NR2010, a free virtual synthesizer instrument plug-in
GTG Synths has announced the release of NR2010, a free virtual synthesizer instrument plug-in for Windows.
Made mainly for personal use. A good old analog polysynth with a 24dB filter, snappy envelopes and nice mod effects. My personal workhorse-synth free for all soon.
NR2010 is available to download as a freeware VST instrument for Windows PC.
GTG Synths has also announced it will stop the development of the GTG Synths series.
It has been big fun developing VST Synths for the music fraternity. I am pleased to have been able to provide a fair share of user satisfaction and credibility on both custom synths and serial synths despite having not fully met all ”emulation” requirements.Thanks a lot for the inspiration , support and encouragement!
Many thanks to Mik for all the quality plug-ins released over the years!
More information: GTG Synths
Tutorial on how to make a 2 oscillator synth
Image Line SynthMaker is an audio programming tool for Windows that lets you create your own sounds, virtual instruments and effects, without having to write any code. The instruments and effects you create can then be used for playing live via MIDI or as VST plugins.
Image Line put together this Synthmaker tutorial that looks at how to make a 2 oscillator synth.
nLog – a feast for your eyes
Isn’t this a real little beauty? The nLog for the iPhone
NLog MIDI Synth – a new iOS app that they describe as “The first synth app making your IOS device a real synth playable with MIDI hardware.”
NLog MIDI Synth is based on NLog synth, an existing iOS synth, with added support for the Line 6 MIDI Mobilizer. The developer announced Sept 10th that they had been approved by Line 6 and that the app was being submitted to Apple.
GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer Software for SH-01 Overview
More talk on the GAIA synth and its software pack
Take Full Control of the GAIA SH-01 GAIA Synthesizer Sound Designer is a specially designed PC/Mac software application for Roland’s award-winning GAIA SH-01 synthesizer. It inspires creativity by allowing GAIA users to conveniently explore every tone parameter on their large computer monitors.
On location in Hamburg with Wolfgang Palm
“On location in Hamburg with Wolfgang Palm” is a little ‘vintage style’ documentary we did in April 2010, showing Wolfgang Palm, former owner of the PPG Synthesizer company, inventor of the world’s first digital synthesizer and wavetable synthesis, in front of historic ‘PPG locations’ in Hamburg, talking about the old times… Directed & idea by CS.
English voice & translation by Darrin C. Huss, voice of Psyche.
Alphatron delivers digital realms in various ways to achieve sounds far beyond
HG Fortune has announced the release of Alphatron, a new synth inspired by the idea of creating a synthesizer for bass and high sequences which can serve as a companion to Avatar ST’s pads, atmos and soundscapes.
Alphatron is not just a simple VA synthesizer, instead, in using a 3rd oscillator with digital waves of single cycle type, it offers a lot more variation. Thus it can do pretty good analog-style sounds reminiscent of the old Moog and Prophet days but also merge this with the digital realm in various ways to achieve sounds far beyond.
Also, this 3rd oscillator serves as sync master for oscillator 2 thus offering much more sonic flavour. Amplitude Modulation has got a dedicated adjustable output and uses oscillator 2 as the main source being modulated either by oscillator 1 or 3. Oscillator 1 is a polywave oscillator with up to 5 additional waves, so you might have something like Super Saw, Super Pulse, Super Ramp, etc.
Another highlight of Alphatron is the versatile step sequencer with 8 + 4 pattern slots which can be selected in real time for instant pattern switching. Setting Note Seq to off it can serve as step modulator. The Gate length can be modulated by sources. Two play modes: normal with adjustable number of steps or Step Variation, which is in fact another 16 step sequencer to set different number of steps to be played in succession. Loops can be set to repeat up to 4 times, and two alternating semitone offsets can be set, e.g. for each 2nd, 3rd or 4th loop. There are 8 pattern slots per patch and 4 global pattern slots which can be used for instant pattern changes. Current pattern can be copied and pasted to a selectable slot, with the global slots even among patches.
Main features (based on Pro version):
- 1 VA Oscillator with up to 6 poly waves for Saw, Ramp, Sine, Tri, and Pulse.
- 1 VA Oscillator with single waves as above plus white and pink noise, Sync slave.
- 1 Sample Oscillator with fairly typical digital waves (single cycle type) with different harmonic content, Sync master.
- 1 Amplitude Modulation with dedicated output.
- 1 24 dB resonant Low Pass filter with dedicated ADSR EG, 4 mixable mod sources.
- 1 VCA EG. Note: Both EG have 3 modes: exponential, reverse exponential, and linear; and optional control for Attack and Decay by velocity.
- 1 Booster or Exciter selectable.
- 1 Mystify with three selectable types (Brite, Soft, Dark).
- 1 BPM synced Delay with adjustable Offset controlled manually or by modsource, Pan.
- 1 Bass Boost.
- 1 Pan for undelayed signal.
- 1 small Reverb for adding some nice flavour.
- 1 Saturator.
- 1 main Volume.
- 3 x LFO, 1 x Duo LFO (with two waves and phase control for 2nd wave), 1 x S&H.
- 1 Pitch LFO with option to speed up or down the LFO speed.
- 16 Step Sequencer (with Shuffle) for notes and velocity plus mute buttons for each step. Includes 8 pattern slots per patch and 4 global pattern slots for instant changes.
- 3 Wheels.
- Aftertouch as selectable modsource.
- 8 Lazy buttons.
- 8 GUI variants selectable.
- 128 patches.
Both free and commercial versions are available. The major differences of Basic Free (less features):
- Only 64 patches.
- No Lazy buttons.
- Only 4 Seq Pattern per patch & 2 global Seq Pattern.
- 2 voices.
- No selectable GUI (instead there is a choice of four different dll to download).
- No patch select on GUI, but a silly scroller reminder not to forget to support the developer.
Pricing & Availability
Alphatron is available for Windows as a VST instrument plug-in. The commercial version costs €29.
A new Moog on its way
The rumor mill has been abuzz with news of a new monster monosynth – the Moog MiniMoog Voyager XL. The Voyager XL promises to be a semi-modular monosynth (think Korg MS-20 on steroids), and has the synth community salivating.
The Moog Voyager XL is a 60-key analog synth that combines the features of the standard Moog Minimoog Voyager with the VX-351 Control Voltage Expander, adds a dash of the CP-251 Control Processor and then throws in a ribbon controller.
The new Novation UltraNova
Novation today introduced a new keyboard synthesizer, the Novation UltraNova.
Description:
The UltraNova is a ‘Nova’ series analogue-modelling synthesizer with a powerful effects processor. It is a single-part synth taking the legendary Supernova II synth engine as a starting point and packing it with the latest technology. It now has brand new features including wavetable synthesis, even more powerful filters, a software editor and a revolutionary new touch-sense performance mode.
The Novation UltraNova will list for $850 and retail closer to $700.
Key Features of the Novation UltraNova:
- Brand new Nova-series synth engine based on Supernova II:
- Single part with up to 18 voices, 14 filter types, 36 wavetables, 5 effect slots
- Patch Browse enables you to browse 300 sounds by type & genre
- Touch-sense controls enable totally new sound-shaping & performance:
- Trigger envelopes/LFOs/filters/FX by just touching the encoders
- Large rotary control instantly allows you fine control of any parameter
- Totally gig-able with 37 full sized keys, a vocoder, and loads of controls:
- Voice optimized 12 band vocoder with gooseneck mic
- High quality key bed with aftertouch for expressive playing styles
- Software plug-in editor and Patch Librarian for full visual editing:
- Plug-in editor allows you to view and edit in with software
- Software Patch Librarian a organise, store and share unlimited patches
- Built-in 2 in 4 out USB audio interface and it can be bus powered:
- UltraNova can be used to stream audio to and from a host computer
- Stereo main (analogue & SPDIF) and aux outputs, and MIDI in/out/thru ports
So why don´t we all get ourselves a beer synth before the weekend starts?
Matt has designed beer bottle labels that have markings on them to indicate the pitch of the note that the bottle makes when blown, based on the amount of beer left.
“Tuned Pale Ale is a product that explores the musical affordances in everyday objects and promotes social spontaneity. While drinking beer, people become musically encouraged and often start making music with objects around them. This product aims to promote more of this type of social interaction. This product aims to inform users about the musical qualities of existing bottles and to make the bottle a better instrument.”
Not only do the bottles produce music, but when turned upside down, the limited edition beer case is a tongue drum that produces six different tones!
Build your own synth controlled Nintendo
Casperelectronics modified nintendo game console controlled by modular synthesizer. For more info on building your own go to http://casperelectronics.com/finished…
DATAMASKIN
