Sampleson have released Tactile (initially called Friction), available at the intro price of $29.00, increasing to $49.00 after the promotion.
Friction is an ambient VST instrument that lets you interact with sound. As you drag your mouse across the grid, each axis controls a different audio source—X for one, Y for the other—transforming static input into rich, evolving textures and immersive soundscapes.
Whether you’re brushing across field recordings or caressing orchestral stems, each movement reveals a new sonic layer. It’s not just playback—it’s performance. Designed for ambient artists, sound designers, and explorers of texture.
Your trackpad is not just a controller — it’s an ambient instrument. Every touch becomes a gesture of texture and space, translating subtle finger movements into evolving soundscapes. With each swipe, tap, or press, you sculpt drones, atmospheres, and harmonic shifts in real time. It’s intuitive, expressive, and endlessly dynamic — a new way to perform ambient music directly from your fingertips.
Once you’ve shaped your sound, Friction gives you two ways to bring it into your production. You can record audio on the built-in recorder and drag and drop the rendered audio directly into your track, perfect for locking in textures and snapshots.
Or, automate your gestures in real time — every move you make on the grid is captured as automation data and sent to your DAW as parameter changes. No audio rendering needed.
At its core, Friction combines a custom spectral freezing engine with layered granular synths to transform any audio input into a playable ambient surface. The spectral freezer isolates a time slice of the sound and holds it in place, allowing detailed exploration of its frequency content.
On top of this frozen layer, dual granular processors continuously resample each audio source—mapped to the X and Y axes—creating fluid, multidimensional textures that respond to your mouse movements in real time. This architecture allows Friction to morph static material into lush ambiences, blending spectral detail with temporal motion.
Features include:
- Ambient instrument for sound exploration
- Transforms any audio file into a tactile grid
- Spectral freezer and granular engines
- Supports two simultaneous audio files
- Integrated audio recorder
- Drag and drop export to DAW or desktop
- High-resolution UI (Retina & 4K ready)
- No musical knowledge required—just load and play
- Great for FX design, drones, transitions, and atmosphere
Watch the demo video HERE. .
Friction is available to PC and Mac users (VST3, AU and standalone).
For more information on Friction, click here:
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