Polyplex

An eight-part drum sampler with extraordinary randomizing capabilities, creative layering, and near-infinite tweakability.

POLYPLEX runs in REAKTOR or the free REAKTOR PLAYER.

Founded in February of 2010, Twisted Tools is the brainchild of Ukrainian code-wizard Igor Shilov and American product designer Josh Hinden. The two met online in 2008 after Josh took notice of Igor’s REAKTOR Ensemble Flakes, and hired him to build a custom instrument.

Two years and many discussions about REAKTOR Instruments later, Igor and Josh decided to set up shop and are now responsible for some of the most audacious Reaktor-based tools around.

In their own words, here's what Josh and Igor had to say about POLYPLEX, developing on REAKTOR, and the future of music software.

WHY? – THE VISION BEHIND POLYPLEX

Josh: "When we design instruments, the intention is almost always to solve a problem or make a tedious task faster. And lots of fun at the same time. That’s what computers are good at, so we focus on tools that help improve the music making process rather than simply recycling classic ideas from the analog world.

With Polyplex, the ultimate goal was to create something that made it easy and fun to create and play unique drum sounds. Like with all Twisted Tools instruments, we aimed to give users the fastest and most fun workflow to instantly create unique sounds using intelligent randomization. Plus easy editing tools for fine-tuning should you wish to go deep."

GEAR AND METHODS USED

Igor: "Nothing else is really needed to build Reaktor instruments beyond a Mac or PC. In our opinion, while Reaktor certainly has some limitations, it’s the best possible tool out there to develop instruments like Polyplex. There are many details when it comes to building in Reaktor, but like any system, you get to know them by trial and error and then things just flow naturally."

Josh: "Plus it's fun to code in Reaktor because of its visual workflow. I couldn't imagine building something like Polyplex using a text-based language. Igor and I are both visual people so the visual programming environment makes sense for us.

You also need good studio monitors for critical listening and a good display for the UI design which is done almost exclusively in Photoshop. A lot of work went into designing the samples and presets by some really talented sound designers. Antonio Blanca and the guys from NI also collaborated on this and the results were fantastic."