Astralis Baby Bion
Key Features
- Combine two waveforms using modes including addition, subtraction and FM.
- Shape sounds with a multi-mode filter that can be cascaded up to eight times.
- Use two 32-stage envelopes for volume and modulation over time.
- Add movement with standard and custom LFO shapes and modulation routing.
- Create spacious textures with SoundScaper’s comb, delay and reverb effects.
- Choose among three effect paths and spread voices across the stereo field.
Description
Astralis Baby Bion is a Windows VST synthesizer from Homegrown Sounds built for atmospheric sounds and evolving soundscapes. Its dual oscillator offers more than 3,500 waveforms and several ways to combine them, including frequency modulation.
The oscillator feeds a filter with several response types, including low-pass, high-pass and comb filtering. You can cascade the filter up to eight times, making it possible to reshape a sound before it reaches the effects section.
Two 32-stage envelopes provide another way to create movement over time: one controls volume, while the other can be routed to the filter and other destinations. The LFO adds standard and custom shapes, and the modulation routing connects sources to different parameters.
SoundScaper combines comb, delay and reverb effects for spacious textures, while a separate flanger/filter section adds further movement. Three effects routing paths and stereo spread give you options for placing and processing individual voices.
Homegrown Sounds offers Baby Bion v2 in its free HGS VST Collection, alongside other legacy instruments. It is a 32-bit Windows plugin, and the developer says these older plugins are no longer supported; check your host's compatibility before using it in a project.
The original Baby Bion was a semitone out of tune, according to the developer's 2010 update announcement. Version 2 corrects that tuning and was released separately so older projects could retain the original instrument.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SoundScaper add to Baby Bion?
SoundScaper combines comb, delay and reverb effects to create spacious, evolving textures. It is built into the instrument alongside a separate flanger/filter section.
How does Baby Bion v2 differ from the original?
The developer announced that the original was a semitone out of tune. Version 2 corrects that tuning and was released separately to preserve existing projects using the original.
How do I obtain Baby Bion v2?
The developer includes it in the HGS VST Collection. The product page links to the collection, which points to the Internet Archive download.
