Few software synthesizers have the cult following of Absynth. First released in 1999, Native Instruments' hybrid granular-and-spectral instrument spent years without a major update before returning as Absynth 6 — and this time, it arrives with a feature its earliest users could never have imagined: full MIDI Polyphonic Expression support.

What's new in Absynth 6

Absynth 6 rebuilds the synth's signature morphing engine while adding modern performance features that make it one of the more expressive instruments currently on the market. Every note played on an MPE controller can now carry its own independent pitch bend, pressure, and timbre data, which Absynth routes directly into the synth's modulation matrix. That means a single chord can have five notes each swelling, bending, and morphing in completely different directions, all controlled by finger movement on devices like the ROLI Seaboard or the Expressive E Osmose.

Beyond MPE, the update adds:

Multi-channel surround spatialization — up to octaphonic (8-channel) output, letting sound designers place individual voices in 3D space rather than a static stereo field.

MTS-ESP microtuning support — Absynth 6 can follow global tuning tables from apps like MTS-ESP, opening the door to microtonal and just-intonation work directly inside the synth.

A refreshed preset browser with AI-assisted tagging, drawing from a library of more than 2,000 presets, 350 of which are new to this release.

Why MPE matters for a synth like Absynth

Absynth was always built around movement — its modulation system was designed to make sounds evolve over time rather than sit static. MPE is a natural extension of that philosophy. Where a standard MIDI keyboard sends one pitch-bend and one mod-wheel value for an entire chord, an MPE controller sends independent expression data per note. For a synth engine that already thinks in terms of continuously morphing textures, per-note control turns Absynth from an instrument you shape after the fact into one you sculpt in real time, note by note.

Reviewers have noted that the combination of granular textures and per-note aftertouch gives Absynth 6 an unusually organic feel for a software instrument — closer to bowing a string or breathing into a wind instrument than triggering a static sample. That's a meaningful shift for an instrument long associated with ambient pads and sound-design textures, since it now rewards expressive, physical playing just as much as programming.

Getting started

Absynth 6 works with any MPE-compatible controller and any MPE-aware host, including Bitwig Studio, Ableton Live 11 and later, and Logic Pro. Setup is straightforward: enable MPE on the controller, set the synth's MIDI input to the corresponding MPE zone, and Absynth's per-note modulation slots (pitch, pressure, and timbre/slide) map automatically to the controller's expression dimensions. From there, the modulation matrix — Absynth's original claim to fame — lets you route those per-note signals to virtually any parameter in the synth, from filter cutoff to grain density to spatial position.

Pricing and availability

Absynth 6 is available now for $199 / £179 / €199, with upgrade pricing of $99 / €99 for owners of Absynth 2 through 5. It's also included as part of Native Instruments' Komplete 26 bundle alongside more than 190 other instruments and effects. Full details, along with a demo version, are available on the Absynth 6 product page.

For MPE musicians who have been waiting for more flagship software instruments to catch up with hardware innovation, Absynth 6 is a strong signal that the major plugin makers are taking per-note expression seriously — not as a niche feature, but as a core part of how a modern synth should respond to a player's hands.