DS Audio Thorn free download

If you're looking for a synthesizer that can move from harsh digital textures to warm analogue-style sounds from a single engine, DS Audio Thorn handles that spectral synthesis range. It’s a free download that gives you an additive-based synth with a strong focus on modulation and sequencing for detailed sound design.

Thorn uses spectral additive synthesis for its two main oscillators. This means you’re building sounds from individual harmonics, which you can edit directly in the partial editor or shape using the Harmonic Filter to remove specific partials. You get a third oscillator and a separate noise source, all routable to one of two multi-mode filters. The filter section is deep, with about 20 types, a drive circuit, and series or parallel routing.

Modulation is a core part of the workflow. You have three ADSR envelopes, two LFOs, and two MSEGs (multi-stage envelopes), all routable through a mod matrix. For movement and rhythm, it includes an arpeggio step sequencer and a dedicated Glitch Sequencer. A suite of 9 built-in effects, including distortion and a limiter, lets you finish sounds within the plugin.

The two spectral oscillators each have detune, pan, volume, and unison controls. You can copy and paste settings between them for fast workflow. The three oscillators can be routed to either of the two main filters. Those filters can be locked together and offer series or parallel signal paths.

Beyond the standard ADSR envelopes, LFOs, and mod matrix, the two MSEGs provide complex envelope shapes. The Arpeggio sequencer works as an offset to your input notes. The Glitch Sequencer is a standout for creating rhythmic, stuttering effects. Both sequencers, along with the MSEGs and Harmonic Filter, have their own preset libraries, and you can shift sequencer events left or right in time.

The 9 built-in effects cover everything from modulation to dynamics, with distortion and a final limiter in the output section. A built-in undo/redo function is included for experimentation.

This fits producers who need one synth to cover both digital precision and analogue warmth, especially for creating big basslines, evolving pads, or sequenced patterns. It’s particularly useful for sound designers wanting to build glitchy textures and rhythmic interest using the Glitch Sequencer, or anyone who likes to combine different preset types (for filters, sequencers, MSEGs) in a modular way to quickly generate complex sounds.

Grab DS Audio Thorn if your sound design needs both the surgical control of additive synthesis and the character of analogue-style filters, all tied together with extensive modulation and unique sequencers. It’s useful for crafting everything from solid bass and pads to glitchy, textured sequences. The main catch is the lack of a dedicated notch filter, though you can create one by combining low-pass and high-pass filters. As a Plugin Alliance free download, it delivers a professional spectral synthesis tool directly into your DAW.