Tempus is a dual-voice granular instrument from Audio Reward that transforms tempo into pitch and pitch into tempo, using over 500 sound sources and three play modes to craft evolving, textural audio.
Purpose and Core Concept
Tempus is a dual-voice granular instrument built around the concept that tempo and pitch can blur into each other. Its sound sources are designed for rapid staccato playing, which, when repeated quickly, merge into a continuous audio stream with a distinct timbre. This concept makes Tempus ideal for creating rhythmic textures and evolving soundscapes.
You can combine any two sound sources, one per voice, to create unique hybrids. Three play modes—Granular, Hybrid, and One-shot—determine how the source material is triggered. This straightforward approach allows for both percussive and pad-like sounds, from subtle atmospheric layers to complex rhythmic pulses, fitting a wide range of genres.
Key Capabilities and Sound Design
The instrument includes more than 500 sound sources and over 300 snapshots categorized by style, such as Atmos, Cinematic, and Modulation. A five-page control interface covers voice settings, playback modes, filters, and LFOs. The Voices page manages volume, pan, pitch, and a global Sound Drift control for organic movement.
A creative Mix control lets you assign volume, pitch, and panning to different settings and morph between them manually or with the Walk button. For harmonic enrichment, eight Models add new pitched grains at one or two octaves above or below the original sound. Send levels are also adjustable, with four sends available per voice.
Workflow and Control
Tempus is designed for intuitive sculpting. You can browse presets, switch play modes, and fine-tune grain length settings for precise granular performance. The Scene Management tool offers a streamlined way to organize and switch between different voice configurations, speeding up live or studio experimentation.
Morphing is central to the workflow. By assigning different volume, pitch, and pan settings to the Mix control, you can smoothly transition between sonic states. Automating the Walk button adds movement without manual intervention, useful for evolving textures. This blend of manual and automated controls supports both detailed sound design and performance.
Practical Applications
Tempus fits well in cinematic scoring, ambient music, and sound design. Its ability to generate rhythmic, staccato-based textures makes it suitable for creating pulsing beds or unique percussion layers. The One-shot mode can serve for individual hits, while Granular excels at sustained, evolving pads.
The included snapshots offer a starting point for immediate inspiration, and the dual-voice design encourages layering contrasting sources. For producers seeking non-traditional timbres, Tempus can replace or complement conventional synths and samplers, bringing a fresh perspective to rhythmic and atmospheric elements.
Key features
- Dual-voice granular engine with three play modes: Granular, Hybrid, and One-shot
- Over 500 sound sources designed for rapid staccato playing
- Over 300 snapshots in categories like Atmos, Cinematic, and Modulation
- Five-page control interface with filters, LFOs, and grain length settings
- Creative Mix control with morphing and automated Walk button
- Eight Models for adding harmonic octave grains
- Four sends per voice with Scene Management tool
Best for
Tempus is best for composers and sound designers needing rhythmic, textural, or atmospheric sounds. Its hybrid nature suits cinematic music, ambient soundscapes, and experimental electronic genres. The morphing and snapshot system make it performance-friendly, while the massive source library ensures varied results.