Instruments that start life as one thing and grow into another are always interesting, and Outgrowth from developer Aqeel Aadam is a good example. Launched in late 2025 as a sample-manipulation instrument with multiple engines, it has just received a free 1.2 update that lets it work as a proper synthesizer, no samples required.
What's new in version 1.2
Outgrowth's two main engines, Delve and Radiate, can now run as standalone synths. According to the developer's update notes as reported by Synth Anatomy, the changes break down like this:
- Delve becomes a Moog-style synth with three oscillators of different shapes and built-in filters. When samples are loaded, it can also blend its sample-based wavetable with a multi-shape oscillator.
- Radiate is tuned to the natural harmonic series, which gives it a distinctive, bell-like and organ-like character. It also gains waveshaping, borrowed from the developer's Coastline and Sightlines plugins and apps.
- Both synth modes include the Smear, Strike and Ripple effects.
The update is free for existing users.
Pricing and platforms
Outgrowth runs on macOS and Windows as VST3, AU and AAX for $65, and on iOS for $19.99 via the App Store. That iOS price is notable: a multi-engine instrument with this much modulation depth at under twenty dollars is easy to try without much risk.
Why MPE players should care
The 1.2 update itself doesn't announce anything MPE-specific, and it's worth being clear about that. But the instrument's modulation design is what makes it interesting for expressive playing. When Outgrowth was first covered, its modulation sources included velocity, mod wheel, keytrack, MIDI CC, polyphonic aftertouch / MPE, two ADSR envelopes, an LFO and a slew random.
Each modulator has its own mini mod matrix that can target up to 16 parameters. That matters for per-note expression. If pressure from your controller can be routed to several parameters at once, such as filter movement, waveshaping depth and one of the Smear, Strike or Ripple effects, a single gesture can shape the sound in several ways at the same time. That is the heart of what makes MPE playing feel alive rather than static.
The new synth modes make this more useful. Sampled material tends to have a fixed character, whereas an oscillator-based voice responds to modulation in a more immediate, predictable way. Having both options in one plugin lets you choose how much of the sound comes from a recording and how much from synthesis.
Practical tips for expressive setups
If you're planning to try Outgrowth with an MPE controller, a few things are worth checking first:
- Confirm the MPE mode. Check the plugin's settings and your host to make sure per-note pressure is actually reaching the modulation matrix, rather than being collapsed into a single channel-wide aftertouch value.
- Set your pitch bend range to match your controller (48 semitones is common on MPE hardware) so slides land where you expect.
- Start with Radiate. Its harmonic-series tuning makes small pitch and timbre changes very audible, which is a quick way to hear whether your expression data is arriving.
- Map pressure to more than one destination. Subtle movement across two or three parameters usually sounds more natural than one big change.
The bigger picture
Free updates that add substantial new capabilities are a healthy sign for the plugin market. They give existing owners more value and give newcomers a reason to look again at instruments they may have passed over as "just a sampler."
For MPE players in particular, instruments with flexible, per-note modulation routing are the ones that reward expressive hardware the most. Outgrowth 1.2 doesn't claim to be an MPE flagship, but with polyphonic aftertouch in its modulation sources and a more capable sound engine, it deserves a spot on the list of instruments to audition with your controller.
You can find downloads, demos and documentation on the official Outgrowth page.