How to use Tension: Increase Bow Force to make the sound more 'scratchy' for aggressive bowed textures?

Increase Bow Force to make the sound more 'scratchy' for aggressive bowed textures

How to use Tension: Adjust Fix?

Adjust Fix. Pos to model instrument-specific exciter behavior (on for guitar-like fixed picking position, off for piano-like relative hammer strike)

How to use Tension: Use the Inharm slider to add inharmonicity to upper partials, increasing realism of wide strings?

Use the Inharm slider to add inharmonicity to upper partials, increasing realism of wide strings

How to use Tension: Combine high Mass and Stiffness Damper values to change the string's effective length and tuning?

Combine high Mass and Stiffness Damper values to change the string's effective length and tuning

Plugin interface — screenshot pending

Synthesizer

Tension

Name: Tension
Author: Ableton

Ableton

Where to get itIncluded with Ableton Liveableton.com

Tension is a physical modeling synthesizer from Ableton, developed with Applied Acoustics Systems, dedicated to emulating string instruments through mathematical models of string components rather than sampling or wavetables. It features four exciter types (bow, hammer, bouncing hammer, and plectrum), a damper model, string physics engine, and soundboard simulation that dynamically respond to performance input. The synthesizer extends beyond acoustic realism with filters, LFOs, envelopes, and MPE support for expressive sound design.

Written from the manual and checked against it. How we check

Key Features

01Four exciter types: Bow, Hammer, Hammer (bouncing), Plectrum

02Physical modeling engine with string, damper, and fret/finger interaction models

03Six filter types: 2nd/4th order low-pass, band-pass, notch, high-pass, formant

04Polyphonic filter with dedicated ADSR envelope and LFO modulation

05MPE support with pressure and slide mapping, per-note pitch bend

06Unison effect with 2 or 4 stacked voices and per-voice detune

07Portamento with legato and proportional time options

08Multiple body types and sizes (XS to XL) with Low/High Cut EQ

Things to Try

01Increase Bow Force to make the sound more 'scratchy' for aggressive bowed textures
02Adjust Fix. Pos to model instrument-specific exciter behavior (on for guitar-like fixed picking position, off for piano-like relative hammer strike)
03Use the Inharm slider to add inharmonicity to upper partials, increasing realism of wide strings
04Combine high Mass and Stiffness Damper values to change the string's effective length and tuning

User Manual↗

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Tension by Ableton | Plugin Library