Output Exhale

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2013
Developer: Output
Pricing: $199 one-time purchase
Open source: No
Platforms: macOS, Windows

Indexes

Audio/Music Production

Overview

Exhale is a virtual instrument plugin that provides a modern vocal engine with 500 presets derived from real singer recordings manipulated by top producers. It operates through three modes—Notes for chromatic playing, Loops for triggering rhythmic vocal loops, and Slices for sliced phrases—allowing users to play vocals as melodic instruments, loops, or samples via MIDI.¹⁴⁵ Designed for music producers, composers, and sound designers in genres like EDM, hip-hop, film scores, and sound design, it stands out by enabling custom sound creation from raw vocal sources using macro controls, effects, and an engine for building patches.²⁴

Key Features

500 Unique Presets - Preset library from manipulated real vocal recordings for instant use.
Three Modes: Notes, Loops, Slices - Notes for melodic play, Loops for rhythmic triggers, Slices for phrase manipulation.
10 GB Raw Material - Extensive sample content for building custom sounds.
Custom FX Presets - User-defined effects chains for vocal processing.
Custom Macros Per Preset - Macro controls for quick sound tweaking and automation.
Macro Editing - Detailed editing of macros for precise sound design.
Engine Pages - Main and Engine interfaces for source selection, envelopes, effects, and step sequencing.
Automatable Insert and Mod FX - Effects that support DAW automation for dynamic control.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Standard	$199	Full access to 500 presets, 10 GB content, all features.

Platforms & Requirements

Exhale runs as a plugin on macOS and Windows in 64-bit VST, AU, AAX formats, requiring Native Instruments Kontakt 6 or higher (full version, not free player).¹⁵ It integrates with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol keyboards and Maschine via NKS for snapshot access and mapped controls.¹ No mobile or web support; Kontakt dependency may limit use on unsupported hosts.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol
Native Instruments Maschine
VST/AU/AAX plugin hosts
Kontakt 6 full version
MIDI controllers
DAW automation
NKS snapshots
Macro mapping

Alternatives

App	Difference
Native Instruments Session Strings	Focuses on orchestral strings rather than processed vocals.
Spectrasonics Omnisphere	Broader synth with vocal capabilities but less specialized vocal engine.
iZotope VocalSynth	Real-time vocal processing for live input, not sample-based playback.
Output Arcade	Subscription loop library with some vocal content, less deep customization.

Reputation

Exhale is praised for its innovative approach to modern vocal sounds, offering powerful customization beyond traditional vocal libraries, and has influenced records, films, and sound design since 2016.⁴⁵ Users appreciate the three-mode engine, macro controls, and preset quality for genres like EDM and hip-hop.⁶⁷ Some note its reliance on full Kontakt as a barrier, and it may feel dated compared to newer subscription-based tools.⁷

Sources (9)