ScapesWizard – new virtual synthesizer designed for soundscapes and more
H.G. Fortune has released ScapesWizard, a new virtual synthesizer designed for soundscapes, atmospheres and textures in motion.
Description:
ScapesWizard is a machine for soundscapes with a very different control concept by triggering different samples via keyboard, or, using LazyPlay play a pool of waves in sequence or at random driven by inbuilt clock or triggered by keyboard to advance manually.
There are three different soundengines: Slow Motion Scapes (Osc 1&2), OneShots and Loops (Osc 3), and Space Rumble Background Noise. Each engine has got some dedicated soundmodifiers partly with special controls. But the most important feature is you can trigger i.e. switch samples with a dedicated tune setting via keyboard which is ideal for live interaction too!
Basically you have a keyboard split to trigger samples of Osc 1 & Osc 2 (alternating or Osc 1 only) from C2 to B3 (left side) and Osc 3 from C4 to B5 (right side). So simply give a key a short push and the resp. sample will play until it’s changed. For Osc 3 looped sampled can be faded out by giving key C6 a short push, and even you can retrigger it via key F6.
You have 2 x 24 samples (= 2 x 2 octaves) in direct access via keyboard. To each keyrange (from C2 to B3 and C4 to B5) a different waveset out of 5 can be assigned. This makes the plugin suited very well for usage with trigger pad controllers. Also for live interaction pitchwheel can be used for Osc1 & Osc2 with a range of +1/-1 octave and for Osc 3 the same for Modwheel.
The basic usage is intended to have a setting ‘in motion’ and then play different samples. Although there seem to be very few control elements most of these have a double function: left side is setting a dedicated value while right side adjusts modulation amount. Note those knobs with a marker at top/mid.
There are four LFOs adjustable in Rate plus a Variation knob changing the waveforms for all 4 LFO. You will notice there are no LFO selectors at all present. This is due to the fact that no LFO is used directly. Always there is used a mix of 2 LFO controlled i.e. mixed by a 3rd LFO to achieve more complex modulation waves giving more variation. Anyway the small ‘planets’ in the mid display show motion & amount of the resp. modulation.
ScapesWizard Pro for Windows (VST) is available for 29 EUR through 1 January, 2011 (50% off the normal price). A demo version is available.
Capture the sound and spirit of the legendary RSF PolyKobol
XILS Lab has announced the release of PolyKB mk II, the recreation of a very rare and very powerful polyphonic synthesizer released in the 80′s.
PolyKB II captures the sound and spirit of the legendary RSF PolyKobol Analog synthesizer including one of it’s most stunning features : A continuous morphing Oscillator, which can be fully modulated by many sources !
The PolyKB II is a polyphonic subtractive synthesizer based on two waveform morphing, aliasing free oscillators and a self oscillating 4 poles low pass filter. The amazing oscillators take a large part of the sound of this synthesizer while the filter recreating a standard analog chip of the 80′s (with the help of very complete modulation sections), allows the PolyKB II to create incredibly warm sounds from gorgeous basses to slowly evolving pads, through aggressive leads and thin crystal keyboards as well as a huge range of incredible special effects that all sound designers will love to use…
Changes in PolyKB II
- Modulation has been enhanced in the three modulation matrices.
- All can now have a negative value applied (V1 always being positive), while an additional “Velocity Control Mode” now allows a huge dynamic range!
- A number of new modulation sources and targets have been added, including Monophonic LFOs (allowing Mono and Poly LFOs in the same patch).
- The implementation of a unique Time Multiplier system allows all envelope times to be multiplied by x2, x3, or x4 — all with a simple click.
- Two new effects have been added — Phaser, plus a special Dual EQ, with a unique and musical-sounding Contour function.
- The Arpeggiator now includes a Polyphonic mode, as well as Gate and Swing parameters, making it far more versatile.
- The proprietary D-Myx Stereo XY Pad tool now benefits from two dynamic modes, allowing a controlled motion between the points with full visual control.
- The proprietary P-Myx Polyphony-controlled XY Modulation Pad can now send negative modulation amounts, allowing notes to sound different each time they’re played – kiss goodbye to boring, static sounds, forever!
- An easier-to-operate Polyphonic Sequencer now has a magnification tool and shift step function — very handy for real-time recorded patterns.
- Responding to user feedback, PolyKB II benefits of an ergonomically and cosmetically-revamped GUI, viewable in three sizes (Small, Medium, and Large)
- An improved, intuitive management system based around a powerful dual-hierarchical filtering concept, allows users to quickly find whatever patch they’re looking for.
- 250 new hot patches now takes advantage of all these features — almost all new presets react to Mod Wheel.
- New patches will be available right after PolyKB II’s release date.
PolyKB II is available to purchase for PC and Mac (VST/AU/RTAS) for the introductory price of $89 USD until December 19, 2010 (MSRP $199 USD), or as part of the “Ultimate XILS-Lab bundle” sold during the same period at $189 USD (MSRP $398 USD). All owners of the previous version of PolyKB can upgrade to PolyKB II for at no cost.
More information: XILS Lab / PolyKB II
Just pure synth maina
Featuring the Metasonix D 1000 vacuum tube drum machine and some other cool synths, enjoy
Via HOX808
Two cool looking drum synths for Windows
Marvin Pavilion has released version 1.0 of Hexagon ’85, and version 1.2 of Tromine Z, two virtual drum synthesizer instruments for Windows.
Looking pretty cool to me 
Changes in Hexagon ’85 v1.0
- Minor sound changes for drum sounds.
- Some parameter changes.
- MIDI CC support.
- Automation support.
- Fixed some issues.
Changes in Tromine Z v1.2
- Minor sound changes for drum sounds.
- Some parameter changes.
- Fixed some issues.
Hexagon ’85 and Tromine Z are available to download as freeware VST instrument plug-ins for Windows PC.
More information: Marvin Pavilion
Berlin old school synth
Hi lovely Synthfolks, sorry for my bavarien english;-)))
I make a short sequence with four steps with three Oszilators from the GRP A8 Synth, the other three Oszilators go to the leads. The other leadsound comes from the Minimoog. The Noice comes from the Juno 60.
KORG EMX in action
Some Sunday synth jam coming your way
“Here is my Video a Korg emx trigger a Monopoly via midi to cv .I play a Roland sh 5 and Fender Rhodes jam.”
Some serious analog tweaking
For all you arthouse experimentalists! The no drum machine synth jam. Bioni Samp joined us for some analogue tweaking, “Tha Dance of the Pumpkins”. Playing are Korg MS-20 & SQ 10, Yamaha CS50, Roland TB 303 & SH 101. Enjoy!
Patching on Arturia’s Moog Modular V
James Patrick is delivering a couple of nice demos and tutorials on synthesizer programming on his Vimeo site, here are some that he has recently produced
here is a basic overview of how to get started programming a patch on Arturia’s Moog Modular V plug in synthesizer.
Here is an overview of how to get started programming patches in the Aalto synthesizer. For part 3, we focus on Aalto’s unique polyphonic modulation capabilities.
John Bowen talks about the Solaris
More news from Munich
Munich 2010, Synth Meeting [Synthesizer Treffen], John Bowen talks about the Solaris”
Via Moogulator of http://sequencer.de/
You can see John’s talk at the PNW Synth Gathering in this post.
See the John Bowen label below for all posts including more video of the Solaris.
This is really a synthesizer to look out for!
For those who don’t know who John Bowen is, John was responsible for the original 40 factory programs of the Prophet 5, and as Sequential’s Product Specialist created 99% of all of the factory sounds and sequences (as well as most of the original Prophet VS waveshapes), also contributing to the User Interface (UI) design for the following Sequential products: Prophet 5, Prophet 10, Prophet 600, Prophet T-8, Prophet VS, Drumtraks, 6-Trak, MultiTrak, Tom, Max, Studio 440, and the Prophet 2000 and 3000 libraries.
Dr. Who returns
Inspired by the old-school sound design antics of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Ian Boddy’s Radiophonica takes us back to a time when Dr Who still had some semblance of geek chic and the ring modulator ruled the sci-fi roost.
Radiophonica is the first title in Ian Boddy’s ‘Waveforms’ series of sample libraries. All the sounds were produced and recorded directly from analogue hardware synthesisers such as the venerable EMS VCS3 and MiniMoog and also the Roland 100M, Doepfer, Analogue Solutions and Analogue Systems modular synths.
Radiophonica is $40 at the Hollow Sun site.
DATAMASKIN
