SWAM - Physical Acoustic Modeling by Audio Modeling

Blown Away By Physical Audio Modeling!! Published on Oct 17, 2019 Doctor Mix

At 2:03, location for Fatar, Crumar, & Farfisa. BTW, you might recognize the name Audio Modeling from this demo with Roger Linn and the Linstrument, and briefly in this post on Propellerhead RE Eurorack Module Powered by MIND Music Labs ELK MusicOS.

"Today I travel to Italy to have my mind blown by the physical acoustic models by Audio Modeling. Watch the in-depth video about the SWAM engine: [video below]

Get these virtual instruments here: https://audiomodeling.com/"

Audio Modeling SWAM: Full Demonstration!

Published on Oct 17, 2019 Audio Modeling

"Today we demonstrate the full capabilities of the SWAM engine. Doctor Mix joins Audio Modeling CEO Stefano Lucato to discover the virtual acoustic instruments range from SWAM."

GForce Virtual String Machine (VSM) - Version 3.0 Update

via GForce Software

"As technological developments advanced through the late 1970s & early 1980s, the polysynth enveloped the capabilities of the string machine family of instruments, seemingly consigning them to the 'where are they now' dustbin.

But in much the same way that we played a big part in the rediscovery of the mellotron sound, in 2007 we had a similar role in resurrecting the tones of a range of iconic string machines, including the Freeman String Symphonizer, Eminent 310 and Solina String Ensemble, and bringing them back into vogue with release of VSM. In 2014 the addition of the VSM Expansion Pack (now updated) further expanded the range of available instruments and tones helping establish VSM as the go-to instrument for this wonderful family of instruments.

While the likes of Sound On Sound magazine were singing the praises of VSM ("It sounds absolutely gorgeous.") we always felt it lacked one crucial component found on some of our favourite string machines - stereo playback.

Instruments such as the Solina String Ensemble and Roland's wonderful 505 offered stereo outputs allowing their sublime, moving ensemble textures to sit perfectly within a wide stereo field. This one feature set such instruments apart highlighting just how stunning these, now ancient, analogue machines could sound.

VSM Version 3.0 rectifies this by providing stereo playback of a range of previously unreleased, carefully crafted stereo sounds-sets, plus two new interfaces sizes in two designs, and an additional LFO destination.

And it is FREE to registered users of VSM.

Now in stereo!
Along with the existing library of 17 instruments and 66 sound-sets, VSM Version 3.0 comes with a huge (3.5GB ) supplementary library of predominately stereo sound-sets from the following instruments; the aforementioned Solina String Ensemble and Roland 505, Roland's Juno 106, Yamaha's CS-60 and CS-80 providing 34 new sound-sets.

Several of the new sound-sets have been processed through a range of vintage effects such as the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble pedal, Roland's Dimension D and the sublime Ventris Dual Reverb.

In addition to the sound-sets, over 150 new Patches are included, many providing the ideal starting point for your own tweaking, while others show off VSM in all its stereophonic glory.

2 new interface designs, each in 2 sizes


VSM Version 3 features a completely redesigned user interface with Small and Medium sizes in both Tolex and Wood guises.

The Small version is 1230 x 610 pixels in size with the Medium being 1640 x 813."

UVI Falcon 2 - Creative Hybrid Instrument

"Falcon is an advanced and truly unlimited hybrid instrument, bringing together an extensive collection of cutting-edge oscillators, effects, modulators and event processors and delivering them in a workflow-adaptive and highly-scriptable environment. Falcon allows you to create and manipulate sound with unparalleled precision and finesse, from basic sample slicing and synth design to extravagantly modulated multitimbral hybrids.

WIDE RANGE OF SOUND SOURCES
Mix and match sound sources using sampler-like key zones with sample-based or pure synthesis oscillators:
— Each sample can be individually manipulated using timestretch and pitch-shift algorithms as well as granular synthesis from IRCAM. Loops can be sliced, chopped-up and mapped to the keyboard using the Slice oscillator.
— 9 pure synthesis oscillators including virtual analog, wavetable, phase distortion, FM and additive type, and even physical modeling with the pluck oscillator

UNIQUE AND POWERFUL EFFECTS
Over 90 high-quality effects are at your disposal, categorized for easy navigation: Delays, Reverbs, Modulation, Filters, Equalizers, Amps and Stereo, Drive and Distortions, Dynamics, Analysis and more. Add effects at the patch level, as sends or even per note. Including Sparkverb, Thorus, an optimized convolution reverb and many, many more.

MODULATION
Rich sound means movement and Falcon can create it whenever and however you need it. AHD, Analog ADSR, Attack Decay, DAHDSR, Drunk, classic and parametric LFO, Multi Envelope and Step Envelope modulation generators all come standard and can be used to effect nearly anything in the Falcon environment. Create variation over time or on demand, drive your oscillators, effects or even other modulators, then add the most important parameters to the macro panel for clear and intuitive performance control.

EVENTS AND SCRIPTING
Falcon's event processors provide control and analysis of the pre-synthesis phase of your sound, from manipulating incoming MIDI data to creating it algorithmically. Utilize factory processors such as an advanced Arpeggiator, Drum, bassline and euclidean sequencers, Micro Tuner, Chorder, Harmonizer, Strum simulator, MIDI Player, Unison and Shepard effects, or code your own from scratch with the powerful Lua scripting language.

WORKFLOW
Extensive, adaptable, Falcon's resizable HiDPI interface helps you easily focus on the task at hand with a clear and efficient workflow. From the Tree view where you can jump in and edit any aspect of your patch, to built-in browsers for files, favorites and modules, Falcon is built for speed. New features like User Templates and the Modulation Quick View are just a couple of the ways we're continuing to make Falcon faster and more powerful to use.

https://www.uvi.net/falcon

Introducing the Martinic Kee Bass

Published on Oct 3, 2019 Martinic

"Available for FREE here: https://www.martinic.com/kee-bass

Introducing…

The KEE BASS from Martinic

Bring some groovy, bassy vibes back from the ‘60s and straight into your music with our faithful emulation of one of the first monophonic string bass simulators... the Rheem Kee Bass!

Our Kee Bass VST/AU plugin is based on the original electronic schema and an actual physical Kee Bass. Firstly, we modeled the instrument precisely (no sampling at all), then we added a few modern features to make it more versatile and unique.

RETRO BASS TONES

Physical modeling of vintage Rheem Kee Bass (no samples used)
• Bass Fuzz sound - built in
• Percussion - Fast decay
• Percussion - Slow decay
• Sustain
• Bright-Mellow option on all sounds
• 2 Full Octave Keyboard
• Modeled Solid State Electronic Circuitry
• 2.5 MB Portable Lightweight Beauty
• Compatible with any VST/AU host

MODERN FEATURES

• Level adjust
• Adjustable 25-note tuning
• Extended 128 MIDI note range • Velocity-sensitive
• All settings MIDI learnable
• Poly mode
• Low/high/last note priority
• Attack/decay adjust
• Low pass filter with resonance
• Filter LFO/envelope modulation
• Wide range of presets
• Fine tuning
• Transpose/octave shift"

Cableguys ShaperBox 2 – Visual Sidechain | Compress | Glitch + Stutter | Filter | Envelope | Reverse…

Published on Sep 25, 2019 Cableguys

"OUT NOW! Now with punchy visual compression, super-fast editing Pens, envelope followers, and much more. In use by David Guetta, AnonXmous, TT Audi (808 Mafia), Nard & B, Jauz, BT, Showtek, Deniz Koyu, and more. Try it free at https://www.cableguys.com/shaperbox.h...

Music written & produced by: Serhat Sakin – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serhatsakin..."

PRESS RELEASE – 25 SEPTEMBER 2019

Five powerful Cableguys effects in one plugin. For modern mixes and infinite inspiration.

With all-new versions of five powerful Cableguys effects – TimeShaper 2, VolumeShaper 6, FilterShaper Core 2, PanShaper 3, and WidthShaper 2 – ShaperBox 2 is the state-of-the-art effects plugin for modern mixes and infinite inspiration. The plugin is already in use by David Guetta, Ferry Corsten, Showtek, Deniz Koyu, BT, AnonXmous (Timbaland, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj), Mark Byrd (Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott), Hussein (808 Mafia), Mark Ralph (Clean Bandit, Hot Chip, Jax Jones), Wallis Lane (Drake, Post Malone, Travis Scott), Nard & B (Future, Migos, Lil Uzi Vert), Rik Simpson (Coldplay, Jay-Z, Kasabian), and many more.
ShaperBox 2 gives you control over filtering, volume, panning, stereo width – even the flow of time. Simply load any Shaper effect and draw the modulation shapes you need with Cableguys’ easily editable LFOs – now with three powerful Pens for drawing lines, arcs and S-curves at a stroke. Or, use the new envelope followers in Filter, Pan and WidthShaper that react to beats, basslines, melodies – anything.

Get inspired: turn loops, beats, vocals, melodies and basslines into addictive hooks to kickstart your next track. Explore new curated Preset Packs filled with wild transformations, tension-building FX and studio staples.

For mixing, perfect your sound with sample-accurate sidechain ducking, zero-delay feedback filters, stereo expansion, and more. All in multiband.

Expand your sound design with new visual compression in VolumeShaper 6, eight lush phaser modes in FilterShaper Core 2, tape/vinyl ‘wow’ and custom flanger/chorus with TimeShaper 2’s Fine Mode, and psychoacoustic Haas panning in PanShaper 3.

Work at the speed of inspiration with ShaperBox 2’s 1-click Quick Presets, Retina/HiDPI support, smoother graphics, redesigned interface with larger editing areas, improved editing tools, and many more workflow enhancements.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Applied Acoustics Systems Introduces Ultra Analog VA-3 Virtual Analog Synthesizer Plug-in

Published on Sep 24, 2019 Applied Acoustics Systems

Playlist:
Introducing Ultra Analog VA-3 analog synthesizer plug-in—VST AU AAX NKS
Glory—Thiago Pinheiro plays Ultra Analog VA-3—analog synthesizer plug-in—Part 1 - 3

"THE FINEST IN ANALOG SOUNDS

Ultra Analog performs as a unique and powerful synth that is fast, easy, and remarkably versatile.

Ultra Analog VA-3 is a two-voice two-oscillator-bi-filter-plus-effects analog synthesizer with advanced editing options that achieve a sweet balance between familiarity and flexibility. Ultra Analog VA-3 ships with 1000+ presets taking full advantage of its state-of-the-art analog components.

Key Features
- Two-part multitimbral, stacked or split
- Top-notch analog modules and clever synth architecture
- Four performance macros per layer that respond to user-defined MIDI controls
- Factory library comprising more than a 1000 sounds by top sound designers
- Expansion packs

WHAT’S NEW IN Ultra Analog VA-3?
We have streamlined Ultra Analog and brought it to a whole new level.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Unfiltered Audio LION

Published on Jul 23, 2019 Plugin Alliance

"LION is a multi-mode synth packed with amazing oscillator modes, industry leading FX and Unfiltered Audio’s powerful modulation system. With its user friendly interface and intuitive workflow, you can quickly program patches that are only possible with LION. Download it today and jump right in to discover your next big sound!"

via Unfiltered Audio

"Welcome the King of the Synthesis Jungle
After developing some of the most innovative and forward thinking audio processing tools in the world of plugins, Unfiltered Audio is reaching for new heights with their groundbreaking first synthesizer. LION is an extraordinarily deep synth that features an easy-to-use interface with everything you need for quick patching, endless experimentation, and intuitive sound design.

Under LION’s hood is a dual-oscillator architecture with each oscillator featuring 26 modes. These modes range from familiar classics to unique oscillators found nowhere else. Pick and choose from FM synthesis, subtractive or additive waveforms, "super" oscillator stacks, microsound, noise, or variations on each!

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland Introduces Zenbeats for iOS, Mac, Android, and Windows

Zenbeats | Find Your Creative Flow Published on Sep 17, 2019 Roland Zenbeats

"Roland Zenbeats is a music creation app designed to keep you in an effortless artistic flow. Get started on any device or platform."

Some highlights:

Roland Zenbeats’ elegant, touchscreen interface places you in a tactile music-making zone. Zenbeats arrives pre-loaded with on-screen controllers, instruments, and effects. Tap, swipe, modulate, and pitch bend sounds using gestures with Zenbeats’ on-screen instruments including drum pads, keys, and ultra-flexible note grid.

Experience all nine instruments and 14 effects with your free membership or upgrade to “Ultimate” to unlock external plugin support, automation graphs, and other features.

Classic Roland Sounds and Themes
Awaken your music’s possibilities with signature sounds from Roland’s legendary TR-808, TR-909, and TR-707. Choose custom skins to match the vibe of your Zenbeats mobile or home studio. Launch themes include “808 Nights” and “909 Days,” with many more to come.

Sample the Universe
SampleVerse is a powerful, inspirational tool. Play, edit, and capture sounds from your world, including acoustic instruments and live vocals. With its phrase arpeggiator, multiple oscillators, and powerful filters, SampleVerse makes musical possibilities infinite.

Pure Polyphony
Incorporating MIDI Polyphonic Expression, Zenbeats gives you detailed control of each note’s parameters. MPE, paired with an intuitive touchscreen interface, makes working in Zenbeats a uniquely expressive experience.

Beatmaking Bliss
Roland Zenbeats provides access to extensive beatmaking tools and comes stocked with a collection of kits and pattern presets. Craft powerful rhythms with classic Roland sounds, studio kits, and grooves. Audition and sequence drum sounds, then swipe from left to right to create fills, double-time hits, and ratchet effects. Adjust your pattern’s length and time signature to meet your needs.

Free download here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Glitchmachines - Convex

Published on Sep 10, 2019 Glitchmachines

Glitchmachines - Convex - 01 Overview
Glitchmachines - Convex - 02 Interface
Glitchmachines - Convex - 03 Processing
Glitchmachines - Convex - 04 Modulation

$49 via Glitchmachines

"Convex is a multi-effects processor designed to facilitate the creation of contorted artifacts, syncopated patterns and skewed digital textures.

Based around three classic effects; multimode filter, pitch shifter and delay, Convex generates dynamic variations of the input signal by crossfading between two instances of each effect and modulating their key parameters using an extensive array of control modules.

From mellow dub delays to mind-blowing glitch sequences, Convex brings a broad range of exciting effects to your sound design arsenal.

Convex features two Pitch Shifters, two Digital Delays and two Multimode Filters. You can crossfade between each instance of the processors, making it possible to create complex morphing effects. Driving its core are 4 LFOs with optional tempo sync and 2 envelope followers which can have their output inverted or combined using mixers and multipliers.

Several key parameters can be modulated using the LFOs, envelope followers, mod mixers, mod multipliers and mod inverters. These parameters feature dedicated mod source menus and depth knobs. Aside from processing audio signals within your DAW, real-time processing of external signals is especially interesting in combination with the envelope followers.

Dual Pitch, Delay & Filter FX
Dual Env Followers
4 Flexible LFOs with Sync
Dual Mixers, Mults & Inverters
Scalable User Interface
70+ Factory Presets
Win/Mac VST/AU 32/64bit"

New Form of Digital and Analog Sound Synthesis Based on Tropical Algebra

This one is in via Giorgio Sancristoforo, the man behind GLEETCHLAB/GLEETHCHPLUG, and BERNA 2.

"I've release our paper on Tropical Additive Synthesis, a new for of analog or digital sound synthesis based on Tropical Algebra created by me with the mathematician Cristiano Bocci."

Details from Giorgio Sancristoforo's website where you can find a PDF download of his paper on the new synthesis method.

"Tropical additive synthesis is a new form of digital and analog sound synthesis that uses Tropical Algebra.

You are free to use this paper for commercial (software and hardware) musical instruments, both in digital or analog form, at the following conditions:

1) The module must display a “trop(x[n])” logo with Times New Roman font (italic) in white, over a red background (color hex code: 84120a)
2) The user manual must credits the authors: “trop(x[n]), tropical additive synthesis ©2018 Cristiano Bocci and Giorgio Sancristoforo”

The number of oscillators can vary between 2 and 10. But this is just a suggestion.
If you need help with the oscillator’s development, please drop me a line and I’d be glad to help you."

You can find a PDF download of the paper on Tropical Additive Synthesis on Giorgio Sancristoforo website here.

New Plogue Chipsynth MD - Awesome Sega Megadrive Synthesizer

Published on Sep 4, 2019

"Plogue is continuing their deep dive into preserving old synth chips found in game consoles. This time it's the legendary Yamaha chip found in the Sega Megadrive. It sounds amazing. I love it."

Update: and a video from plgDavid

chipresearch 0x04: The rigs we've created for chipsynth MD

Published on Sep 4, 2019 plgDavid

via Plogue

"16-bit four operator FM synthesizer

This member of the chipsynth line is a feature-rich four operator FM synth that packs quite a punch!
The Mega Drive™ - also known as Genesis™ - is a much beloved console system that brought the bright and sparkly sound of FM to the masses. It resulted in the creation of numerous fast paced and exciting soundtracks, and it still drives the creativity of composers to this day.

As we designed chipsynth MD, we couldn't help ourselves but to jam pack it with features that take it to the next level, with an access to every component of the hardware no matter how obscure, and an intelligent layering system that lets you turn any OPN2 patch into a monstrous ear-splitting 6-layer wall of sound!

CHIPSYNTH MD
MD features a bit accurate OPN2 (YM2612) emulator. We combined it with a SN76489-compatible square wave core (SPSG) and a special emulation of the very crunchy sample playback found in games, and we multiplied all of this by 6 to make it polyphonic in every situation imaginable. A complimentary VGM file player allows you to audition hundreds of vintage soundtracks just like they were meant to be heard.

Plogue's reverse-engineering team worked very hard to make sure that even the rarest corner-cases involving the special features of the OPN2 chip are emulated bit-perfectly, backed by large amounts of testing on special hardware rigs. Add the DAC and impulse-response emulation to that, and you get a degree of realism that has never been reached before!

Oh, and as always, it is done how it should: without using samples!"

Previous Plogue posts.

Reason Rack Plugin - in Reason 11

Published on Aug 26, 2019 Propellerhead

"Learn more: https://www.propellerheads.com/en/rea...

Bring Reason’s synths, instruments, effects and sounds anywhere you want with the Reason Rack Plugin. Your favorite Reason instruments can now be used in your favorite DAW, complete with the free routing and great sounds you’d expect from Reason. Reason Rack plugin is coming on September 25 as a VST 3 plugin with an AU plugin version coming before the end of 2019."

Reason 11 - Make music the way you want

SUB - Free Analog Drums

Published on Aug 22, 2019 Sampleson

"SUB is a FREE Vintage Analog Drums module + a Sub-frequency oscillator for extra fun! FREE DOWNLOAD: https://sampleson.com/SUB-free-analog..."

"NO SAMPLES. JUST GOOD OLD SYNTHESIS.

The magic of using synthesis (instead of sampling vintage hardware) is that sounds can be tweaked in a way sampled-based vst drum machines won't let you. Also it's just 35MB (sampling all of the variations you have on SUB will require 4GB of samples)

-Analog Drums module
-18 Analog drum sounds
-Mixer with Pan and Vol
-HD Scalable interface.
-NO Sequencer included.
-No extra purchases needed (like Kontakt, UVI, etc) or any other 3rd. party player.
-Ready to be loaded into major DAWs (Cubase, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Cakewalk, Reaper, BitWig, Nuendo, FLstudio, etc)
-Win 32/64 bits and Mac VST/AU/Standalone versions included
-About ~35MB installed.
-No library installation required.
-No online activation required."

Madrona Labs Introduces Aaltoverb

via Madrona Labs

"Hi there, it’s been some while. I'm excited to be writing you again, with the big news that there's a new beastie in the Madrona Labs family. Meet Aaltoverb, our very first effect.

A number of times over the years, people have asked if Aalto’s reverb could be made into its own plugin. The thing is, our focus here at Madrona Labs is on instruments, not effects. And so it didn't really seem to make sense to add a reverb to our lineup. But more time passed, and I started to think, what features would a performance reverb have? This question led to Aaltoverb, a reverberator with a focus on dramatic sound sculpting and completely smooth tweakability.

Aaltoverb’s coolest trick is this: you can smoothly change the size of the virtual space that the sound is reverberating in. This results in in pitch shifting that is reminiscent of what tape delays do when the speed changes. But instead of a single speed, the shift applies to the whole acoustic space, vibrating “air” and all. So a giant room can turn smoothly into a small and natural sounding chamber, and then into a tiny and very unnatural resonator. With longer decay times, weird spring-like beasties can be found along the way.

The controls are minimal, and are meant to interact in musical and inspiring ways. You can read all about Aaltoverb on the website, and in the manual. It's short but tells about some tricks you might not figure out otherwise. And: cartoons!

Aaltoverb 1.0.0 is available now as a 64-bit VST3 for Windows, and as 64-bit VST and Audio Units for Mac OS X. A single license covers both Mac and Windows and is $35.

Get a bundle deal!
Another thing people have asked about over the years is bundle deals. You know, where you buy more than one plugin at a time and as a result you get a discount. This was hard to imagine doing until our web maestro Philip did a bunch of work to modernize the site, including adding a shopping cart feature. But now that's done—and so are bundles.

They work very simply and so we're calling it the Simple Bundle feature. Buy more than one plugin in a single transaction, and save 15% off the entire purchase. That's it. Even if one of the plugins is, say, $35.

You’ll notice that Stripe, not PayPal, is now the default method of payment. We didn't want to leave people out in the cold just because PayPal didn't work in their regions, and since you need a credit card to get PayPal in the first place, hopefully this is more universal. We're always trying to improve the purchase experience, so please let us know how Stripe works for you. If you need or prefer to pay by PayPal for some reason, please get in touch.

Get the T-shirt!
I really love excuses to make a new T-shirt, and Aaltoverb's release seemed like a great one. I thought this one should be a collaboration and happily, Leafcutter John was into the idea. You might know the music he has put out on labels like Planet Mu and Border Community. This year he's gone and made a machine for making artworks, a homemade pen plotter, and the drawings he's making with it have really been pinging my visual cortex in a pleasant way. And so we made a shirt:

The design reminds me of sound decaying, and also of fabric being folded, and the analog robot quality is just (chef's kiss). I am wearing one nearly all the time, and you can too.

What about Sumu?
A long story that must be told short here, because it's nearly the cocktail hour. Very short version: I'm excited about Sumu, and now that Aaltoverb is out I can get back to finishing it.

Slightly longer version: I have some new design ideas for Sumu that required a lot of infrastructure work to pull off. Some to do with graphics and animation, and more on the DSP side of things. Well I dove into that infrastructure work and when I looked up it was a year later, or something. So both as a first use of the new framework and a way to, you know, ship a product, I decided to focus on the Aaltoverb release first. It's a cool enough reverb on its own, but to me it represents a lot more that's been done under the hood. As fall rolls around and I dive back into Sumu and Soundplane work I'm going to share some more about what's going on in there. Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the sounds.

–Randy
Madrona Labs"

New Analog Mafia RC-808 from Roland's "Mid-O Series" Developers and the "Failed" Roland TR-808

Published on Aug 8, 2019 藤本健

Update: demo above spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.

This post is a bit of a doozy so bear with me. :)

First we have a new software model of the TR-808 from the original developers of the 808:

"The RC-808 'Re-Create the 808' emulates the original TR-808 sound with analog manner synthesis. As the name implies, it is with respect to the original 808 sounds which is a criterion for sound synthesis as a vintage. Starting from this criterion, explore the multiverse of sounds, stretch out your vectors, to find out new criterion of your own. Yes, it can take you to the new sonic worlds that are completely different and yet so close and familiar to you.
Hence it is not a drum machine but is a drum synthesizer. No samples nor effects processing are being used, just genuine synthesis only, all in analog manner.

The sound source employs DCO which is in this case Down Chirp Oscillator, combined with a noise source that outputs various kinds of noises including metallic noises. There is also a infinite point wave shaper, a variable filter bank, infinite point envelope generators etc. With maximum 8 partials per voice, it allows sound designing in subtractive synthesis manner which is familiar to all and yet still with vast space beckoning to be discovered.
Thanks to this flexible architecture, all instruments can have Open and Close variations just like Hi-Hats or cymbal choke performance. Coupled with piano-roll sequencer utility this brings new expressions with gate time programming, that you don’t see on a drum sequencer..."

You can download the Windows version here. A Mac version is coming.

Second, the following is some info on the people behind the RC-808 (pictured above) via Vector808:

"We the Analog Mafia, lead by Tadao Kikumoto, is the original R&D staffs who developed the Mid-O Series from Roland Corporation. We would like to express full gratitude and respect to all the people who were in Roland, and supported us at that time.

In above photo, from left to right, we the Analog Mafia are:
Jun-ichi Kadoya: Roland 1977 - 1983, Mid-O Series software / hardware engineer, still is a programmer
Hisanori Matsuoka: Roland 1979 - 1995, Mid-O Series software / hardware engineer, still is an engineer
Kyokazu Fujiwara: Roland 1978 - 1981, Mid-O Series sound source, now a general manager of a software maker
Tadao Kikumoto: Roland 1977 - 2009, Mid-O and V-Series R&D, now Silent Street Music concept maker and promotion
Yoshiro O-e: Roland 1978 - 1988, System-700 and Mid-O Series R&D, now operating a chemical company

Also are:
Hiro Nakamura: Roland 1975 - 2000, CR-68, CR-78, TR-808 sound sources, engineer
Atsushi Hoshiai: Roland 1982 - present, sampling for TR-909, engineer

We all are still analog manias ;)

Because we are independent from Roland Corporation, they nor we can not answer to any kind of inquiries about us and our deliverables including this website. Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation for everything.

Tadao Kikumoto is currently also working busy on another equally innovative project, called SSM - Silent Street Music. It is multi-channel concurrent streaming and listening technology that allows zapping through multiple music or lecture sources instantly. Join us on its exclusive introduction website (at the moment the website is only in Japanese language)"

Third, vector808 has a fascinating historical account covering the development of the Roland TR-808 starting with the x0x series, or as the original Roland developers referred to them, "The Mid-O" series. The following are three excerpts followed by a link to the full article. Note how they perceived the TR-808 was a failure compared to the LinnDrum in the second excerpt.

One:

"The Beginning
In 1983, a number of instruments were released with MIDI, the standard that I was involved in. After the tough times with all the difficulties of development, Roland launched the TR-909 the successor model of TR-808. Yamaha made debut of the ground breaking DX7, a serious digital synthesizer and again with MIDI. It was the opening of the new chapter in the electronic musical instruments, the dawn of full digital synthesis.

Roland then was still a new emerging enterprise, and did not have enough resources to pursue digital technology. To combat the situation, the Fundamental Research and Development Department was established."

Two:

"To meet the low target price, I employed oscillation technique of pulse wave modulating the simple T-network bandpass filter. By short circuiting the resistors in the T-type network for the certain initial duration with transistors, it was possible to raise the frequency. This allowed us to enforce the attack sound compared with conventional rhythm boxes.

But the initial reputation of the 808 was nothing but crippled as it was compared with the Linn products. Furthermore, the sound had insufficient impact or punch at the beginning, which resulted to have pronounced fundamental frequency 60 Hz. But then again, it was this prominent fundamental which attracted the attention of later time hip-hop and EDM artists, and they gave a name to it as “Deep Decay”. This led to the rediscovery of Mid-O Series. The long decay sound was made possible by decay parameter that I added to show at least as a sign or as an evidence of the 808 being a synthesizer. Even inside the company this was regarded as going too far, but later it became one of vital identities of the 808.“

Three:

"If you liken it in the picture art world, the TR-808 sounds are simple line drawings and illustrations so to speak. It puts more weight on showing essence simply rather than realistic photography. The traditional painting of Japan known as Ukiyo-e is a pictorial method and manner that is primarily made of outlines derived from specification of printing and paints. This manner has its own limits, and hence is a vector of criterion. Katsushika-Hokusai, famous for his Mr Fuji pictures, created The Great Wave off Kanagawa（神奈川南沖浪浦 Kanagawa Minami Oki Nami Ura）. In that piece of work, he threw off the photographic details into abstraction that boldly enhanced the great waves by outlines, and made contrast with a pointed Mt Fuji. This manner derived from its own limits is something impossible with realistic paintings that put priorities on details.
The inventor of the bass drum must have done trial and errors like enlarging the diameter or making the membrane thicker to produce fat low sound. Large portion of the beater strike energy to the skin however must have been consumed by uneven fractional vibration or parasite vibrations, resulting unwanted muddy sound. Also, the drummer spends a long time doing a lot of work on damping with blankets and else in order to suppress the unnecessary resonance with the body or with other drums. But once adequately used, this dirt will become important part of the sound, its identity, reality, and criterion.

The TR-808 bass drum was without the reality of the drums but was like an enhanced great wave depicted in the Hokusai’s picture. It is with abstraction of the details, but then again, also with dynamic and ideal low sound. It lacks with the attack impact and the release decay of sampling drum reality, but the artists chose its ideality."

You can find the full article here: https://vector808.jimdofree.com/home/episodes-of-the-mid-o-series/.

P.S. Not sure if the brand is Analog Mafia, vector808 or both. Giving this post both labels below.

Zerone | Audio Particle Splitter

Published on Aug 13, 2019 Puremagnetik

"Zerone is an audio particle splitter that uses granular processes to dissect sound. It has two branches of granular processors that can time compress/expand and iterate over time segments.

On one end of the processing spectrum, Zerone is a repeat, timestretch and stutter-like effect. On the other end, it is a complex space creator with huge washes of evolving, cascading ambiences. Using these processing techniques together, Zerone excels as a sound design tool for discovering new sounds hidden within your audio."

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Wusik ZR Single-Cycle Wave Playback Engine Released

Wusik ZR Programs #programming #vst #osx #C++ #music

Published on Aug 10, 2019 William Wusik Kalfelz

Wusik ZR RC1 #programming #vst #osx #C++ #music

via Wusik

"Now, what is Wusik ZR? A single-cycle wave playback engine with Hyper Oversampling Code using SSE2/AVX. This was coded LIVE on my Twitch account and you can watch it on Youtube now.

Wusik ZR Specs
Windows 32/64 and MAC OSX 64 bits compatible. VST2/VST3 and on OSX extra AU format;
Bank of 128 programs all designed by WilliamK (there's also an Init bank if you want to start from zero and do your own presets);
You can save/load/copy/paste programs, even from one bank to another bank;
Wave Engine with predefined sounds: 48 selectable waves from multiple banks. Each bank has 12 waveforms, and you can load 4 banks at one time. Each waveform is a single cycle 1200 samples wave;
Mono or Poly (32 voices total) with Unison (mono), Glide and Auto-Glide options;
Up to 16 either Static or Wavesequenced Layers;
ADSR envelope with clip output, velocity settings and an option to Loop the envelope ADS stages;
Filter with ADSR envelope just for it (lowpass, bandpass, highpass, notch);
The filter has smooth and limit options;
ADSR Pitch envelope;
Master Limiter that can be turned off (one per Zone, read below);
4 Zones, each zone is a complete set of options: layers + master options + effects;
Layers can be Added or Multiplied with one-another, making a Ring Modulation effect;
Sequenced layers can hold up to 128 steps, and each step you have the following options: volume, pan, time, pitch fine/tune, waveform, crossfade and filter frequency;
Several Effects and the ability to host VST2/VST3 files (effects only, no bridging).
For details on how it was created, visit the following link: https://github.com/WilliamKWusik/Wusik-ZR"

G-Stomper Producer Music Sequencer and Digital Audio Workstation for Android

Quick Start Guide, G-Stomper Producer 1.0 Published on Apr 16, 2019

"G-Stomper Producer is a fast and flexible Music Sequencer and Digital Audio Workstation, designed for use in live performance as well as for production. It comes with a powerful Drum Sampler, a polyphonic and multi-timbral Virtual Analog Performance Synthesizer (VA-Beast), Sounds, Effects, Sequencers, Pads and Keyboards, a graphical Multi-Track Song Arranger, and many other creative features that help you to create your own music.

Jam live, improvise and let the music happen spontaneously, play patterns of different lengths/quantizations, simultaneously and in any combination, without having to stop the sequencer at any time, and finally write your creation down as a Song.

The integrated VA-Beast is a polyphonic virtual analog Synthesizer to produce complex synthetic sounds of any variety, designed for experienced sound designers as well as for beginners. So it's up to you if you just explore the Factory sounds or if you start right away with designing your own sounds in impressive studio quality. Its sound capabilities paired with the intuitive and clearly laid out interface simply makes G-Stomper VA-Beast to the ultimate Mobile Synthesizer. You will be able to create the sounds you want, and you'll do it faster than on any other mobile synthesizer.

Official Website: https://www.planet-h.com/"

New Ocean Swift OSS Enterprise Synthesizer

OSS Enterprise - Vector Synthesis XY PAD Published on Aug 6, 2019 Ocean Swift



"OSS Enterprise Synthesizer - Goa Trance Demo. Small trance track 100% made with Enterprise VSTi!"

"OSS Enterprise is a hybrid Synthesizer exploring Vector, Additive, Subtractive & Wavetable synthesis. Enterprise is multifaceted instrument with great versatility, it offers 4 groups of oscillators with many options and sonic approaches.
Enterprise comes packed with hundreds of factory presets and a excellent sound quality.

MAIN FEATURES:
- Oscillator section consisting of four oscillators that can be switched between analog,
wavetable and additive types with each type presenting a unique set of options and features.
- Dual filters with a choice of lowpass, bandpass, highpass or notch in 12 or 24 db modes with
a dedicated envelope and LFO for each. The filter LFO features inverse modulation for a neat
stereo filtering effect.
- Vector synthesis mixing of the oscillators with dedicated LFOs for the X and Y parameters.
Morph your sound between the oscillators as well as spatially by panning each source.
- Insanely unique LFO types that include classic analog, wavetable, additive and draw modes.
- Built in effects that include Panner/Tremolo, Delay and Chorus/Phaser.
- Quirky, unique and creative features and options at every corner!
- Highly CPU optimized and CPU modular - turn off sections you donít need and save even
more on performance.
- 400 factory presets - Mystical sounds at your fingertips.
- Hundreds of extra DLC presets available.

Win VSTi 64/32 Bit
Grab it now! Or try the demo!"

Spitfire Audio Announces Availability of New ORBIS Library - One-of-a-Kind Synthesizer

Walkthrough: Orbis Uploaded on Jul 16, 2019 Spitfire Audio

"Paul takes us through the new Orbis library- a one-of-a-kind synthesizer born out of rare recordings from around the globe, presented in Spitfire's sophisticated eDNA Engine."

Official press release follows:

Spitfire Audio announces availability of ORBIS plug-in presented in eDNA engine as a horizon-expanding ‘world synth’

“Great film music often blends sounds from different cultures to create a rich tapestry; ORBIS lets you infuse your music with DNA from around the world — from incredibly useful, original recordings through to beautifully evolving textures.”
- Paul Thompson, composer and Spitfire Audio co-founder


LONDON, UK: Spitfire Audio is proud to announce availability of ORBIS — offered as a horizon-expanding ‘world synthesizer’ standalone plug-in, presented in the sound-specialising British music technology company’s sophisticated eDNA engine, enabling exceedingly creative access to 2,500 extraordinary sounds born out of organic performances treated and transported to new dimensions, designed for progressively-minded composers as a gargantuan creative compendium comprising distorted loops to evolving textures and visceral one-shots, subsonic low-end to ethereal pads, perfect for producing rich-sounding, panoramic scores from nature documentaries to sci-fi movies — as of July 18…

Sometimes a score needs more than an orchestra. ORBIS reimagines the work of David Fanshawe (1942-2010), an English composer, sound explorer, and ethnomusicologist who travelled the globe to gather an archive of approximately 2,000 hours of music, documented for posterity at a time of great change. “The present is almost history; every day is worth recording.” So stated the man himself.

However, ORBIS itself is so much more than a collection of organic field recordings; rather it includes 90% treated content, with over 200 presets, plus loops, textures, one-shots, and pads created by Spitfire Audio’s accomplished team of engineers in its own journey of sonic discovery, distilled — alongside clean recordings, rich in history, character, and emotion — in the sound-specialising British music technology company’s sophisticated eDNA engine to provide users with virtually endless parameters and possibilities for enhancing their own scores with the DNA of countless cultures from across the globe.

Enduring and enthralling, David Fanshawe’s rarefied recordings have already made themselves heard in scores to major movies such as 1997’s Seven Years In Tibet (John Williams) and 2002’s Gangs Of New York (Howard Shore); now they are ready and able to empower anyone’s scoring sensibilities as an essential resource for producers, composers, or sound designers intent on seeking out new sounds — or even civilisations! After all, sounds are the fabric from which music is weaved.

With that thought in mind, maybe it was inevitable that Spitfire Audio would creatively cross paths with the David Fanshawe World Music Archive. As such, ORBIS was effectively conceived back in January 2015, when widow Jane Fanshawe introduced Spitfire Audio co-founder and composer Paul Thomson to the global sonic explorer’s namesake legacy. “Listening to these extraordinarily vivid recordings is like looking through a window into a different time and place,” pronounces the clearly captivated listener.

Literally placing them into a different time and space, Spitfire Audio subsequently handpicked thousands of extraordinary sounds from those extraordinarily vivid recordings, really resulting in a so-called ‘world synthesizer’ since ORBIS users are able to delve deeper into some of the most rare and distinctive sounds and loops on the planet, rich in history, character, and emotion encompassing a range of cultures and communities, many of which no longer exist; enhancing every sound still further with ORBIS’ own exploratory eDNA is inevitable.

Imagine the eDNA engine as a set of two turntables alongside a highly-sophisticated DJ mixer. It includes two sound bays — A and B, each designed to create differing sonic treatments, with individual and independent modulators and control of TRIM, BEND, GLIDE, CLONE, TUNE, ADSR (envelope), HI-PASS (filter), LO- PASS (filter), and WOBBLE (modulating VOLUME, PITCH, and FILTER). Furthermore, the GATE SEQUENCER allows for independent gating of those two bays and unified control of amount, speed, and LENGTH of sequence. These two signals are then unified with an x-fader; move between the sounds with the mouse or the factory default-assigned modulation wheel. Elsewhere, eDNA’s five-stage FX (effects) path contains 41 custom plug-ins, including preloaded bespoke IRs (Impulse Responses). The BAY A FX and BAY B FX stages affect sound bay A or B, while an AUX FX stage can be sent via the layers or MASTER FX stage.

Obviously ORBIS easily enables sonic journeying of its own doing. Discover hundreds of presets treated in various ways, with Spitfire Audio’s acclaimed sampling expertise and technology twisting and turning every sound through 3,000 lines of code! Some sound subtly manipulated while others are heavily processed, unrecognisable from their original source material.

Musically-speaking, ORBIS travels far — from playable one-shots and short phrases to tuned and untuned rhythmic loops and recordings up to a minute long. Ultimately, unearthing sounds with subtle movement, complexity, and evolution is an ear-opening experience. Throbbing basses and pulsing loops, ideal for dance music; thunderous drones, subsonic low-end and visceral, tortured drum hits, for adding movement and depth; Blade Runner-style synths, made from antelope horns; and ethereal pads and breathtakingly beautiful evolving textures, for three-dimensional cinematic soundscapes... the very nature of ORBIS’ design takes its users to new levels of sonic exploration and adventure. A lifetime of inspiration as an essential resource awaits anyone creatively climbing aboard.

As to the finished product’s potency, Paul Thomson is clearly qualified to comment, enthusiastically ending on a high note: “This is a really rich tapestry of sounds; it’s almost like a new kind of ‘world synth’ which goes from the raw sounds that are incredibly useful all the way through to beautiful, undulating, evolving textures made from these incredible organic recordings.”

ORBIS can be purchased and digitally downloaded as an AAX-, AU-, and VST-compatible plug-in that loads directly into a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for a time-limited introductory promo price of £229.00 GBP (inc. VAT)/$269.00 USD/€269.00 EUR (inc. VAT) until August 1, 2019 — rising thereafter to an RRP of £299.00 GBP (inc. VAT)/$349.00 USD/€349.00 EUR (inc. VAT) — from here: https://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-z/orbis/"

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