SYNTHESIZERS: SCULPTURE

OVERVIEW

SCULPTURE

(MODELING SYNTH)

Sculpture is Logic Pro’s physical modeling synthesizer, designed to emulate real-world acoustic behaviors as well as create entirely new hybrid textures. Instead of relying on oscillators, Sculpture generates sound by simulating the vibration of a virtual object—such as a string, bar, or membrane—interacting with various physical forces.

This allows Sculpture to produce highly expressive, organic, and evolving sounds that are difficult to recreate using subtractive, FM, or wavetable synthesis. Its strength lies in dynamic realism: tones respond to playing gestures, modulation, material settings, and performance nuances in a remarkably lifelike way.

Key Features

Physical Modeling Engine: Generates sound by simulating object vibration rather than traditional oscillators, giving it an organic and acoustic-like quality.
Material Pad (Object Material Control): A unique XY pad that morphs the virtual object between materials like nylon, steel, wood, and glass, allowing infinite tonal possibilities.
Three Exciters (Object 1, 2 & 3): Model different ways of initiating vibration—pluck, bow, strike, or distort—and set their position on the modeled object.
Morph Pad & Morph Envelope: Animate movement between up to 5 sound states, enabling evolving, flowing textures.
Body EQ / Body Resonator: Simulates the resonant characteristics of resonating bodies such as acoustic guitar boxes, violin bodies, or custom resonators.
Flexible Modulation System: Includes LFOs, envelopes, lag processors, jitter, randomizers, and MIDI control for highly expressive performance.
Built-in Filters & Distortion: Shape harmonics using multi-mode filters, waveshaping distortion, and non-linear effects.
Performance Controls: Features like pickup position, stiffness, tension, and media loss allow realistic or experimental sound design.

Best Use Cases

Unique Hybrid Instruments: Creating bizarre, non-existent acoustic/mechanical sounds (e.g., "six-foot-long guitar with a bronze bell for a body").
Evolving Textures/Soundscapes: Perfect for creating infinitely evolving, organic textures for film scores, ambient music, or special effects (like a "spaceship takeoff sound").
Realistic Physical Emulations: Generating convincing simulations of real-world instruments like plucked, bowed, or struck strings, bells, and mallets.
Warm Synth Tones: Creating lush, organic-sounding pads, deep, round basses, and powerful leads with an organic quality inherent to the modeling process.
Percussive/Mallet Sounds: Using the Drumstick object and short decay times for unique metallic or wooden struck tones.
Cinematic sound design: Evolving pads, eerie drones, and resonant atmospheres.
Expressive performance patches: Sculpture responds dynamically to velocity, aftertouch, modulation, and playing style.

Popular Song Examples

“Teardrop” – Massive Attack
“Kid A” – Radiohead
“0” – Aphex Twin
“Windowlicker” – Aphex Twin
"Everything in Its Right Place" – Radiohead

Workflow Tips

Modulate the Objects: Don't just rely on the initial strike. Use the extensive modulation matrix to apply movement to the Object parameters for evolving, dynamic sound.
Explore the Pickups: Experiment with moving the two virtual Pickups along the string. Different positions capture wildly different harmonic content and are key to timbral shaping.
Use the Material Pad: The central X-Y Material Pad is your quick-access sound design tool, controlling the string/body parameters simultaneously. Automate this pad for instant evolving textures.
Master the Morph Function: Use the Morph Points (up to five) to save different versions of your sound. Record a morph path to create smooth, complex transitions between them over time, which is ideal for sound effects.
Apply External Effects: While Sculpture has a built-in delay, try pairing it with Space Designer or ChromaVerb for massive, realistic acoustic space to enhance its physical sound.
Go Beyond Realistic: Combine non-realistic settings (like high string tension, metal material, and a wind/bow object) to quickly achieve the bizarre, hybrid instrument sounds Sculpture is famous for.
Exciter positions matter: Placing exciters closer to the “end” of the modeled object yields brighter, more percussive tones.
Use Body EQ for realism: Choose a resonator like “Guitar Body,” “Violin Body,” or “Plastic Tube” to shape the character.
Try randomization: Sculpture’s Randomize controls can produce inspiring starting points for complex patches.
Layer with traditional synths: Sculpture adds an organic edge to hybrid pads, keys, and soundscapes.

SCULPTURE ONLINE MANUAL

LISTEN to this POD about the SCULPTURE Plugin

FAMOUS USES

(These songs do not use Sculpture specifically, but they modeling synths in a similar style.)

Teardrop

“Teardrop” – Massive Attack
Duration: 5:31

Timestamp: Example heard at 0:00–0:20
Use: The mallet-like, resonant plucked synth resembles Sculpture’s struck or plucked modeling modes.

Kid A

“Kid A” – Radiohead

Duration: 4:44

Timestamp: Example heard at 0:12–0:55
Use: The drifting, organic synth pad mirrors Sculpture’s evolving morphing textures.

Avril 14th

Aphex Twin — “Avril 14th”

Duration: 2:05

Timestamp: 0:00–0:40

Use: Demonstrates soft, plucked, piano-like timbres that resemble Sculpture’s string-modeling engine. The warm, intimate tone and lightly resonant attack are similar to what Sculpture produces when using the String > Object interactions and pickup position controls to shape delicate, evolving harmonics.

Everything in its Right Place

"Everything in Its Right Place" – Radiohead
Duration: 4:12

Timestamp: Example at 0:00–1:00
Use: Smooth, evolving textures emblematic of Sculpture’s morph pads and modulation.

VIDEO TUTORIALS

What Does Sculpture Do?

This video gives a brief demo of the kind of sounds the Sculpture modeling synth is capable of. (6:15)

Sculpture Overview

In this video, MusicTechHelpGuy gives a thorough overview of the Sculpture Modeling Synth. (39:03)

Sculpture Sound Design

MusicTechHelpGuy shows how to use automation with presets in Sculpture to design your own sounds. (12:18)

Modulating Object

This video shows how to modulate objects (oscillators) in the Sculpture Modeling Synth. (4:04)

How Sculpture Works

Jono provides a basic overview of how Sculpture works with a demonstration on how to create your own sounds. (13:06)

Sculpture Modulation P1

Jono continues to demonstrates the numerous possibilities on Sculpture focusing on the controls in the lower left hand corner of Sculpture. (20:01)

Sculpture Modulation P2

Jono continues his tutorial on using modulation techniques in the Sculpture Modeling Synth. (12:47)

Sculpture Object Demos

This video shows how the objects (oscillators) work together in Logic's Sculpture Modeling Synth. (6:40)

Envelope MOD

Analog Expanse demonstrates how you can use the envelope to modulate multiple parameters in your synth. (18:39)

SOURCE ARTICLES

SOURCE ARTICLES YOU CAN READ:

LOGIC PRO X - Understanding Sculpture – YouTube (Jono Buchanan Music)

Logic Pro: Getting The Most Out Of Sculpture – Sound On Sound

LOGIC PRO X - Sculpture Modulation Part 2 – YouTube (Jono Buchanan Music)

Don't forget the wild sound possibilities of Sculpture in Apple Logic Pro – CDM (Create Digital Music)

Logic Pro Sculpture Tutorial – Loopmasters

The Fundamentals of Physical Modeling Synthesis – The Pro Audio Files

10 Best Physical Modeling Synth VST Plugins In 2025 – DAW Zone

AAS Modeling Collection VST AU AAX – Applied Acoustics Systems (AAS)

5 of the Best Physical Modeling Synths – Gearnews

Native Instruments Prism & Logic Sculpture appear to be the same thing – Reddit (r/synthesizers)

Physical Modeling Synth? - Loopy Pro Forum – Loopy Pro Forum

Synthesizer for physical modelling synthesis? – Reddit (r/synthesizers)

Sculpting in Sculpture | Logic Pro X - YouTube

Favorite Physical Modeling VSTi in 2021... and Beyond! - VI Control

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