Thump
Key Features
- Dual envelope-driven oscillators that independently track the pitch and dynamics of incoming audio to generate subharmonic content
- Separate pitch and amplitude envelope controls on each oscillator for precise shaping of attack, sustain, and frequency sweep
- Wet/dry mix knob for blending synthesized sub-bass with the original signal at any ratio
- Detailed real-time metering that visualizes how the envelope followers respond to the input signal
- A/B snapshot comparison with snapshot blending for quickly auditioning different settings side by side
- Twelve factory presets covering kick drum reinforcement, tom enhancement, 808-style synthesis, and drone generation
- Resizable interface with user-configurable themes, knob styles, and disclosable envelope graphs
Description
Thump by Metric Halo is a subharmonic synthesizer that generates new low-frequency content triggered by your audio input. Rather than simply boosting existing bass with EQ, it analyzes the pitch and dynamics of incoming audio and uses dual envelope-driven oscillators to create sub-bass from scratch.
The plugin excels at reinforcing kick drums, toms, and percussion with musical sub-bass that follows the natural dynamics of the source material. Each oscillator has independent pitch and amplitude envelope controls, so you can shape attack and sustain to match the character of whatever you feed it.
Beyond straightforward drum enhancement, Thump can recreate classic TR-808 kick drum tones from acoustic recordings and generate synthetic drones or basslines from pitched material. The wet/dry control lets you blend the synthesized signal with the original, making it equally effective as an insert effect or on a send channel.
Built-in metering shows exactly how the envelope followers respond to your input in real time. Version 4 added VST3 support, native Apple Silicon compatibility, undo/redo, A/B snapshot comparison, and a redesigned interface with user-configurable themes.
Thump runs on macOS 10.10 or later (Intel and Apple Silicon) and Windows 7 or later, in AU, VST, VST3, and AAX formats. The download is a 66.8 MB ZIP containing both 32-bit and 64-bit installers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a subharmonic synthesizer?
A subharmonic synthesizer generates new frequencies below the original audio signal, typically one or two octaves lower. Unlike an EQ or bass boost, which only amplifies frequencies already present, a subharmonic synth like Thump creates entirely new low-frequency content that tracks the pitch and timing of the input.
How does Thump compare to Avid Pro Subharmonic?
Thump offers a similar concept to Avid's Pro Subharmonic but works in any DAW via VST, VST3, AU, and AAX formats rather than being limited to Pro Tools. It also provides dual independent oscillators with separate pitch and amplitude envelopes, giving more control over the shape and character of the generated sub-bass.
Can Thump generate 808-style kick drum sounds?
Yes. Thump can recreate classic TR-808 kick drum tones by triggering its oscillators from acoustic drum recordings. Adjust the pitch envelope to sweep downward and shape the amplitude decay to match the characteristic boom of an 808 kick.
Does Thump work on Apple Silicon Macs natively?
Yes. Version 4 includes a Universal 2 Binary with native Apple Silicon (ARM64) support, so it runs natively on M1, M2, M3, and M4 Macs without Rosetta 2 translation.
