virtual analog

The Quasimidi Polymorph is a virtual analog synthesizer, with sequencer, released in 1997.

The videos offer a tour through the 64 sequenced presets that come with the Quasimidi Polymorph. All can be changed or over-written. Each preset has 4 parts and each part its own FX. No external effects processor was used. This is the sound you get straight out of the box. Read more…

The Synthesia platform is a project whose purpose is to create an open analog modeling musical synthesizer – a synthesizer implemented using both analog and digital components that intends to emulate the sounds of traditional analog synthesizers, controllable through Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI).

The synthesizer platform exists upon it’s own standalone hardware, and may be controlled using a variety of existing MIDI-capable instruments, including keyboards, guitars and drums.

Additionally, the unit features it’s own innovative touch-screen interface which intends to provide simple-and-intuitive control of the system, but with an unprecedented ability to customize and control synthesizer parameters and sound generation.

Special attention has been placed upon the usability of the synthesizer, particularly within the realms of it being played by musicians in a live environment.

The unit’s MIDI capabilities also mean that it is easily combined with professional studio equipment and sequencing software such as Cubase VST.

Details on the project are available here. The site is still under construction – but it looks like this could turn into a new open platform for synth development.

Psychic Modulations’ Meteorite is a free Windows software synthesizer that features 3 oscillators & virtual analog sound.

Features:

• 3 Oscillators with sync, FM and ring mod
• 3 Envelopes (amp, filter and mod)
• 3 BPM synced LFO’s with high/low limit controls
• Unison
• D-Stabilizer: Creates an analogue feel with subtle pitch modulation
• Sophisticated filter section, up to 4 stages with gain compensation
• Aftertouch
• Dual stereo delay section
• Onboard limiter
• Assignable Modwheel
• 8 voice polyphony (5 in unison mode)
• 64 presets

The 2008 NAMM Show wasn’t a great year for new synth and electronic music gear……but it was a good year.

We’ve already mentioned tons of great new gear that we saw at NAMM in the last couple of weeks, but, following in the footsteps of last year’s modular analog synthgasm, here are our picks for 2008’s most synthgasmic gear:

Future Retro XS Semi-modular Analog Synthesizer

We saw the XS in a sort of beta state last year, but this year the Future Retro XS is ready to play.

The XS is a semi-modular synth, with internally normalized routing. Plug it into a MIDI controller and it’s ready to play. Put in a patch cord, though, and you can do some mad science.

Designer Jered Flickinger (interview link) says the XS is designed to be used as either a rackmount or desktop instrument, and its compact size makes it an ideal modular synth for musicians on the go. Read more…