative Soft Synth by Thenatan Audio

Rated 4.5/5 on Plugin Boutique (37 ratings)

Brain is a generative soft-synth plugin by Thenatan Audio that creates new patches at the click of a button. It uses a sound-design algorithm called XY-DNA to combine oscillators, envelopes, LFOs, pitch and filters.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

Brain is built for producers who want fresh starting points rather than building every sound from scratch. Its XY-DNA algorithm combines the synth's oscillators, envelopes, LFOs, pitch and filter settings into new patches, so a single click can produce pads, keys, basses, leads or textures. The developer describes it as a generative approach to sound design. Each patch can be tweaked with the engine's controls and processed with a set of built-in master effects.

Best for

Generative pad design
Warm moving keys
Electronic basses
Lead sound creation
Texture and ambient sound design
Lo-fi sound processing

Developer: Thenatan Audio
Category: Synths
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

One-click generative patch creation using the XY-DNA algorithm
Two oscillators with sine, saw, triangle, square and noise waveforms
Up to 12 unison voices
Amp and filter envelopes with pitch and filter LFOs
Poly, mono and glide playing modes
Master FX: reverb, tempo-synced delay, distortion and lo-fi
Built-in preset browser with preset and bank export
Scalable interface with real-time audio visualizer

03In depth

Generative Patch Creation and Sound Design Engine

The core of Brain is its randomized patch generator. Thenatan Audio says XY-DNA combines the oscillators, envelopes, LFOs, pitch and filters into new sounds on demand, which makes it a useful tool when you are stuck for ideas.

The engine offers two oscillators with sine, saw, triangle, square and noise waveforms, plus a mix knob to balance them. Up to 12 unison voices can be used for thicker sounds. Amp and filter envelopes shape the dynamics, while pitch and filter LFOs add movement. Poly, mono and glide modes cover both chordal and lead playing, and the full-range virtual keyboard lets you audition patches without a controller.

Master FX, Presets and Workflow

Brain includes a master effects section with a reverb and room control, a tempo-synced stereo delay, a color knob that moves the tone from dark to bright, a lo-fi degradation unit, a distortion stage, a modeled filter with smooth resonance, a stereo width control and a master output.

A built-in preset browser lets you export and share presets and banks. The plugin includes factory presets, automation support and a Learn MIDI option for mapping controls. The interface is scalable and includes a real-time audio visualizer.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Thenatan Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	Synth
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Brain support?

Brain is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats, all in 64-bit.

Which operating systems can run Brain?

Brain runs on Windows 7, 8, 10 or newer, and on macOS from OS X 10.9.5 Mavericks through macOS Catalina and Big Sur, with native Apple Silicon support.

What do I need to run Brain on Windows?

The developer lists 4 GB of RAM and 2 GB of free space on the system drive. The VST and VST3 versions are offered in both 32-bit and 64-bit.

Does Brain work with Pro Tools?

Brain works in most major DAWs, but it does not include an AAX version for Pro Tools. Pro Tools users are not supported by the AAX format listed for this plugin.