Native Instruments Unveils SuperStarSaw: A Dedicated Supersaw Synth

The supersaw sound has become a centerpiece of modern electronic music, leaving its mark on genres ranging from EDM and rave to hyperpop and glitchcore. With the recent launch of SuperStarSaw, Native Instruments aims to cater specifically to producers seeking to harness this powerful sound. Designed in collaboration with E. G. Cook, a pivotal figure in the hyperpop movement, SuperStarSaw offers a comprehensive suite of tools for crafting and modulating the iconic stacked saw wave sound.

Unlike traditional synthesizers, which often start from scratch using wave-selection oscillators, SuperStarSaw provides presets of stacked sawtooth waves that already deliver a dense and wide sound. With its dual engines each housing sixteen oscillators, users can manipulate the sonic landscape through intuitive controls, such as stereo width, detuning effects, and dynamic modulation. This unique approach allows producers to create a vast palette of supersaw-based sounds quickly and efficiently.

One of the standout features of SuperStarSaw is its 'To Chord' button, which aligns detuned voices to notes within a selected chord. This addition enables producers to explore harmony creatively, allowing for lead lines and pads that continuously evolve through modulation. Furthermore, the randomization buttons enhance the creative process by introducing unexpected variations to the sound, providing a playful element to sound design and inspiring new ideas.

The user interface is crafted to enhance the creative flow, utilizing color-coded visuals that display changes in real-time. Modulation options are abundant, with a dedicated LFO and envelope modulators assignable to various parameters, enabling intricate and evolving patches. While the built-in effects such as chorus, delay, and reverb remain simplistic, the emphasis on voice-shaping and modulation allows users to explore a wide variety of sounds that can easily stand on their own without extensive post-processing.

SuperStarSaw is organized into eight categories of presets — from leads and pads to plucks and stabs — each rich with potential and variety. While the naming conventions of the presets may pose a challenge in quick identification, the diversity within each group ensures that producers can find inspiration across a wide range of settings. As new genres continue to emerge within electronic music, the introduction of SuperStarSaw may firmly place Native Instruments at the forefront of sound design for contemporary producers.