"The highly anticipated re-release of an updated 777 is still in the pipeline and we are expecting a late 2024 arrival. Also, in the coming months, you will also be notified of the release of the Eurorack mounted, TRANSFER filter. Stylistically matching the Trax and Transient, this filter is an expanded version of the analogue filter found in the Vectra.
We cannot provide any information concerning hard release dates or prices until the units are completed and ready to be shipped."
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01:58:03 All loops we captured!
"Today we have a look at the Future Retro Vectra and my DIY granular effects processor Octatcosm 0.6 which I built on the Octatrack Mk2. I love granular synthesis, in this video I'll show you my workflow for making granular loops using the Octatrack. The Future Retro Vectra is a digital and anlog syntheizer with 4 joysticks you can assign any parameter to for hands on modulation. It's a lot of fun. You can get the Octacosm project from my Patreon if you already own and Octatrack and want a granular effects box for $4.
"Examples of new sequencer features on the Future Retro Vectra with firmware 2.0 and expanded sound/sequencer sets. (External drum machine providing bass drum.)"
Playlist:
1. Future Retro Vectra Playing the Sequencer in Real Time
2. Future Retro Vectra Quick Jam
3. Future Retro Vectra Sequencer Length and Direction and Knob Assign
4. Future Retro Vectra Sound Morph and Sequencer Direction
5. Future Retro Vectra Sequencer Length and Direction
6. Future Retro Vectra Sequencer Randomize
"This is a patch I created on the Vectra Synthesizer. In this patch, each of the four voices have its own LFO for amplitude control. They synchronize to the press of a key. If you don't press all notes at the same time when the XY joystick is in the down position, then they will synchronize, but be out of phase with each other. I use the XY joystick to change the speed of each LFO, which in turn creates a sound of free running LFOs that are not in sync with each other."
Here is a demonstration of a male choir patch that I made on the Future Retro Vectra synthesizer. Even though this synth engine is normally layering the 4 voices (oscillator pairs with separate envelopes) as a single voice, it also has a nice paraphonic mode where you can play 4 voices simultaneously through the single filter. I assigned the xy joystick to the vibrato rate.
2. Future Retro Vectra Paraphonic trick
One thing about paraphonic synthesizer voices, is that the notes are retriggered through the filter and final VCA. This can be very useful in a patch or sound like this, where some of the voices are still playing the last chord until cycling through all 4 voices. The XY joystick in this patch changes a minor chord to a major chord by raising the third a half step. If the joystick is in the middle between the major and minor third, then you only play the blues with this patch, just kidding.
3. Future Retro Vectra Synthesizer: beat and sequencer example
The Vectra has a unique feature where the envelopes can be delayed for each of the 4 voices. By creating drum sounds then using this delay to create rhythms and sequencing a simple pattern using this drum loop, you can get some interesting rhythms. The mix joystick lets you control the balance between the drum sounds. the XY joystick is changing the delay on 2 of the voices.
4. Future Retro Vectra Synthesizer: Cello sound example
The Future Retro Vectra Synthesizer has a powerful voice architecture. Not only does it allow a similar wave blending engine like the famous Prophet VS or the ModWave, but it also has 4 joysticks to mix, filter, and adjust the sound as you are playing it. The XY joystick is assigned to vibrato rates and the aftertouch is assigned to the vibrato amount.
"Recently I had the great pleasure of working with the newly restarted Future Retro company on their Vectra hybrid synthesizer. It’s a really lovely synth and very unique in that it sort of captures the mood of both something like an EMS VCS3 and also the Oberheim Xpander. In all my decades working with synthesizers, I haven’t quiet come across anything as distinct and unique as this synthesizer. Keep your eyes on Future Retro; they’re one of my favourite companies from the 90s and I’m very grateful I got a chance to work with the. #inhalt #synthpop #ambient #drone #sounddesign #synth #analogsynth #modular #keyboard"
"The Vectra is a unique hybrid synthesizer with a flexible architecture that allows many different forms of synthesis to be realized. It’s the best of both worlds… The Vectra utilizes digital oscillators, ring modulators, noise sources, vector mixer, LFO’s, complex envelopes, and modulation routings providing many capabilities that would be very difficult to produce with analog circuitry alone. This allows for accurate tuning, repeatability of complex patches, and patch storage. The Vectra also provides a multi-mode analog filter, VCA, and final output, as these provide the best sonic qualities.
The Vectra includes a powerful and fun sequencer and arpeggiator, with many new capabilities. Although the Vectra is a self contained instrument, MIDI can be used to interface with other devices."
"Future Retro is back! New team including old faces. New product, re-releases and new product all forthcoming. Stay tuned."
And: "Website is currently down but we are working to repair this. We should be shipping Vectra synthesizers by December. Transient, Trax, and Midi Buss forthcoming. New team, big plans, new products and re-releases. Stay tuned!
Jered is currently taking some time away. He is no longer involved in the day to day. After 25 years plus, he needed a break. He is still amongst us in our design team and will hopefully always be a part of FR. An expanded team has taken over to spread out the necessary tasks amongst a small number of professional people. We have big plans but we aren't changing the Future Retro brand or character in any way.
Also, we are currently trying to fix our website and set up emails. Jered will still have an email at future retro but we are working diligently to fix some issues on that end. Please be patient with us, we aren't finished yet!"
"All sounds in this video were recorded directly from the Future Retro Vectra Synthesizer. No additional EQ, Compression, or Effects were used. These sounds contain low frequency content, listen with a subwoofer to appreciate.
It's interesting to note that while the Vectra does not have a built in distortion stage as many of our other products are well known for, the Vectra's oscillators are powerful enough to synthesize many different forms of distortion all by themselves using our one-of-a-kind Phase-Slice modes.
This video highlights quite a few of these more aggressive sounds, most of which will use only one or two oscillators.
Some of the new complex vector synthesis patches sound amazing.
"Talking Synths is a weekly podcast where Syntaur's crew chats about all manner of synthology. In this special episode of Talking Synths, Syntaur's Carlos Morales sits down with Jered Flickinger of Future Retro and takes a sneak peek at the soon-to-be-released Vectra synthesizer. Future Retro was founded by Jered in 1997, and has released a host of unique products like the 777, Revolution, XS, Mobius, 512, and now the Vectra."
"All sounds you hear are the Future Retro Vectra synthesizer. All sounds were recorded dry. I would recommend listening to this demo though a good audio system, preferably one that includes a subwoofer"
"All sounds you hear are from the Future Retro Vectra synthesizer. In this video we take a look at a few of the percussion sounds the Vectra is capable of.
Some clips may include a touch of reverb/delay from the Eventide Eclipse."
"All sounds you hear are from the Future Retro Vectra synthesizer. In this video we explore some sound effects which would normally be created on a Synthi or other modular type synthesizer.
Some clips may include a touch of reverb/delay from the Eventide Eclipse."
"All sounds you hear are from the Future Retro Vectra synthesizer. In this video we focus primarily on a few Bass, Guitar, and Sync type sounds.
The Vectra is capable of recreating some of the most recognizable sounds from some of the greatest synths of all time. Want to do wavetable synthesis like the Prophet VS and Microwave 1? How about some DX FM sounds? Or combine digital and analog waveforms like the D-50? And who remembers the SQ-80? But this goes farther than just digital synths, how about 303 stuff? Do you enjoy the rich fat tones of the Oberheim's with variable glide time per oscillators, and gorgeous filters? We do too! And British synth lovers, will enjoy the Synthi, Wasp, and Oscar inspirations. Want to dive into some modular weirdness, you got it! Or maybe you're just tired of the same old drum machines and ready for some new percussion. Whether you're a professional musician, sound designer for film, or hobbiest the Vectra offers something for everyone.
Some clips may include a touch of reverb/delay from the Eventide Eclipse."
