Arturia Acid V 1.1.5 Mac download

Arturia Acid V is a virtual instrument that emulates the Roland TB-303 bass synth, with extra modulation and distortion tools built in.

Sequence a Bassline

Acid V runs as a plugin in your DAW or standalone with a MIDI keyboard. The built-in sequencer drives the resonant low-pass filter, so you can shape acid lines without drawing automation.

Sub-Oscillator, Distortion, and Modulation

The synth adds a sub-oscillator with a 2-octave range and three waveforms, plus vibrato. A distortion module with 14 algorithms covers everything from subtle drive to full crush. Three multi-mode function generators handle modulation duties.

Tune It Your Way

Support for MTS-ESP microtuning means you can work in alternate scales if your project calls for it. The download for macOS is about 543 MB, and it fits alongside your other AU and VST instruments.

Fit Into Your Setup

Acid V works as a standard VST3, AU, or AAX plugin in any major DAW — Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Cubase. The standalone mode accepts MIDI from a controller or another app via virtual ports, so you can route MIDI from a sequencer or iPad app straight into it. MTS-ESP microtuning integrates with compatible hosts for alternate-temperament work.

Pedalboard FX and Polymetric Sequencing

• Four FX slots with 17 effects let you build a pedalboard-style chain inside the plugin — reverb, delay, chorus, bitcrusher, and more.
• The improved polymetric sequencer can run patterns in odd time signatures against your DAW's tempo grid, which is handy for generative or experimental parts.
• The arpeggiator triggers note-by-note runs from held chords, saving you from programming each step manually.
• Analog oscillator waveforms include square and triangle. The sub-oscillator adds a third waveform choice for extra low-end weight.

More than 150 factory presets give you a starting point for bass, lead, and texture patches. The package includes installation and activation instructions, so you can get running quickly.

Working with Other Gear and macOS Features

Acid V plays well with Audio Unit hosting on macOS. If you use Logic Pro or MainStage, the plugin registers as a standard AU instrument without extra setup. The standalone version can receive MIDI from the macOS IAC Driver bus, so you can sequence it from another app like Ableton Live or REAPER running on the same machine. That means you can build a bassline in one DAW and have Acid V play it live in another, all within the same Mac.

The four FX slots act like a pedalboard chain inside the synth. You can reorder effects by dragging them, which changes how the signal hits each module. Combine the distortion algorithms with the resonant filter to get that aggressive acid character, then add a delay or reverb at the end of the chain to place the sound in space.

Small Conveniences in the Sequencer

• The polymetric sequencer runs independently of your DAW's time signature. You can set a 7-step pattern against a 4/4 grid, and it stays in sync without manual adjustment.
• The arpeggiator works alongside the sequencer. You can have the sequencer play a pattern while the arpeggiator runs on held notes from your MIDI keyboard, giving you two layers of movement.
• Three function generators can modulate filter cutoff, distortion amount, or any other assignable parameter. Each one has its own rate and shape, so you can create evolving modulation without extra automation lanes.

Workflow: Building an Acid Bassline from Scratch

1. Open Acid V as a new instrument track in your DAW (or launch the standalone app). Load an init patch to start from zero.
2. Set the oscillator to square wave and the sub-oscillator to the lowest octave. Dial in a medium resonance on the low-pass filter.
3. Program a 16-step pattern in the sequencer with slides and accents on key steps. The sequencer will drive the filter envelope automatically when you play the pattern.
4. Insert the distortion module in one of the four FX slots. Choose algorithm 3 or 4 for a classic acid character. Adjust the drive until the bassline cuts through the mix without overpowering it.
5. Assign one of the function generators to modulate the filter cutoff slightly every few bars. Set its rate to a dotted-eighth note for a pulsing effect.
6. Route MIDI from your DAW or IAC Driver into Acid V. Hit play and tweak the filter cutoff and resonance in real time while the pattern loops.

If you need to explore more tonal options, the 150 factory presets provide a starting point for bass, lead, and texture patches. The plugin runs on macOS 11 or later with both Intel and Apple Silicon support. To download Arturia Acid V for Mac, the package includes everything needed for installation and activation.