TIMBRE

Reshape the Character of Any Sound – Without Changing Its Pitch

TIMBRE by zplane is a real-time formant processor for vocals, drums, instruments, and full mixes. Instead of boosting or cutting individual frequencies like an EQ or changing the pitch of a signal, TIMBRE directly reshapes its sonic character by shifting the formants that define its perceived identity.

At its core is an advanced timbre-shifting engine based on zplane’s renowned ELASTIQUE technology. This makes it easy to reshape the weight, body, presence, and tonal character of any signal – from subtle mix adjustments to dramatic sound design.

Add Weight, Punch, and Presence

Give kicks more weight, emphasize the body of a snare, or shift the tonal center of an instrument so it sits more naturally in the mix. Instead of carving out frequency ranges with an EQ, you can reshape the character of the sound itself.

Vocals can be shaped just as easily: add more growl, air, or presence, create a darker tone, or soften harsh sibilance – all without changing the original pitch.

Broadband or Precise Dual-Band Processing

In Linked Mode, the entire frequency spectrum is processed together, making it easy to reshape the overall timbral character with just a few controls. In Unlinked Mode, the High and Low Bands can be processed independently for more targeted control over different parts of the signal.

With a timbre-shift range of ±36 semitones, TIMBRE covers everything from subtle tonal adjustments to extreme transformations. Resolution and Dry/Wet controls provide additional control over the level of detail and intensity of the processing.

Formant Vocoding and Creative Textures

A dedicated Carrier Section takes TIMBRE well beyond conventional formant shifting. The built-in Noise Generator is ideal for creating whisper-like, airy, or abstract textures, while an external sidechain signal can be used as a carrier for expressive formant-vocoder effects.

This makes TIMBRE not only a powerful mixing tool, but also a versatile effect for experimental sound design, vocal processing, and modern creative production.

Features

• Real-time formant shifting for vocals, drums, instruments, and full mixes
• Advanced timbre-shifting engine based on zplane’s ELASTIQUE technology
• Reshapes sonic character and formants without changing pitch
• Add weight, body, presence, and punch to virtually any audio signal
• ±36-semitone timbre-shift range
• Linked Mode for broadband processing
• Unlinked Mode for independent High and Low Band processing
• Separate On and Solo controls for each band
• Built-in Noise Generator for creative textures
• External sidechain input for formant vocoding
• Resolution control for adjusting processing detail
• Dry/Wet control for parallel processing
• Real-time operation with just 23 ms of latency at 44.1 kHz

Mac:

• macOS 13 or higher
• Intel Core i7 or Apple Silicon

Windows:

• Windows 10 & 11 or higher
• 64 bit