Paraphonic MIDI by Heaps of Bleeps
SIMULATE PARAPHONIC SYNTHS WITH POLYPHONIC ONES WITH THIS FREE MAX MIDI EFFECT!
This free Max MIDI Effect allows you to simulate classic paraphonic synthesizers with polyphonic ones. It re-triggers all held notes every time you play a new one. This creates the illusion of having a shared single voice architecture on multiple oscillators, while keeping all of the other benefits of polyphonic synths.Paraphonic MIDI by Heaps of Bleeps
SIMULATE PARAPHONIC SYNTHS WITH POLYPHONIC ONES WITH THIS FREE MAX MIDI EFFECT!
This free Max MIDI Effect allows you to simulate classic paraphonic synthesizers with polyphonic ones. It re-triggers all held notes every time you play a new one. This creates the illusion of having a shared single voice architecture on multiple oscillators, while keeping all of the other benefits of polyphonic synths.Additional information
| MaxforLive | MIDI Devices |
|---|---|
| Ableton Live Compatibility | Ableton Live 10 Standard with MaxforLive, Ableton Live 10 Suite, Ableton Live 11 Standard with MaxforLive, Ableton Live 11 Suite, Ableton Live 12 Standard with MaxforLive, Ableton Live 12 Suite |
| Min. Requirements | Ableton Live 10 Standard with MaxforLive Installed or Ableton Live 10 Suite |
| OS | Mac, Windows |
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Paraphonic MIDI by Heaps of Bleeps
This free Max MIDI Effect allows you to simulate classic paraphonic synthesizers with polyphonic ones. It re-triggers all held notes every time you play a new one. This creates the illusion of having a shared single voice architecture on multiple oscillators, while keeping all of the other benefits of polyphonic synths.
Paraphonic MIDI Controls
As a bonus I also added 2 other re-trigger modes which do a lot more than just mimic paraphonic synths. Choose between having note ons (default), note offs, or both re-trigger the held MIDI.
“Note On” mode (default) simulates paraphonic synths as described above.
When “Note Off” mode is selected, it kind of behaves like a polyphonic version of monophonic re-triggering, because it re-triggers all held notes whenever one is let go.
When “Both” is selected, unpredictable bleepy, bloopy, bubbly synths will ensue as it re-triggers all held notes every time you a new note is played or let go.
There’s also a pedal toggle, which controls whether notes held by the sustain pedal will also be re-triggered with the others.
And if you love working with MIDI why not checkout the Heap MIDI Tools Bundle?
Frequently Asked Questions
Paraphonic MIDI is a Max for Live MIDI effect, so you’ll need Ableton Live Suite or a copy of Live Standard or Intro with a separate Max for Live licence. It won’t work in Live Lite or versions without Max for Live support.
Every time you play a new note, the device re-triggers all currently held notes simultaneously. This mimics the shared envelope and filter behaviour of classic paraphonic synths, where multiple oscillators run through a single voice architecture.
Note On mode re-triggers held notes when a new note is played, which is the classic paraphonic simulation. Note Off mode re-triggers held notes when a key is released, behaving more like a polyphonic take on monophonic re-triggering. Both mode combines the two, re-triggering on every note on and note off event.
It works with any polyphonic instrument in Ableton Live, whether that’s a software synth, a sampler, or an external instrument. The effect operates purely on MIDI, so it’s completely instrument-agnostic.
Download the device file and drag it into your Ableton Live User Library, or double-click to open it directly. Once it’s in your library, you can drag it onto any MIDI track just like any other Max for Live device.
Yes, Paraphonic MIDI is completely free with no limitations on functionality. You get the full device with all three re-trigger modes included straight away.
It’s ideal for recreating the sound of vintage paraphonic synths like the Oberheim Two Voice or early Korg instruments, where chords breathe and swell together through a shared filter. It’s also a creative tool for unconventional poly re-triggering effects that go well beyond simple paraphonic emulation.
Important Information
V1.0.0 – Initial Release – May 2025
Our Products are generally provided as Zip file downloads which in all cases will need to be extracted and saved to your hard drive prior to installation. Details on the different file type provided and what to do with them are below.
.alp Files – These are Ableton Live Packs and will either install directly into the Packs Section of the browser of Ableton Live or ask you to save them to your hard drive. For packs that install to the library, when you double click on them you will see a pop up window asking you to confirm that installation is ok as the files are described as “Legacy”. This is fine and you are ok to proceed, the packs are created using the format for an earlier version of Live and so remain compatible with the current version.
.amxd files – These are individual MaxforLive Devices and can be stored anywhere on your hard drive. We’d advise creating a folder for them and then adding that folder as a location within the Places section of Lives Browser.
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