Monark: Analog-Modeling Mono Synth by Native Instruments

Native Instruments describes Monark as a virtual synth with an analog heart, designed to be played one note at a time. The developer says it studied how analog circuits behave when the filter is overloaded and recreated that behavior in its DSP. Oscillator and filter drift are included to add movement to the sound.

The envelopes are fast, which suits stabbing melodic lines and punchy electronic drum sounds. The developer also notes that the synth's signature tone is intended to add a natural character to a mix, especially for basses and thick leads.

Monark has a compact layout: three oscillators, a filter section, an amp section, and controls for fine tuning, modulation and glide. The developer presents this as a quick path to basses and leads without a steep learning curve.

If you want to build your own instrument, the Monark oscillator, filter and envelope are also available as individual modules in Reaktor Blocks, the rack-style modular framework that turns Reaktor 6 into a modular synth.