dango Inc. tells us that the newly-released Modal Pro is a powerful app that allows you to build your own synthesizers and effects by connecting various modules together. They say that, inspired by classical modular synthesizers, Modal Pro is nevertheless designed specifically for the iPad with touch controls that allow you to tweak the sound just the way you want it. Here's the full details in their own words:

More than a tool for building and playing, Modal Pro is also a great learning companion. Each module is documented in detail and an extensive tutorial is included to help even absolute beginners discover the world of synthesizers. Modal Pro allows you to explore the world of sound in your living room, on the train, at school or on stage.

Flexible and Intuitive Patching
Modal Pro allows you to connect modules whichever way you want. You can use any module to control any other module. You can even connect a module to itself. You're not guaranteed to get an interesting sound, or even any sound at all but you're guaranteed not to break anything. The touch interface allows you to rapidly connect and disconnect modules so that you can easily explore all sonic possibilities.

Easy-to-Use Touch Controls
Modal Pro features interface elements such as its custom "double sliders" that allow you adjust each detail of the sound intuitively and accurately. Controls are adjusted specifically for each type of parameter.

Analog Modeled Oscillators
Modal Pro's oscillator modules are built to emulate the sound of classic analog synthesizer. The traditional waveforms sound rich and warm but because they are modeled rather than sample-based you can modulate them freely, in real-time and at audio rate. Go ahead, build an FM synth with bite, with sawtooths!

Two Workspaces
Modal Pro features two workspaces where you can build instruments or effects. The "Polyphonic Workspace" is typically where you build instruments, and offers up to 8 voices of polyphony. (Actual polyphony will vary depending on your iPad's speed and complexity of the instrument.)

The Polyphonic Workspace is connected to the "Monophonic Workspace." As the name implies, instruments that you build here can only play one sound at a time. This is the perfect place, however, for building effects that process the output of the Polyphonic Workspace.

The two workspaces are entirely separate. You save and load work on these workspaces independently so that you can easily change the effects that are applied to your polyphonic instrument.

The Preset Slider
The state of an instrument or effect can be saved as a preset. These presets are stored in the "Preset Slider," which not only allows you to recall these states but also interpolate between them, making fluid and sometimes surprising transitions between presets possible.

The Keyboard
Modal Pro features a keyboard optimized for the iPad's screen. The standard chromatic piano keyboard is complemented with many fixed-scale keyboards. Adjustable portamento allows you to slide notes individually.

Comprehensive Help
Feeling lost? Touch any module and the "Live Help" window will display a detailed description featuring not only an explanation of the module's features but also advice about how to use it to get great sounds.

Modal Pro also comes with a lengthy tutorial to guide you through every feature, building your own simple synthesizer and effect along the way. In following releases, more tutorials will be added to help you learn the basics of sound design.


Specifications
* Modules
- Oscillators
Sine/Square/Triangle/Sawtooth/White Noise/Pink Noise
- Controls
ADSR(Envelope)/Simple Curve
- Modulators
Amplifier/Mixer/Crossfade/Ring Modulator/Sample & Hold
- Effects
Triple Filters/Delay/Lo-Fi
* MIDI Controls
Note/Volume/Preset Control
* Keyboard
Width : 9 octaves(scrollable)
Portamento : 3 presets(None/Legato/Glissando, intermediate value selectable)
Scales : 24
* Outside-App Communication
CoreMIDI, Inter-App Audio, AudioCopy
(Audiobus to be supported in next release)


Pricing and Availability:

$4.99 on the App Store.

More information:

• Modal Pro