Tracktion HoriZEN — Free Download
Tracktion HoriZEN is a deeply modular synth-combi for composers, blending sample engines, wavetable synths, and loop players with expressive XY pads, extensive modulation, dual arps, and high-quality effects.
Design and Architecture
HoriZEN began as a custom instrument for composer Andy Hodgson, later refined with developer Lindon Mulcahy-Parker. Its ten-voice structure combines four sample engines, four dual-oscillator VA/wavetable synths, and two loop players. This hybrid setup lets you layer organic audio with synthetic tones, producing rich, detailed textures suitable for genres from rock to EDM and underscore work.
The onboard effects system includes dedicated send and master sections, with four send slots per voice. This reduces reliance on third-party plugins by offering a comprehensive set of eighteen effects, including filters, delays, and reverbs. Each send amount can be modulated, allowing dynamic movement within a patch. The design prioritizes speed and flexibility, so you can build complex chains quickly while keeping full control over tone.
Modulation and Performance
At its core, HoriZEN features a modulation panel offering six LFOs, two key modulators, and two velocity modulators. LFOs come with preset shapes or user-drawn curves, and each can target multiple destinations simultaneously. You can sync to DAW tempo, run free, or set one-shot mode for evolving textures. Modulators are drag-and-drop, simplifying complex routing.
The XY pad lets you assign any of the ten sound sources to its corners, blending them with simple gestures. These gestures can be recorded, saved, and loaded into other patches, enabling performance-based sound design. Dual arpeggiators are voice-assignable, offering per-step velocity, note length, pitch, and six playback directions including chord modes. A dedicated chord player with sixteen keys and strumming control adds harmonic complexity easily.
Loop Handling and Presets
The loop players accept dragged WAV files from anywhere, or you can build a user-defined library in the browser for quick access. Loops can run forward or reverse, pitch-track the keyboard, or play at constant pitch. This allows for rhythmic slicing, ambient beds, or one-shot percussive hits, all processed through the same effects and modulation system.
HoriZEN ships with a substantial preset collection, divided into categories like Arps, Atoms, Bass, Keys, Leads, Pads, Plucks, Retro, SFX, Textures, and Weird & Wonderful. These presets are designed to inspire while covering a broad sonic range, from lush pads to aggressive basses and cinematic textures. A browser with favorites helps you organize your own sounds alongside the factory content.
Workflow and Applications
For composers, HoriZEN excels in scoring and sound design. The dual arps and chord player speed up harmonic writing, while XY pad recording lets you perform evolving gestures for cinematic tension. The loop players blend your own audio with synth engines, perfect for trailer impacts or ambient beds. The effects reduce external processing, keeping your session streamlined.
Producers can benefit from the genre-spanning presets and deep modulation for creating unique leads, basses, and plucks. The ability to assign voices to either arp or play freely adds rhythmic interest. The modulation system supports everything from subtle movement to complex evolving textures. Whether you are scoring to picture or building tracks, HoriZEN offers a flexible toolkit for experimentation.
Key features
- Hybrid ten-voice architecture mixing samplers, synths, and loop players
- XY pad with recordable and saveable gestures for blending sources
- Six LFOs plus key and velocity modulators with user-drawn shapes
- Two voice-assignable arpeggiators with per-step control and chord playback
- Dedicated chord player with strumming and scale snapping
- Eighteen effects in send and master slots with modulation capability
- Loop players supporting drag-and-drop audio, reverse, and pitch-tracking
Best for
Best for composers and sound designers needing a versatile hybrid instrument for film/tv scoring, game audio, and electronic music production. Its deep modulation, loop integration, and performance tools suit crafting evolving textures, complex arpeggios, and rich pads without frequent external effects.
