Modal synthesis for disting NT, based on Mutable Instruments Elements.
nt_elements brings the iconic Elements modal synthesis engine to the Expert Sleepers disting NT Eurorack module. Experience authentic physical modeling synthesis with 4 parameter pages covering exciters, resonators, reverb, and performance controls.
- Complete Elements DSP engine (bow/blow/strike exciters)
- 64-filter modal resonator with geometry, brightness, damping controls
- Stereo reverb with separate Main and Aux outputs for flexible routing
- 4 parameter pages: Exciter, Resonator, Space, Performance
- 5th Routing page for I/O and CV configuration
- Stereo Output: Main Output (bus 13) + Aux Output (bus 14) for reverb spreading
- MIDI Input: Note on/off, pitch bend, channel filtering (1-16 or omni)
- Essential CV Inputs:
- V/Oct CV: 1V/octave pitch tracking
- Gate CV: Trigger/gate input
- FM CV: Dynamic FM modulation (±5V)
- Brightness CV: Filter cutoff modulation (±5V)
- Expression CV: Dynamics/velocity control (0-10V)
- Adaptive sample rate (32/48/96kHz - matches NT system settings)
- CPU usage < 30% (allows chaining with other algorithms)
- ~207KB hardware build size
- Download
nt_elements.ofrom the releases page - Copy the file to your disting NT SD card (root directory or subdirectory)
- Insert SD card into disting NT
- Power on disting NT
- Navigate to file browser
- Select
nt_elements.oto load plugin - Plugin appears in algorithm list as "nt_elements"
- disting NT Eurorack module
- disting NT firmware version 1.0 or later
- SD card (any file system supported by disting NT)
- MIDI controller (for note input, optional)
- Load the plugin - Select nt_elements from the disting NT file browser
- Connect MIDI - Send MIDI to your configured channel (default: channel 1)
- Play notes - The default patch produces a bowed string sound
- Navigate pages - Press the button to cycle through parameter pages
- Adjust parameters - Turn pots and encoders to shape your sound
nt_elements organizes 23 parameters across 5 pages:
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Page 1: EXCITER │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Bow Level 80% │
│ Blow Level 0% │
│ Strike Level 0% │
│ Bow Timbre 50% │
│ Blow Timbre 50% │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
Page 1: Exciter - Choose your excitation method
- Bow Level: Continuous friction exciter (strings, sustained tones)
- Blow Level: Air pressure exciter (brass, woodwinds)
- Strike Level: Percussive exciter (bells, mallets)
- Bow/Blow Timbre: Shape the character of each exciter
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Page 2: RESONATOR │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Geometry 50% (String) │
│ Brightness 70% │
│ Damping 60% │
│ Position 50% │
│ Inharmonic 0% │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
Page 2: Resonator - Shape the physical model
- Geometry: String (0%) ↔ Tube (100%)
- Brightness: Filter cutoff / harmonic content
- Damping: Decay time (0% = infinite sustain, 100% = quick decay)
- Position: Strike/bow position along the resonator
- Inharmonic: Add metallic, bell-like inharmonicity
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Page 3: SPACE │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Reverb Amt 20% │
│ Reverb Size 50% │
│ Reverb Damp 70% │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
Page 3: Space - Stereo reverb
- Reverb Amt: Dry/wet mix (sent to Aux Output)
- Reverb Size: Room size (small chamber ↔ large hall)
- Reverb Damp: High frequency absorption
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Page 4: PERFORMANCE │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Coarse Tune 0 semitones │
│ Fine Tune 0 cents │
│ Output Lvl 100% │
│ FM Amount 0% │
│ Exciter Cnt 50% │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
Page 4: Performance - Global controls
- Coarse Tune: ±12 semitones
- Fine Tune: ±50 cents
- Output Lvl: Master volume
- FM Amount: Pitch modulation depth
- Exciter Cnt: Envelope contour (0% = percussive, 100% = sustained)
┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Page 5: ROUTING │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ MIDI Chan 1 │
│ V/Oct CV Bus 0 │
│ Gate CV Bus 0 │
│ FM CV Bus 0 │
│ Bright CV Bus 0 │
│ Expr CV Bus 0 │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘
Page 5: Routing - I/O and MIDI configuration
- MIDI Chan: 0 = omni, 1-16 = specific channel
- CV Inputs: Assign buses for pitch, gate, modulation sources
Send MIDI notes to trigger synthesis. The plugin responds to:
- Note On/Off: Triggers gate and sets pitch
- Pitch Bend: Continuous pitch modulation
- Channel: Configurable on Page 5 (0=omni, 1-16=specific)
Essential CV Inputs (Page 5: Routing):
- V/Oct CV: 1V/octave pitch control
- Gate CV: Trigger/gate input
- FM CV: Frequency modulation (±5V)
- Brightness CV: Filter cutoff modulation (±5V)
- Expression CV: Dynamics/velocity (0-10V)
Advanced Mapping: Any parameter can be CV-mapped via disting NT's parameter CV system.
nt_elements is a port of Mutable Instruments Elements modal synthesis engine to the Expert Sleepers disting NT platform.
Original Elements DSP code: Copyright (c) 2014 Emilie Gillet, Mutable Instruments disting NT adapter code: Copyright (c) 2025 Neal Sanche
For developers wanting to build from source, see DEVELOPMENT.md for detailed build instructions.
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
The project combines:
- Adapter code for disting NT (src/) - Copyright (c) 2025 Neal Sanche
- Original Elements DSP code (external/mutable-instruments/) - Copyright (c) 2014 Emilie Gillet
Both components are licensed under the MIT License.
For issues, questions, or feedback:
- Open an issue on GitHub
- Join the discussion on the disting NT Discord
- Initial release
- Full Elements DSP integration with adaptive sample rate (32/48/96kHz)
- 4 parameter pages + routing page (23 parameters total)
- Stereo output: Main + Aux for reverb spreading
- Essential CV inputs: V/Oct, Gate, FM, Brightness, Expression
- MIDI note input with pitch bend support
- Custom OLED display with page navigation
- CPU usage < 30% at all supported sample rates