John Bowen has uploaded new
audio samples of the Solaris, specifically the 'Weird Rotor' samples 5 and 6 in the player. The following is a description of what's in the player.
Click here to check them out.
"Here's what I wanted to show:
1. AM example - Solaris_AM1.wav.
This is an extremely simple patch, made up of 2 oscillators, no filters, 2 envelopes, and 2 LFOs. Osc 1's amplitude is being modulated by Osc 2, whose output is shaped by an envelope. (The 2nd env is the Amp EG, of course). Since you can modulate each input of a mixer, I have a mixer with Osc 1 coming into 2 of the 4 inputs. The first input is getting modulated by Osc 2, and the second input is modulated by an LFO. Another LFO controls panning.
2. Lowpass filter with polymod - http://www.johnbowen.com/WavDemos/Solaris_LP11.wav.
This just because it's an old favorite of mine from my Prophet 5 days. 2 oscillators feeding the ladder-type Lowpass 24 dB filter, with medium resonance. The filter cutoff is modulated by 2 LFOs, one of which is tracking the keyboard, while the other a very slow sweep. A third input provides an envelope to the cutoff. Again a bit of Pan modulation by another LFO.
3. Panning Modulation at audio rates - http://www.johnbowen.com/WavDemos/Solaris_PanMod.wav.
Again, another very simple sound, using 2 oscs (sine waves), one with a slight bit of pitch EG (and no filter). The point here is to show how nicely audio rate modulation of the Pan position works - something you won't find on your typical synthesizer. As I hold down the F major chord a few bars in, I start to adjust the Coarse tuning of Osc 4, which is modulating the Pan. At first it's at -60 semitones (sub-audio range), and then I gradually (more or less!) raise it all the way up to +60 semitones. At the end, I again grab Osc 4's Coarse frequency and quickly drop it all the way back down while holding a higher chord.
4. Someone requested to hear something bright and buzzy, or lots of resonance.
Here's something using 2 filters in parallel - the MiniLP and the OB Notch filters: http://www.johnbowen.com/WavDemos/MiniLP+OBNotch2.wav.
5. Rotor FX - WeirdRotor1.wav.
This is a single note held, showing the Rotor module playing through the 4 oscillators. Each one is a bit different, with slow LFOs modulating the pitch of each. Osc 1 is set to the MultiMode osc, using the S&H waveshape. Changing the frequency of this oscillator varies the clock rate of the noise generator. Osc 2 is using the SuperSaw, Osc 3 the Morphing Saw, and Osc 4 is playing the (new) WAV Osc with a test sample. Everything is being fed through the (also new) Comb Filter.
6. Rotor FX polyphonic - WeirdRotor1Poly.wav.
Here's the same patch played polyphonically, at different ranges on the keyboard. I thought it might be interesting to have a 'non-traditional' example to hear.
The Solaris can produce very complicated things, but I wanted to start out with very basic, simple sounds. Now that I've got the basic recording process down, I'll get some more examples up within the next few weeks. (I'm also hoping to have some videos of basic operation available).
-John Bowen"
"One of a small run of pre-order units of the near legendary John Bowen Solaris. For those who don't know, John Bowen started out working with Moog and became part of Sequential Circuits with Dave Smith. From there he went to work with Korg on such luminary products as the Wavestation and Oasys. The Solaris has been years in the planning and stems from Johns work at Sonic Core/Creamware. It's not really fair to simply call it a virtual analog synth as although it has modeled oscillators from Moog, CEM (SCI) and Wavetables and filters modeled from Moog, Oberheim, SEM as well as Comb and Vocal filters, it is much more than a VA. Semi modular in design there are hundreds of parameters and possible routings. Once central display and 5 sub displays help keep track of all the parameters along with 40 rotary controller knobs and numerous buttons!
