Saturn 9

Why Saturn 9 Changes Everything

Most web synthesizers compromise on quality. Saturn 9 doesn't. Built from the ground up with professional sound designers in mind, every feature serves one purpose: inspiring creativity.

🎹

Zero Compromise Sound Quality

Built with the Web Audio API at its core, Saturn 9 delivers pristine 32-bit floating-point audio processing. Every oscillator, filter, and effect is meticulously crafted to rival standalone DAW plugins.

True analog-modeled PWM oscillators
2x oversampled distortion for zero aliasing
Convolution reverb with procedural impulse responses
Professional-grade output limiter prevents clipping

⚡

Instant Access, Anywhere

No downloads. No installations. No account creation. Just open your browser and start creating. Saturn 9 runs entirely client-side, meaning your sounds stay private and your workflow stays fast.

Works offline after first load
Cross-platform: Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad
Lightweight: loads in under 3 seconds
Automatic localStorage preset saving

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100+ Authentic Vintage Presets

Every preset is hand-crafted to capture the spirit of legendary 1980s hardware. From Vangelis brass to Parliament funk bass, these aren't generic samples—they're living, breathing synthesized sounds you can tweak endlessly.

Yamaha CS-80 inspired pads and brass
Roland Jupiter-8 poly leads and strings
Minimoog fat bass and dark leads
Sequential Prophet-5 brass and poly sounds
Roland Juno-106 chorus-drenched classics
Oberheim OB-Xa aggressive tones

🔊

Professional Studio Effects

Your sound deserves more than basic effects. Saturn 9 includes a meticulously ordered, studio-quality effects chain that adds depth, space, and character without muddying your mix.

Stereo chorus with dual-delay modulation
Tempo-syncable delay (up to 1 second)
Lush convolution reverb
Analog-modeled distortion with tone control
Optimized signal flow: Voice → Chorus → Delay → Reverb → Distortion → Limiter

🎛️

Deep Sound Design Control

Surface-level parameter control is for beginners. Saturn 9 gives you the deep synthesis tools professionals demand: dual oscillators, sub bass, noise generator, ring modulation, and dual LFO modulation.

Independent OSC1 and OSC2 with PWM
Sub oscillator for massive low end
4 filter types: lowpass, highpass, bandpass, notch
Dual ADSR envelopes (amp + filter)
LFO1 (pitch/filter/amp) + LFO2 (PWM modulation)

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Built for Performance

Saturn 9 isn't just a sound design tool—it's a complete performance instrument. With integrated arpeggiator, drum machine, and looper, you can create full tracks without ever leaving the browser.

Arpeggiator with 5 patterns and hold mode
17 EDM drum machine patterns
Dual-mode looper with overdubbing
QWERTY keyboard for note input
Export audio as WAV files

The Sound Engine That Powers Your Creativity

Every great synthesizer starts with a great sound engine. Saturn 9's voice architecture is designed to give you maximum sonic flexibility while maintaining the warmth and character of vintage analog hardware.

🌊 Dual Oscillator Design

At the heart of Saturn 9 are two fully independent oscillators, each capable of generating sine, triangle, sawtooth, and square waveforms. Unlike simple wavetable synths, these oscillators feature real-time pulse width modulation—the secret behind those classic evolving pad sounds.

Professional Touch: Detune OSC2 by +7 semitones for perfect fifths, or use subtle detuning (0.1-0.5 semitones) for chorus-like width. The PWM can be modulated manually or automated via LFO2 for organic, breathing timbres.

🔊 Sub Oscillator & Noise

Need earth-shaking bass? The dedicated sub oscillator plays one octave below your main oscillators, adding massive low-end weight. Three noise types (white, pink, brown) let you add texture, create percussion, or design atmospheric soundscapes.

Pro Tip: Combine sub oscillator with a lowpass filter and fast attack for classic analog bass. Add a touch of white noise for aggressive synth leads that cut through any mix.

🎛️ Multi-Mode Filter

Four filter types (lowpass, highpass, bandpass, notch) with independent cutoff and resonance controls. The analog-modeled drive circuit adds subtle saturation that glues your sound together—just like the classic hardware that inspired it.

Filter Envelope: Dedicated ADSR envelope with adjustable amount (0-10,000 Hz) creates those sweeping "wah" effects that defined 80s electronic music. Set attack slow and decay fast for plucked sounds.

⚡ Velocity Sensitivity

Your playing technique matters. Saturn 9 responds to MIDI velocity in two ways: volume dynamics (always active) and filter brightness (adjustable 0-5000 Hz). Soft touches produce dark, mellow tones. Hard hits create bright, aggressive attacks.

Expressive Playing: Set filter velocity to 2000-3000 Hz for piano-like dynamics. Keep it low (0-500 Hz) for consistent pad timbres. This is how professional keyboardists add emotion to electronic music.

🎚️ Dual LFO System

Two independent LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators) provide deep modulation possibilities. LFO1 offers multiple waveforms and can modulate pitch, filter, or amplitude. LFO2 is dedicated to PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) for evolving, organic textures.

Creative Routing: Use LFO1 with sine wave at 5 Hz for classic vibrato. Triangle wave on filter creates auto-wah effects. Square wave on amplitude produces rhythmic gating. Tempo sync locks LFO to your BPM for musical modulation.

🎼 9-Voice Polyphony

Play up to 9 simultaneous notes with intelligent voice allocation and smooth voice stealing. Switch between mono mode (single note with portamento) and poly mode (chords and layers) instantly. Each voice has its own independent envelope and filter.

Polyphonic Power: Perfect for lush pad chords, complex arpeggios, or layered bass + melody. Voice stealing algorithm prioritizes oldest notes, ensuring smooth transitions even when exceeding 9 voices—just like vintage polysynths.

Seamless MIDI Integration

Connect your favorite MIDI keyboard and experience Saturn 9 like a true hardware instrument. Full velocity sensitivity, aftertouch, pitch bend, and unlimited CC mapping give you hands-on control over every parameter.

🎹 Complete MIDI Implementation

Note On/Off with Velocity (0-127) - Dynamic volume and filter response
Pitch Bend - Smooth ±2 semitone range (classic vintage behavior)
Mod Wheel (CC#1) - Real-time vibrato or filter control
Sustain Pedal (CC#64) - Hold notes like an acoustic piano
Channel Aftertouch - Pressure-sensitive filter/vibrato/volume boost
Unlimited CC Mapping - Learn mode: click Learn, move controller, instant mapping

🎵 MIDI Recording & Export

Capture your performances as standard MIDI files. Saturn 9 records note data, velocity, CC messages, and timing—everything you need to import into your DAW for further production.

Workflow Integration: Record your synth melodies in Saturn 9, export as .mid, then use those MIDI clips to control hardware synths or VST plugins. Your Saturn 9 performances become the foundation for entire tracks.

🎚️ Direct DAW Recording

Record Saturn 9 directly into your DAW alongside other tracks using virtual audio cables. Tools like VB-Cable (Windows/Mac), Blackhole (Mac), or VoiceMeeter (Windows) route Saturn 9's audio as a virtual input—zero quality loss.

Pro Setup: Run Saturn 9 in a browser window, route via virtual cable to a track in your DAW, and record it like external hardware. You can even send MIDI from your DAW to Saturn 9 using virtual MIDI cables (loopMIDI, IAC Driver) for complete bidirectional integration.

Who Uses Saturn 9?

From bedroom producers to professional sound designers, Saturn 9 fits into any creative workflow

🎧 Electronic Music Producers

Perfect for House, Techno, Synthwave, and Ambient

"I needed fat analog bass for my deep house tracks without spending $2,000 on a vintage Juno. Saturn 9's sub oscillator + chorus gives me that exact sound, and I can access it from my laptop anywhere. The arpeggiator and drum machine mean I can sketch entire ideas before opening my DAW."

Key Features: 100+ presets covering classic electronic genres, built-in arpeggiator and drum machine for arrangement ideas, WAV export for dropping sounds directly into Ableton/FL Studio.

🎹 Live Performers

Keyboard Players & Solo Artists

"My MIDI controller connects instantly, and the velocity sensitivity makes it feel like playing a real instrument. I use Saturn 9 for ambient pads during my livestreams—the convolution reverb is better than most hardware units. And because it's browser-based, I can perform from any computer without hauling gear."

Key Features: Full MIDI velocity and aftertouch, zero-latency audio engine, QWERTY keyboard backup if MIDI fails, looper for live layering and improvisation.

🎬 Content Creators & Podcasters

YouTube, Twitch, Podcast Intro Music

"I needed a quick way to create custom intro music without licensing issues. Saturn 9 lets me design unique sounds in minutes. The preset browser is organized perfectly—I can find 'dark pad' or 'bright lead' instantly. Export as WAV, drop into Premiere, done."

Key Features: No licensing restrictions (you own what you create), fast preset browsing by category, one-click WAV export, no installation means it works on any editing machine.

🎓 Music Educators & Students

Teaching Synthesis Fundamentals

"Teaching synthesis online is challenging—students can't afford $500 synths. I have them open Saturn 9 in class, and we explore oscillators, filters, and envelopes together in real-time. The visual interface makes abstract concepts concrete. Plus, it's free, so there's no barrier to entry."

Key Features: Clear parameter labels with tooltips, visual feedback (LED indicators), comprehensive user guide, free access for all students.

Saturn 9 vs. Traditional Software Synths

Why choose a web-based synthesizer over a traditional VST plugin?

Traditional VST Plugins

Requires DAW software ($0-$600)
Installation and activation process
OS-specific (Mac/Windows versions)
Updates require manual downloads
Limited to one computer (unless iLok)
High-quality sound
MIDI support
Often $50-$200 per plugin

🏆 Saturn 9

Saturn 9 Web Synthesizer

No DAW required—works standalone
Zero installation (loads in 3 seconds)
Cross-platform (Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad)
Auto-updates via browser cache
Access from any device, anywhere
Studio-quality 32-bit audio
Full MIDI support + velocity + aftertouch
100% Free, Forever

The Bottom Line: Saturn 9 delivers professional sound quality without the professional price tag, installation headaches, or platform limitations. Whether you're sketching ideas on your laptop or performing live on an iPad, Saturn 9 is ready when you are.

Technical Specifications

For the engineers, producers, and gear nerds who want to know what's under the hood

Audio Engine

Web Audio API, 32-bit floating-point processing

Sample Rate

Native browser rate (typically 44.1kHz or 48kHz)

Polyphony

9 voices (poly mode) or 1 voice (mono mode with portamento)

Oscillators

Dual OSC (sine/tri/saw/square) + PWM + sub oscillator

Filter Types

Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, Notch

Envelopes

Dual ADSR (amplitude + filter), 0-2s per stage

LFO

LFO1 (0.1-20Hz, multi-target) + LFO2 (PWM dedicated)

Effects

Chorus, Delay (1s max), Convolution Reverb, Distortion (2x oversampled)

Presets

100+ factory + unlimited user (localStorage)

MIDI Support

Note On/Off, Velocity, Pitch Bend, CC Mapping, Aftertouch

Export Formats

WAV (audio), MID (MIDI), JSON (presets)

System Requirements

Modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge), 4GB RAM recommended

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saturn 9 really free?

Yes, 100% free. No hidden costs, no subscriptions, no "upgrade to premium" upsells. Saturn 9 is a passion project built for the music community. All 100+ presets, all features, forever free.

Do I need to install anything?

Nope. Saturn 9 runs entirely in your web browser using the Web Audio API. Just click the link and start creating. After the first load, it even works offline thanks to browser caching.

Will my presets be saved?

Yes. User presets are automatically saved to your browser's localStorage. As long as you don't clear your browser data, your sounds stay safe. Pro tip: Export important presets as JSON files for backup.

Can I use Saturn 9 sounds in my commercial music?

Absolutely. Any sound you create with Saturn 9 is 100% yours. Use it in albums, videos, podcasts, film scores—anywhere you want. No licensing fees, no royalties, no attribution required (though we always appreciate a shoutout!).

Does Saturn 9 work with my MIDI keyboard?

If your browser supports Web MIDI API (Chrome, Edge, Opera), yes! Connect your MIDI controller via USB, select it from the device dropdown, and you're ready to play. Full velocity sensitivity, aftertouch, pitch bend, and CC mapping are supported.

How does Saturn 9 compare to hardware synths?

Saturn 9 is inspired by classic 1980s hardware (CS-80, Jupiter-8, Minimoog, Prophet-5, Juno-106), but it's not trying to be a pixel-perfect emulation. Instead, it captures the spirit and workflow of vintage analog synths while adding modern conveniences like preset recall, MIDI CC mapping, and effects processing.

Can I integrate Saturn 9 with my DAW?

While Saturn 9 can't run as a VST plugin inside your DAW, there are several powerful integration options:

Virtual Audio Cable (Direct Recording): Use tools like VB-Cable (Windows/Mac), Blackhole (Mac), or VoiceMeeter (Windows) to route Saturn 9's audio directly into your DAW as a virtual input. This lets you record Saturn 9 in real-time alongside other tracks with zero quality loss.
Audio Export: Design sounds in Saturn 9, export as WAV (lossless quality), and import into your DAW. Perfect for creating sample libraries or one-shot sounds.
MIDI Export: Record MIDI performances and export as .mid files to control other instruments in your DAW, or use the MIDI data for further editing and arrangement.
MIDI Loopback: On some systems, you can use virtual MIDI cables (loopMIDI, IAC Driver) to send MIDI from your DAW to Saturn 9 and record the audio output back.

Recommended Setup: Run Saturn 9 in a separate browser window, use a virtual audio cable to route it to a track in your DAW, and record it like any external hardware synth. This gives you the best of both worlds—professional DAW features with Saturn 9's unique sound engine.

What browsers work best?

Chrome and Edge offer the best performance and full MIDI support. Firefox works great for audio-only use. Safari supports audio but has limited MIDI capabilities (Apple's WebKit limitation, not Saturn 9). All modern browsers (2020+) support the Web Audio API.

About the Designer

Amateur musician Darron Hartas has been fascinated by synthesis from an early age. As a teenager, he hand-built a Transcendent 2000 hardware mono synth—carefully soldering components and learning the inner workings of oscillators, filters, and envelopes. That hands-on experience sparked a lifelong passion for electronic sound.

Over the years, his love for electronic sounds and the internet naturally led him into web development. Now, with the help of modern AI-assisted coding techniques, Darron is bringing his synth-building dreams into the browser. Saturn 9 is initially inspired by the 80s classics of subtractive synthesis—those legendary instruments that defined a generation of music.

This is an ongoing project, and Saturn 9 will continue to grow in features and functionality. Enjoy, and share the love if you like it! 🎹✨