AURA-8Hybrid wavetable synth plugin
Wavetables with an analog heart. Two oscillators, eight harmonics, a transistor wave folder and an arpeggiator that can lock into a steady pattern or bring it to life with movement and change. Drag CHIPS, Sequoia's exclusive drag-and-drop modulation, onto any parameter and watch the sound come alive. Deep inside, simple on top.
AURA-8 Trailer
Play, shape, move
PLAY
200 factory sounds in 11 categories, four performance macros, and RANDOMIZE for a new patch in one click, with BACK to every sound you had. Play it on the flat STUDIO panel or the walnut INSTRUMENT, with its own keys and wheels.
SHAPE
100 wavetables in 10 families, or drop any audio file in to make your own. Then the ERA engine, eight harmonic taps, the CALI folder and two filters.
MOVE
Drag a CHIP, Sequoia's exclusive drag-and-drop modulation, onto any parameter. Map any controller to anything with MIDI MAP. Let the Constellation arpeggiator drift five lanes against each other, in the key your song is in. MPE ready.
Main features
Oscillators
- Two wavetable oscillators plus noise
- 100 wavetables in 10 families, 64 frames each
- Drop any audio file to make a playable wavetable
- Four layers per oscillator: switch, mute and balance them from the tabs
- Step through wavetables with the arrows beside the menu
- ERA: 8-bit crunch, 12-bit sparkle or pristine float
Harmonics & folding
- Eight harmonic taps with CENTRE, WIDTH and SPREAD
- Draw every harmonic by hand with CUSTOM
- CLOCK turns the taps into rhythmic gates
- CALI transistor wave folder with JITTER
- WEST FOLD: a West-coast folder (sine, triangle, two-stage, soft), before or after the filters
Filters
- Nine filter models: CLASSIC 4-POLE, CLEAN SVF, LADDER, MORPH 12, CASCADE 24, BRIGHT 24, DIODE, SCREAM, WILD 12
- Each in LP24, LP12, BP12 or HP12, switching without a click
- Second filter: VOWEL (A-E-I-O-U) or tuned COMB
- Serial or parallel
Modulation
- Three AHDSR envelopes you shape by dragging the curve
- Three LFOs, free or synced
- CHIPS: exclusive drag-and-drop modulation onto any parameter, with live arcs
- 24 routings on the MOD page, four performance macros
Play & MIDI
- 16 voices: poly, mono or legato, with glide and analog drift
- MPE support
- MIDI MAP: any wheel, pedal or CC moves any control
- Constellation arpeggiator: five lanes, ghost notes, harmonic drift
- Key AUTO listens to your song and keeps the arp in its key
- MIDI IN readout and a one-click PANIC
Effects
- WINDSHEAR pitch pedal and GERMANIUM saturation
- Vintage OPTO / FET compressor
- Chorus, flanger and resonator (bucket-brigade)
- Grain, spectral freeze and triple-head tape echo
- FOCUS display shows the effect you last touched
- FX LEVEL: AUTO holds your level steady, plus ±12 dB GAIN
Two looks
- STUDIO: the flat dark Signal panel
- INSTRUMENT: walnut case, 61 keys and brass lights
- Pitch and mod wheels that follow your controller
- Switch any time; it remembers your choice
An arpeggiator with five minds.
Play a pattern that repeats exactly, or give PITCH, GATE, ACCENT, SCAN and VELOCITY their own lengths and let the pattern move and change as it plays. Ghost notes, harmonic drift and key AUTO keep it in the key of your song.
CHIPS: drag movement onto any parameter.
CHIPS are Sequoia's exclusive drag-and-drop modulation. Pick up an envelope, LFO, macro or your mod wheel and drop it on any parameter. Its arc shows exactly how far it moves, live, while you play.
See it
Price, formats and specs
- 200 factory presets and 100 wavetables
- VST3, AU, CLAP and a standalone app
- Mac and Windows
- Quick guide, plus a help bar that explains every control
- Free updates for as long as you own it
| Formats | VST3, AU, CLAP and a standalone app |
|---|---|
| Mac | macOS 10.15 or later, Apple Silicon and Intel |
| Windows | Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit |
| Works in | Any DAW that loads VST3, AU or CLAP |
| Voices | Up to 16, poly / mono / legato, with MPE and polyphonic aftertouch |
| Looks | STUDIO and INSTRUMENT (walnut case, 61 keys, pitch and mod wheels) |
| Content | 200 factory presets in 11 categories, 100 wavetables in 10 families |
| Manual | PDF and quick guide, with the download |
Questions
What do I need to run AURA-8?
A Mac with macOS 10.15 or later (Apple Silicon or Intel), or a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 PC, and any DAW that loads VST3, AU or CLAP. There's also a standalone app.
Can I make my own wavetables?
Yes. Drop any audio file on the wavetable display and AURA-8 turns it into a playable 64-frame wavetable.
Will my MIDI controller work?
Yes. Open MIDI MAP, pick the mod wheel, aftertouch, a pedal or any CC (or press LEARN and move a knob), then add every control it should move. Each one gets its own depth. AURA-8 also supports MPE.
Does the arpeggiator stay in time with my song?
Yes. When your DAW plays, the Constellation locks to the song's beat grid and restarts cleanly, and loops repeat identically. LATCH is there for auditioning when the song is stopped.
Does the arpeggiator know what key my song is in?
Set ROOT and SCALE to AUTO. No DAW tells a plugin its key, so AURA-8 listens to the notes it's played and settles on the key that fits. Until it has heard enough, it follows the notes you hold. Pick a key yourself any time.
Can I change how AURA-8 looks?
Yes. Press the LOOK button at the bottom to switch between STUDIO, the flat dark panel, and INSTRUMENT, with a walnut case, 61 keys and pitch and mod wheels. It remembers your choice.
Do updates cost extra?
No. Every update is free for as long as you own the plugin. Only a completely rebuilt new version would ever be a paid upgrade, and owners would get a discount on it.
Where are my own presets saved?
In Music / Sequoia Synthesizers / AURA-8 / Presets on a Mac, or Documents\Sequoia Synthesizers\AURA-8\Presets on Windows.
