Surface Builder vs MODALapp 2025

Surface Builder is a tool for creating control surfaces that send MIDI data to one or more audio components in order to simplify remote control tasks. You start by creating a surface of a given size, adding buttons, knobs, faders, etc. to the surface and configuring them to generate the required MIDI output. Surface Builder allows you to send note on/off, controller change and program change values as well as being able to emulate modulation wheel and pitch bend data. Buttons can also be configured to send bulk MIDI data using a single key press. You can build surfaces that span multiple scenes and link between them for large complex interfaces. Incoming MIDI data can also be used to control or trigger elements of the interface, giving a bi-directional stream of MIDI data. Surface Builder can be added as a pure MIDI plugin which allows processing of MIDI only, or as an instrument plugin, allowing you to process audio passing through it. You can even load it as an intrument and configure a surface to start and stop audio clips either manually or remotely. Surface Builder was designed to be used as an AUv3 plugin within your favourite DAW, but it can also be used in standalone to send MIDI directly to MIDI hardware using direct access to their MIDI ports. Many different object types are supported including buttons, switches, lights, rotary knobs, faders, sliders, XY-Pad, keyboards, as well as text, image and box objects. Each object has many different styles and colours, so no two surfaces look the same. Drag and drop an audio file onto a button and that button becomes a clip player. Attach rotary knobs to control the clips volume and pan. Throw on top of that a LP/HP filter knob and you are cooking on gas. Drop PNG transparent image icons on buttons to customise the look and feel. A button can record and playback bulk MIDI commands, on both button press and release. So pressing a button could send the notes of a chord when pressed, and appropriate note offs on release. A surface can consist of up to 6 scenes for really complex designs. Buttons and switches can be used to switch scenes and also to show and hide other objects to make better use of screen space. Once your surface is complete switch to presentation mode to hide all the toolbars. Each surface can be saved with compressed audio and images all in a single surface file. Features ○ AUv3 and standalone modes. ○ Bluetooth MIDI support. ○ Drag and Drop interface. ○ Send and Receive Note On/Off. ○ Supports all Control Change parameters. ○ Supports Program Change commands with bank support. ○ Multiple Audio Clip playback. ○ Record and playback bulk midi data. ○ Multi-Scene. ○ Multi-level undo/redo. ○ MIDI Monitor ○ Presentation Mode. ○ iPhone and iPad compatible.

MODALapp delivers an immersive programming experience for musicians, sound designers and producers. Built around a straightforward interface, MODALapp represents all sound forming and performance parameters. MODALapp also allows you to update your hardware with the latest firmware version easily. MODALapp is compatible with the following MODAL hardware: CRAFTsynth CRAFTrhythm CRAFTsynth 2.0 SKULPTsynthesiser Skulpt SE ARGON8 series COBALT8 series COBALT5S CARBON8 series Full-featured Sound Editor • Easy Access to all Oscillators, Morphing Filters, Envelopes and LFOs to design your signature sound • Edit precisely the Effects section to add character and expressive ambiences • Use the modulation matrix to control sound parameters automatically Sequencer and Arp • Spice up your sounds with Sequence and Arp pattern, easily programmable via the dedicated App section • Add sound variates by modulating synth parameters via the four Sequencer Animation lanes Easy Sound Management • Copy and paste synth sounds and create patch orders according to your setlist • Upload new patches into your MODAL device Control the General Settings • Control all general settings of your MODAL hardware, incl. external sync sources, display settings, volume settings, and (when applicable) keyboard and external pedal settings Keep your MODAL hardware up to date • Update the latest firmware directly into your MODAL device