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iceGear Mochizuki is a new four-oscillator multi-engine Synthesizer plugin for iOS and macOS with three distinct oscillator engines.
I have my favorite iOS developers. Among them is the Japanese developer iceGear Instruments (iceWorks in the App Store). Great-looking interfaces are one thing. The other is the synth engines that always offer twists, giving them an original sonic character.
After a three-year hiatus (Opsix-style Nambu in 2023), Satoshi from iceGear is back with a new synthesizer called Mochizuki.
It’s a good day. There’s a new iceGear synth. Mochizuki is a new multi-engine Synthesizer for iOS and macOS. Yes, it has different engines. Don’t worry, the app doesn’t recycle Mutable Instruments algorithms as we’ve seen in many recent synth releases.
Four oscillators form the foundation of the Mochizuki Synth. Not four layers, but four independent oscillators. Each oscillator has three selectable engines: virtual analog with AM, 2OP FM, and resonator.
The virtual analog oscillator features classic waveforms (saw, pulse, triangle, and sine) with sync, shaping options, and amplitude modulation (AM). FM offers two operators (carrier + modulator), each with a wide range of waveforms (classic + sine variations…) and FM controls like feedback.
For me, the most exciting is the resonator oscillator mode, capable of creating physical-modeling timbres. Flexible noise and texture generators are available as exciters, usable independently or in a mix. 
The noise, for example, goes deep with adjustable downsampling, burst, and crackle. Both sources excite the resonators, which are also fully shapable. It has built-in high-pass and low-pass filters, as well as shaping through an APF and comb filter.
In each oscillator, you have a dedicated mixing section with panning as well as a filtering routing system. You can either route each oscillator to filter 1, filter 2, both, or directly to the VCA (amp) section.
Indeed, iceGear Mochizuki features two multimode filters, including low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch variations. Each filter comes with a built-in overdrive to add spice, and a dedicated AD envelope.
Additionally, you have the option to route the first into the second or directly to the VCA. 
Modulation is, I believe, the most extensive in an iceGear synth so far. It has a main amp ADSR envelope, four modulation ADSRs with a double-attack stage (AADSR) and curve control, and four tempo-syncable multi-waveform LFOs.
The LFOs are divided into two polyphonic LFOs that also offer a step sequencing option, and two global LFOs
Powerful is the ability to modulate every parameter of the synth. Each has its own small 4-slot modulation matrix that pops up when you press the MOD button. Here you can select the source and destination, and delve deeper with shaper and curve controls.
Alongside the envelopes and LFOs, you can also use pressure, pitch bend, note position, and more as modulators.
Further, you have an advanced multi-FX section with an EQ, saturator, compressor, chorus, delay, filter, and reverb. These too are customizable down to the last detail.
New and a premiere for an iceGear app is the built-in Animoog-like keyboard in the Mochizuki Synthesizer. This is a very high-performance tool that lets you slide and modulate sounds simultaneously along pressure. Virtual pitch and mod wheels are also available.
iceGear ships the synth with several factory presets that give you a first impression of what the instrument can do. These are also playable in the free version.
iceGear is back. I’m very happy about the news. Compared to the other synthesizers Satoshi has developed so far, Mochizuki is very mature and powerful. A flagship, I’d say. That would also explain the rather high price of 22€ for an iceGear app.
I downloaded the app right away and explored it a bit. I haven’t tried everything yet, but what I’ve heard so far sounds very good and beautiful. The ability to use four oscillators and equip them with different engines makes it very versatile.
It’s somewhat unusual that for 22€ you’re buying the features of version 1. This means there will be a version 2 or 3 where you’ll have to pay again to get new features.
One thing is certain: I know what I will do today, Sunday. I’m going to experiment with Mochizuki.
iceGear Mochizuki is available now as a free download. You can unlock the features of version 1 for 22€. A free 7-day trial is available. It runs as a standalone and AUv3 plugin on iOS (iPad/iPhone) and macOS (native Apple Silicon).
More information here: iceGear Instruments / App Store
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