The Superlative SB01 Is Ready

via Superlative

"After a summer of continued development and polish, we were able to push the design of our synthesizer beyond what we had already imagined.

This new model represents an upgrade in every dimentions: from a machined aluminum chassis to a full day's worth of battery life, along with a completely new visual identity."

"Picking up where the golden age of analog synthesizer design left off, Superlative is building electronic instruments for the next generation of musicians. We believe that the best in electronic instruments is yet to come.

Our synthesizers are engineered and built in the U.S.

We want to design products that last - both in their original design and with the goal that their repair and maintenance be as transparent as possible."

Kickstarter launches tomorrow at 1PM.

Additional pics below. Be sure to click on them for the full size shots.

See the Superlative label for additional posts including demos.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Superlative SB-1 Synthesizer (First Look)

Published on May 13, 2019 Synthtopia

"At Superbooth 2019, Superlative introduced the SB-1/Space Bee synthesizer, described as ‘The sound of the past, crafted for the future.”

Here's an overview and demo of the futuristic take on the classic Roland SH-101."

Superlative SB-1

Superbooth 2019 Superlative Instruments SB-1 Space Bee (Roland SH-101) Demo

Published on May 9, 2019 SynthBae

Here it is. See the Superlative label below for more.

"Superbooth 2019 Superlative Instruments SB-1 Space Bee sh101 super flat portable battery powered. Fat 101 sound. apologies for the handcam."

Superbooth 2023: Superlative - Monolab 1210 - Space Bee

video upload by sonicstate

"We spoke to Ben from Superlative at Superbooth 2023 about their latest product, a fully self-contained, semi-modular synthesizer Monolab 1210. Based on various synthesis concepts from the 70s and 80s, this synthesizer offers a compact semi-modular format with a clear and well-mapped workflow. It is aimed at beginners, as well as those who want to dive deeper into the world of voltage control.

It was good to see Space Bee back at Superbooth, and though it is clearly inspired by the SH101, it has a lot of enhancements, such as ADSR cycling mode, CV control and more. The synthesizer is powered by USB C and is surprisingly thin, measuring less than an inch deep.

Space Bee Available Autumn 2023. Price TBC

Monolab 1210 Available Autumn 2023. Price TBC"

Analogue Solutions Announces Colossus #4

I almost skipped posting this as the only news here is there's a 4th production run of the Colossus. I guess it's interesting knowing how many are out there. What's also interesting is I always assumed the Colossus was either built in a limited initial run, or it was built per order only. This is a mammoth endeaver and each one costs 25,000 GBP which comes out to $35,000 US. It is $4500 less than this little Sennheiser VSM201 Vocoder!

Note, the images in this post appear to be stock. You can find demos of the Colossus in previous posts here.

Press release follows:
""Analogue Solutions announces forthcoming fourth run of Colossus supersized synth that trips back to the future of analogue

KINGSWINFORD, UK: following a showstopping showcase during its introduction at SynthFest UK 2019 in Sheffield, British boutique electronic instruments innovator Analogue Solutions is proud to announce a forthcoming fourth run of Colossus — its supersized synth that trips back to the future of analogue, albeit symbolising so much more than a powerful analogue ‘workstation’ with no fewer than 12 VCOs (Voltage-Controlled Oscillators) beating at its monumental musical heart, rather representing art, architecture, and superlative studio furniture at its hand-built best by taking its design cues from the colossal classic that is the EMS Synthi 100, although no Synthi circuit was cloned or copied in making the destined-to-be-classic Colossus fit for a new generation of high-flying owners — as of February 15…

CLICK FOR MORE »

Arturia Introduces V Collection Classics

Published on Apr 1, 2015 Arturia Web

"Arturia launches legendary soft synth classics collection to lead into musical temptation

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: following in the footsteps of its super-successful V Collection 4 premium software collection, launched to critical acclaim late last year, music software and hardware developer and manufacturer Arturia is proud to announce availability of V Collection Classics — conveniently rounding up five of its most sought-after Analog Classics soft synth emulations of five legendary analogue synthesizers from five legendary brands into a musically tempting, competitively-priced package — as of April 2...

ARP, Moog, Oberheim, Roland, and Sequential Circuits... classic analogue synthesizer-manufacturing names all. And all of those classic companies — past and present — have produced at least one legendary instrument that truly impacted the music industry throughout the Seventies and into the Eighties and beyond. Indeed, the sought-after sounds of these instruments still resonate today. Think ARP 2600 (1970-81), MinimoogTM (1970-81), Synthesizer Expander Module® (1974-79), Jupiter-8 (1981-84), and Prophet-5 (1978-82). And Arturia has played a not inconsiderable part in bringing these still- sought-after sounds into today’s computer-centric recording and performance workflow thanks to TAE® (True Analog Emulation), an advanced proprietary technology allowing accurate modelling of analogue circuitry behaviour on personal computers. Conveniently, all five of Arturia’s award-winning Analog Classics soft synth emulations of those analogue classics are available to musically tempt as a must-have, competitively-priced package... please welcome, V Collection Classics! Come join us, then, as we make the musical introductions...

Arturia’s ARP 2600 V is a truly versatile sound creation tool with a massive musical bite; indeed, its raw and dirty character is perfectly suited to creating massive drum ’n’ bass stabs to growlin’, funky bass lines and spaced-out drones, with much in-between. From the starship funk lead lines of the Seventies to the gangsta whine of mid-Nineties hip-hop, the ever- present MinimoogTM has been making its phat presence felt for four-plus decades; Arturia’s award-winning Mini V even offers polyphony and additional modulation options, effectively turning it into an authentic-sounding Memorymoog emulation... well, sort of. Oberheim’s Synthesizer Expander Module® (SEM) started life as an add-on synthesizer module for fattening up Minimoogs before becoming a sought-after sound in its own right, with up to eight embedded in Oberheim’s groundbreaking Seventies-vintage polysynths; still sought-after today for its stunning-sounding multimode filter, Arturia offers all this and more in its outstanding Oberheim SEM V emulation. The runaway success of Roland’s then-flagship Jupiter-8 programmable analogue polysynth took the synth world by storm upon its 1981 release, boosting its already superlative sonic capabilities by adding an arpeggiator that helped make many mega hit singles shine forth musically — think Duran Duran (‘Save A Prayer’) and Howard Jones (‘New Song’); similarly, Arturia’s Jupiter-8 V is a real musical workhorse, capable of creating a very versatile range of sounds — stretching from fat to ‘crystalline’ — while going above and beyond the capabilities of the original instrument, thanks to its additional modulation possibilities and inbuilt effects. Last but not least, the Prophet-5 is truly a legend in its own lifetime as the world’s first fully-programmable polyphonic synthesizer; again, Arturia’s Prophet V faithfully brings back to life those historic and superlative sounds, together with those of the 1986-vintage, California-created classic Prophet VS Digital Vector Synthesizer, Sequential’s first digital design (and, alas, the final synth, sadly, from the iconic innovative instrument manufacturer). Must we say more?

Maybe just one more thing, then: thanks to V Collection Classics"

Superlative Introduces MONOLAB 1210 SEMI-MODULAR SYNTHESIZER

via Superlative

"The Monolab is our distillation of subtractive synthesis in its most accessible, portable, and configurable form. A tactile canvas of sound with a clear conceptual mapping that equally invites an educational or performance approach.

Deep dive and full specifications coming June 2023
INPUT
USB TYPE-C
OPTIONAL POWER FROM SB01
OUTPUT
PROFESSIONAL +10V AND +/-5V
POWER
ULTRA-LOW-POWER DESIGN
ACCESSORIES
L-STAND
U-STAND
DIMENSIONS
220 X 220 X 22MM
WEIGHT
2.8 POUNDS / 1.3KG"

Superbooth 2023: Superlative Audio Monolab 1210

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Superlative Audio launch their Monolab 1210 synth, in a suprisingly compact form factor."

Superlative Instruments SB-1 @ Superbooth 2019

Published on May 10, 2019 Bedroom Producers Blog

"Superlative Instruments SB-1 is a replica of the classic SH-101 with a portable design and some additional features for the modern studio. We're checking it out at Superbooth 2019."

Superlative SB01 Is Funded - 44 Hours to Go for Microtuning Stretch Goal

The Superlative SB01 has reached funding on their Kicstarter campaign. They are currently at $171,557 pledged of their $101,000 goal, however they added a stretch goal to add microtuning as a feature for all future models. The new stretch goal is $200,000. The funding campaign has 44 hours to go. If you are interested in getting in on the SB01 early and would like to see microtuning added, now might be the time.

Rob Papen pulls out all stops with all-encompassing eXplorer-III bundle

"ECHT, THE NETHERLANDS: virtual instrument and plug-in developer Rob Papen Soundware is proud to announce availability of eXplorer-III — combining all of its award-winning Mac- and PC- compatible virtual instruments, including the recently-released breathtaking BLUE-II soft synth, alongside its critically-acclaimed effects plug-ins into an attractively-priced performance and sound design dream bundle to die for — as of May 1...

Self-confessed synth freak and world-renowned sound designer Rob Papen knows a thing or two about creating the sounds that people want to hear. He’s even published an informative instructional book/DVD set based on his subtractive synthesis masterclasses called The 4 Element Synth — perfectly pitched for the long-running analogue revival, but is best known for his namesake software company, dedicated to producing its trademark Inspiration Soundware. Several years after its inception, Rob Papen, the company, collectively has 11 superlative software products to its well-known name: Blade (representing the cutting-edge of today’s synthesizers), BLUE-II (so-called ‘Crossfusion synthesis’ since it covers so much musical ground so effectively), Predator (‘phat’ analogue synth with killer presets and first-class features), Punch (speaker-busting, body-rattling drum machine), SubBoomBass (ultra-deep bass synth with built-in step sequencer), RG (electric and acoustic guitar grooves with sequencer and synth effects), RP-AMOD (modulation effects to spice up vocal tracks, enliven instruments, or even beef up drums and loops), RP-Delay (with six delay lines, eight filters, four LFOs, reverser, and more), RP-Distort (for distorting and dramatically altering tracks), and RP-Verb (advanced, transparent, and musical algorithm reverb).

Now all of those award-winning Mac- and PC-compatible virtual instruments and critically acclaimed effects plug-ins that have found favour with so many of the world’s leading music producers and artists are available in the all-encompassing eXplorer-III bundle — billed as being The Complete Rob Papen Synth & Effect Collection. To quote a few notable names for whom Rob Papen’s Inspiration Soundware has proved inspirational indeed:

“I love BLUE-II! The patches are so good. I opened it up and started using it immediately in my current project. You read my mind on what I was looking for.” (Rod Abernethy: RAGE, TERA, Alpha Protocol, Star Trek, and The Hobbit composer)

“Rob Papen definitely makes some amazing plug-ins; we use Predator all the time, because it has such amazing sounds!” (Dave Stewart: musician, songwriter, record producer, and Eurythmics co-founder)

“[Punch is] very cool and delivers very fast results for instant creativity! It’s easy to use and sounds great.” (Armin van Buuren: music producer and DJ)

But best of all, anyone purchasing eXplorer-III is saving themselves around 50% when compared to separately purchasing each and every Rop Papen virtual instrument and effects plug-in included. Imagine what they could do with the money saved? Treat themselves to a nice new pair of studio monitors to listen to those thousands of superlative sounds in all their professionally-programmed glory? Go for it! Open your wallet and your ears to take your productions to hitherto dreamed of levels of Inspiration Soundware sublimity with this attractively-priced performance and sound design dream bundle to die for. Just ask Rod Abernethy, Dave Stewart, and Armin van Buuren — or even Rob Papen himself!


eXplorer-III can be purchased as a boxed version from authorised Rob Papen dealers worldwide for €585.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$699.00 USD or downloaded directly from Rob Papen here: http://www.robpapen.com/buy-explorer-3.html

Various upgrade options are also available: eXplorer-II bundle owners can upgrade to eXplorer-III for €44.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$49.00 USD while owners of the original eXplorer bundle can upgrade to eXplorer-III for €119.00 EUR (including VAT/tax)/$139.00 USD."

Superbooth 2019 -SB-1 SH- 101 Clone - Sounds Only

Published on May 14, 2019 sonicstate

"Jim took a look at the Superlative SB-1. Here's what he had to say about it:

The prototype of Superlative’s new 101-based synth, the SB-1, is sounding quite nice. The short travel keybed feels really good and is fast to play. The sound makes you want to keep playing as well. A fun little synth!"

Superlative SB 1 Sound Demo (No Talking)

Published on May 9, 2019 Bonedo Synthesizers

Superlative SB 1

Superbooth 2019: Superlative Instruments SB 1

Published on May 10, 2019 Future Music Magazine

First analog synth with a rechargeable battery. I am curious how easily it will be able to replace the battery if it goes out over time. Also curious how long the charge will last (update: user replaceable, 10 hours). And yes, you can pop rechargeable batteries into an original SH-101.

Superlative SB 1

Superlative is Hiring

Superlative, makers of the SPACE BEE SB01 (pictured below), are hiring.

You can find full details here.

"Join us in building the next decade of synthesizers.

We are looking for electrical, mechanical, and embedded engineer positions across the US."

Superlative's Beautiful Modular - Superbooth 2023

video upload by True Cuckoo

"More info about Superlative: https://www.playsuperlative.com"

XILS-lab Releases Syn’X 2 Polytimbral Virtual Analogue Synthesizer Plug-In

Tutorial videos previously posted here. Press release follows:

"XILS-lab relaunches revolutionary virtual analogue soft synth with modern-day makeover

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software company XILS-lab is proud to announce availability of Syn’X 2 — a multi- format (AAX, AU, RTAS, VST), 32- and 64-bit polytimbral virtual analogue synthesizer plug-in for Mac (OS X 10.5 and later) and PC (Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7/8) that not only continues to pay perfect homage to the legendary Elka Synthex Eighties-vintage Italian instrument from an original-sounding sonic standpoint, but balances that musicality against a multilayer card-based architecture that is inspired by similarly sophisticated hardware analogue synthesizers, such as Oberheim’s mighty Matrix 12, to create one of the most powerful and complex virtual analogue synthesizers of the modern era — as of June 22...

At the time of its 1982 launch the eight-voice polyphonic Elka Synthex sounded like no other synthesizer around — analogue or otherwise, and brought with it high hopes of being instrumental in ending the dominance of oversized (and overpriced) Japanese and American analogue programmable polysynths, thanks to the eight monophonic synthesizer circuits central to its innovative 16-DCO (Digitally Controlled Oscillator) driven design by independent Italian synth-master Mario Maggi. Many — meaning 1,000! — ICs (Integrated Circuits) were used in that design, however, meaning that it was not necessarily the most reliable around and did not come cheap. Consequently, not that many — not much more than the number of ICs in each instrument, in fact — were sold before being discontinued in 1985 (with one last production unit being made especially for legendary American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder) as a ‘new wave’ of considerably cheaper and more reliable digital synthesizers boasting better MIDI (Musical Instrument Interface) implementation brought about its untimely demise. Not that this mattered much to French electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre, who has three to his not insignificant name to this day, with well-known Laser Harp performances still emanating exclusively from an amazing-sounding Synthex patch produced by one-time UK demonstrator/programmer Paul Wiffen (and audible in isolation in ‘Second Rendez-Vous’ on Jarre’s super-selling Rendez-Vouz album of 1986).

Today the Elka Synthex is one of the most sought-after synthesizers around. As a result of its superlative sound design and avant-garde architecture, it’s a true musical instrument that’s truly stood the test of time. Today it sounds as fresh as it did back in 1982. Just ask Jean-Michel Jarre, who is on record as saying, “The Synthex allowed me to also develop something I had in mind with electronic music — epic, symphonic type of sounds that you probably had with the modular Moog before, such as those that Walter/Wendy Carlos used for Switched On Bach or A Clockwork Orange — a deep, mad, classical approach to a polyphonic synthesizer.” Truly, madly, deeply, indeed.

Indeed, given that finding an Elka Synthex in fine working order has become such a pricey (and patient) proposition, is it any wonder that in 2011 XILS-lab decided to effectively emulate it in software, even going so far as to enlist the eager ears of Paul Wiffen himself. “The sonic results are uncannily close to the original,” he promptly pronounced. Surprisingly, Syn’X has already been available to purchase and download from the XILS-lab web store for longer than the production lifespan of the original hardware synthesizer from which it drew so much musical inspiration. It’s time, therefore, for a serious update, and with it some fanciful features that look beyond merely modelling the Elka Synthex...

So what, exactly, is it, then, that makes Syn’X 2 so different and so much better than its predecessor? Well, wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could create a synthesizer with the sophisticated multilayer architecture of Oberheim’s mighty Matrix 12 analogue polysynth, say, with an abundance of modulation matrixes per layer — effectively enabling flexible routing to rival the monstrous modular systems that preceded it in decades gone by, but then musically married that to the expansive Elka Synthex sound? Well, with Syn’X 2 that’s no longer a dream synth, but rather reality! Roll up your sleeves and delve deeper into sound design than was previously dreamed possible, thanks to the talented teamwork of XILS-lab.

Lest we forget, Syn’X 2 offers a unique combination of clear and punchy DCOs with cutting-edge analogue-modelled multimode filters to faithfully reproduce the superlative sound that so clearly defined the Eighties era, but, because it’s polytimbral, users can access up to eight individual synthesizers simultaneously with 16 oscillators, eight 0DF (Zero-Delay Feedback) analogue-modelled filters, 32 D-ADSR (Delay, Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release) envelopes, and modulation matrixes addressing any of 132 possible destinations when creating their own patches — truly a sound designer’s dream come true!

This being a XILS-lab product, predictably, perhaps, there are many more features to make a serious song and dance about. All-important additions to Syn’X 2 include: oscillators with (up to 40) cumulative waveforms (per patch); new 0DF PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)/hard sync oscillator algorithms; unique CHAO (2D space movement) and (five rhythmic effects) RTHM LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators) with (up to 50) cumulative waveforms (per patch); two arpeggiators; two keyboard zones — Upper and Lower, suitable for split and layered instruments; guitar multitimbral mode — whereby all layers can be assigned to independent MIDI channels, so playing different sounds with each guitar string, for instance, is possible; polyphonic SEQUENCER (that also acts as a modulation source); vintage-sounding CHORUS, DELAY, PHASER, and EQ effects (with proprietary True Stereo Technology); and 300 phenomenal presets programmed by professional sound designers, to name but few.

Fortunately for some, a helpful Easy mode provides programmers with an intuitive and powerful yet streamlined environment, similar to XILS-lab’s recently released miniSyn’X polyphonic, duo-timbral virtual analogue synthesizer plug-in, but with additional envelopes and LFOs, etc, easily accessible. Alternatively, the Advanced mode makes all aspects of Syn’X 2 available, allowing users to create complex, thick, and never-heard-before patches with a radically reworked workflow, which, it turn, makes it one of the most powerful and complex virtual analogue synthesizers of the modern era!


Syn’X 2 is available to purchase as a USB eLicenser or iLok (1 and 2) protected plug-in for an introductory discounted price of €127.00 EUR until July 21, 2015 (rising to €169.00 EUR thereafter) on the XILS-lab web store here: https://www.xils-lab.com/products/Syn'X-%3A-iLok-or-eLicenser-protected.html

Syn’X 2 can also be purchased as a bundle together with the miniWork’X sound library — featuring 268 miniSyn’X sounds for Syn’X 2 programmed by Lotuzia — for an introductory discounted price of €148.00 EUR until July 21, 2015 (rising to €198.00 EUR thereafter).

Note that owners of the original Syn’X can upgrade to Syn’X 2 for free while owners of miniSyn’X can upgrade to ‘full-blown’ Syn’X 2 status for an introductory discounted price of €93.00 EUR until July 21, 2015 (rising to €124.00 EUR thereafter).

Syn’X 2 can be directly downloaded as a multi-format (AAX, AU, RTAS, VST), 32- and 64-bit polytimbral virtual analogue synthesizer plug-in for Mac (OS X 10.5 and later) and Windows (XP, Vista, and 7/8) from here: https://www.xils-lab.com/pages/Syn%27X_Download.html

Several superb audio demos showcasing Syn’X 2 can be heard here: https://www.xils-lab.com/pages/Syn%27X_Audio.html"

Arturia Dark Force Rising with BeatStep and MiniLab Black Edition

"The Dark Force is rising again at Arturia with two new Black Editions of BeatStep and MiniLab!!!

With its new design the BeatStep Black Edition comes charged with Oberheim SEM V, Analog Lab and Ableton Live 9 Lite. It also comes with the latest 1.2 firmware update.

MiniLab Black Edition is not left behind, we have packed it with Oberheim SEM V, Analog Lab, Ableton Live 9 Lite, and UVI Grand Piano Model D."

And the press release:

"Arturia announces availability of software-bundled black BeatStep and MiniLab controllers

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software and hardware developer Arturia revolutionised the concept of what a priced-to-go compact controller can be with both its award-winning BeatStep Controller & Sequencer and MiniLab Universal MIDI Controller truly turning heads at past NAMM shows; today, within weeks of stealing the show at The NAMM Show 2016, January 21-24 in Anaheim, California, USA with more major product launches, itis proud to announce availability of limited-edition black versions of both the BeatStep and MiniLab that represent better value than before bybundling them with award-winning Arturia and third-party software...

Like its original white namesake sibling launched at The NAMM Show 2014, the BeatStep Black Edition is a chameleon-like controller and sequencer that matches many musical environments effortlessly. Compact and rugged, it is the perfect companion on the road or in the studio, offering a degree of functionality and performance hitherto unheard of in a portable pad controller — certainly at its tempting ‘takeaway’ €99.00 EUR/$129.00 USD asking price!

Speaking of which, the BeatStep Black Edition is bundled with Oberheim SEM V— Arturia’s award-winning authentic software recreation of the original Oberheim Synthesizer Expander Module® (SEM), which was itself conceived back in the Seventies as a way of beefing up weaker-sounding compatible analogue monosynths of the time, thanks to its rich two-oscillator driven sound, soon after forming the muscular musical backbone of several subsequent trailblazing Oberheim polysynths — alongside Arturia’s Analog Lab, a n a b u n d a n t l y -powerful software synthesizer solution with 6,000-plus presets by internationally-renowned sound designers derived from Arturia’s award-winning Analog Classics, a range of authentic-sounding software recreations of classic analogue instruments. Included third-party software comes courtesy of Ableton Live 9 Lite, a customised version of the Ableton Live music-making software, featuring selected instruments and effects plus all the essential workflows to write music, record audio, and songs intuitively in an innovative way — thanks to BeatStep Black Edition, triggering clips in Live 9 Lite areas easy as exercising your trigger finger! — and Grand Piano Model D from fellow French developer UVI, a sample-based virtual instrument delivering the sought-after sound of the superlative Steinway Model D concert grand piano with all the warmth, expressiveness, and detail of the real thing.

To sweeten the deal further still, BeatStep Controller & Sequencer and its younger brother, BeatStep Black Edition, both benefit from a firmware update (to Version 1.2) with neat new features such as resetting factory presets — either everything or everything except pad calibration — particularly proving to be well worth the wait.

When launched in dazzling white at The NAMM Show 2013, the diminutive yet feature-rich MiniLab Universal MIDI Controller proved an irresistible draw as one of the most feature-packed, compact control systems on the market, marrying sought-after hands-on control with portability par excellence. Engineered for the musician on the go or the performer with limited space, it offers a comprehensive set of features in a portable package that is as sturdy as it is easy on the eye. Discover new melodies with 25-mini keys plus pitch and modulation touch-strip controls. Drum out incredible rhythms with two banks of velocity-sensitive backlit performance pads, and tweak software to your musical heart’s content with 16 full-size rotary encoders. When combined with the included Analog Lab it becomes a real hybrid synthesizer.

Still one of the most feature-packed, compact control systems on the market today, it too benefits from the triumphant back in black treatment to remerge refreshed and reinvigorated as the MiniLab Black Edition — even better value than before, thanks to also being bundled with additional software from Arturia (Oberheim SEM V), UVI (Grand Piano Model D), and Ableton (Live Lite).

Black or white, then, the choice is out there... but beyond the plain to see colour change there is so much more to the BeatStep Black Edition andthe MiniLab Black Edition than meets the eye. Even though they still respectively represent a compact control powerhouse and the world’s premier mobile keyboard solution, they are all the better for being bundled with that additional software. Now they represent really remarkable bang for the buck. Best be quick, though... they are limited-edition bundles, after all!"

New Waldorf Nave Videos & Official Press Release - Available Now!

Nave Sound Demo Published on Jun 12, 2013 WaldorfMusicChannel·3 videos

iTunes link: Nave - Waldorf Music

"Pure Nave sounds, no external FX, no external processing!
All sound examples were directly recorded in Nave´s 4 track recorder."

Programming a Nave Sound in 120 seconds
Published on Jun 12, 2013

"This tutorial shows how to program a wavetable sound within a short amount of time."

"Waldorf advances wavetable synthesis to iPad with Nave

'Nave is wonderful — by far the most impressive iOS synthesizer I have laid my hands on to date.'

- Richard Devine, 2013 (electronic musician and sound designer)


BAD NEUENAHR, GERMANY: high-quality synthesizer developer Waldorf is proud to announce availability of Nave, its first synthesizer app for Apple’s all-conquering iPad, as of June 13...

Jointly created by Stefan Stenzel (audio algorithms), Rolf Wöhrmann (iOS development), and Axel Hartmann (graphic design), Nave transforms any iPad into an advanced wavetable synthesizer fit for truly mobile 21st Century composition, performance, and sound design!

Speaking of which, Nave comes complete with over 500 presets from highly acclaimed sound designers like Richard Devine, Sacha Dikiciyan (of Sonic Mayhem fame), Laurence Rapaccioli (Arksun), David Boldini (7 Skies), and Fletcher Kaufman (Sunsine Audio), amongst many others. All seriously showcase the depth and diversity of this impressive and inspirational iOS synthesizer — so much so, in fact, that Richard Devine was suitably moved to create no fewer than 95 presets alone, all of which are included for free!

For the benefit of those who want to indulge in some serious sound design of their own making, Nave does not disappoint. Its powerful sound engine includes two trailblazing wavetable-based oscillators, leaving all previous attempts at wavetable synthesis severely wanting. While the sound spectrum can cleverly be transposed independently of pitch, the waves can be rendered from perfectly periodic to very noisy and anywhere in between.

Nave’s clear-cut GUI invites both beginners and advanced users alike to experiment both sonically and musically while the hosting iPad’s generous display helps make wavetable creation and editing a blast! Besides integrated speech synthesis, wavetables can also be formed from analysing audio files. Furthermore, stretching, rotating, and shifting in the spectral domain allows wavetables to be refined or distorted in the fullscreen Wavetable Edit Mode. Here users can edit and fine-tune the wavetables using several 3D views that are as easy on the eye as they are to use. And in a reverential nod to Waldorf’s illustrious past and present, factory wavetables from the breakthrough Microwave, mighty Wave, and price barrier-breaking Blofeld synthesizers are all present and accounted for, complemented by an abundance of tasty new ones that make extensive use of those enhanced possibilities!

And if that’s not enough to get your creative juices flowing then Nave additionally includes a classic oscillator with an ultra useful selection of basic waveforms, plus a super-fat-sounding Überwave function for beefing up sounds by up to eight individually detuned oscillators a la Waldorf’s recently released Rocket synthesizer. Nave is, indeed, truly a sound designer’s dream machine!

But, Waldorf being Waldorf, that’s not all: Nave’s flexible Filter section delivers that high-quality synthesizer sound recognisable right away by anyone at all familiar with Waldorf’s noteworthy name, and, as such, features LP (low-pass), BP (band-pass), and HP (high-pass) filter types with either 12 dB or 24 dB slope settings. Its neighbouring Drive section offers contrasting characteristics by being positioned Pre Filter or Post Filter or as a summing overdrive Pre EQ or Post EQ — perfect for those who prefer harsh and screaming sounds rather than delicate wavetable sweeps.

An extended modulation matrix and diverse realtime control functionality also awaits anyone wishing to animate any Nave sound in any desired direction. In addition to the classic virtual chromatic keyboard, Nave can be played with the Blades that allow for dynamic triggering of polyphonic modulation by simply sliding fingers in X and/or Y direction.

Yet more flexible fun is to be had on the FX & Arp page with pro-quality ModFX (Phaser, Flanger, Chorus), Delay, Reverb, parametric Equalizer, and a highly effective Compressor all adding to Nave’s sound and performance possibilities, as does a full-featured Arpeggiator. And last, but by no means least, the Tape & System page plays hosts to an old school, four-track recorder — replete with virtual tape spools. Use it to record complete compositions or simply sketch some musical ideas inspired by the superlative sounds of Nave!

So how does Nave naturally sound, then? Totally in a class by itself. Just like Waldorf! After all, the well-known Waldorf name has been synonymous with high-quality synthesizers for nigh on 25 years; indeed, its innovative position in the musical instrument marketplace dates back to 1989 with the release of the wavetable-based Microwave, an extraordinary reincarnation of the legendary PPG Wave series — arguably amongst the most coveted high-end synthesizers of the early Eighties. Time and technology stand still for no one, of course, and today Nave takes those heady heavyweight hardware developments of yesteryear — and a whole lot more besides — and serves them up to thankful iPad-adoptees at a fraction of the cost of its forebears.

Any adventurous musical iPad owners out there intrigued by the creative possibilities of wavetable synthesis surely owe it to themselves to check out Nave, the advanced wavetable synthesizer from Waldorf. Going for a song on Apple’s App Store, right here, right now!

iPad owners can purchase Nave directly from Apple’s App Store for a five-day special introductory price of €10.99 EUR/$11.99 USD. (Thereafter it will rise to €17.99 EUR/$19.99 USD.)"

iTunes:
Nave - Waldorf Music

BeatPPL Podcast 70 - Rossum-Electro's Dave Rossum & Marco Alpert

Published on May 16, 2020 BBoy Tech Report

"Dave Rossum & Marco Alpert of Emu Systems & Rossum-Electro joins the podcast for a conversation about the EMU legacy, SP1200, and their current eurorack projects. Livestream scheduled for May 16th, 2020 at Noon pacific.

About Dave...
Starting with his co-founding of E-mu Systems, Dave provided the technological leadership that resulted in what many consider the premier professional modular synthesizer system. The E-mu Modular System combined superlative analog design, innovative use of digital technology, and unparalleled physical construction and reliability.

In the following years, Dave and E-mu turned their attention to affordable professional digital sampling with the Emulator keyboards and racks. The Emulator II in particular established sampling as the leading music technology of its time, becoming a standard fixture in professional studios worldwide and appearing on innumerable hit records and film soundtracks. SP-1200It was followed by the Emax samplers, the legendary SP-12 and SP-1200 sampling drum machines, the Proteus sound modules and the Morpheus Z-Plane Synthesizer.

In addition, Dave also developed and licensed technology that enabled the creation of many iconic synthesizers, including the Oberheim 4-Voice, the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and, via his design of many of the SSM music ICs, instruments from Korg, Kawai, and many more."