Synthstrom Deluge 2.1 Update Now Available

Synthstrom Audible has released Deluge firmware 2.1, an update that brings an improved sample engine, expanded MIDI features, enhanced media handling, better performance and more.

We got a preview of the firmware update, at Knobcon 2018, from Synthstrom’s Ian Jorgensen:

This update contains a huge number of new features and improvements:

  • Sample engine
    • Multisampling
    • Waveform view
    • AIFF file support, and WAV file support extended to include 8-bit files
    • Sample loop point support – UI, and import from tagged files
    • High quality 16-point windowed sinc interpolation now used for sample pitch adjustment / sample rate conversion
    • Better quality pitch shifting and time stretching – also ~60% more efficient
    • Automatic pitch detection and transposing of all samples loaded into “synth” instruments, including single-cycle waveforms
  • MIDI / gate
    • Greatly reduced jitter on MIDI, gate, and trigger-clock output, regardless of CPU load
    • When MIDI clock or trigger clock output is enabled, stopping all tracks and then starting one again no longer restarts the clock
    • Can set to ignore MIDI clock input
  • Arranger
    • Arrangement recording from live performance in song view
    • Can now add / delete instruments, and learn MIDI input channels to them, directly in arranger
    • Automation of “affect entire song” params, in arranger only
  • Media management
    • Can import a whole folder of samples as a kit
    • Collect media tool – copies all song’s samples to a folder for export
    • For certain sample params (POLYPHONY, MODE, REVERSE, SPEED, PITCH/SPEED), can now apply change to whole kit by holding affect-entire button
  • More
    • CPU efficiency improved another ~15% (on top of the 30 – 50% gained in V2.0)
    • Horizontal scroll position numeric indication is now present in arranger, and has been changed everywhere to the more standard “bar.beat” format. The same numeric format is now shown when editing track length
    • Settable defaults and randomness for tempo, swing, key and scale
    • Multiplying a track now alters notes’ iteration dependence to keep the piece sounding the same where possible
    • Sidechain and pitch are now adjustable at the “kit” level, using “affect-entire”

Here’s a pair of video, via Ron Cavagnaro, that cover new features in Deluge 2.1:

The update is available now as a free download.

7 thoughts on “Synthstrom Deluge 2.1 Update Now Available

  1. As much as I love independent developers and wish Jorgensen luck, after the recent software updates and price drops the MPC live blows this out of the water now

    1. lol, no, there very different and I don’t see the comparison at all. The Deluge is a wonderful machine, amazingly deep with a unique interface. I used to own an MPC Live and had a lot of fun with it but would never go back after using a Deluge now.

    2. I bet you synthstrom doesn’t alter forum posts of irate customers though.

      Last I heard of the new MPC’s they were notoriously powering down mid-song and I thought “yup, jack strikes again.” Haven’t heard a single complaint about this thing though. I encourage you to do some research on the deluge before you talk sidemouth. It’s really powerful and reliable.

      1. yes i agree company behaviour is a very good point. morally, Synthstrom is definitely the better company to buy from. the Numark stink is definitely a problem with the MPC Live and future updates/fixes seems a bigger lottery. nevertheless, whenever i read the Deluge feature lists i can’t but be underwhelmed, in comparison.
        plus the “different feature list” argument that comes up ALWAYS, even when talking of clones, really doesn’t apply here in my opinion. powerful sequencer+sampler with synth in a box, totally same niche. unless of course you group instruments with and without screen in different categories…

        1. I don’t really think it’s a fair comparison. The MPC is pretty much a windows computer, so it’s not really going dawless. Thinking ahead 10-15 years, I predict the MPC becoming obsolete the way a windows computer does and the deluge still holding strong as an actual musical instrument and more sound investment.

          I think the better comparison “is it worth $150 more than Digitakt?” which, feature wise, it most definitely is, though there is something to be said for Elektron sequencing and the screen is handy for editing wavs.

          I’m a junkie for hardware samplers and I want to try them all but the MPC’s aren’t even on my radar. I’d rather just use Ableton and a pad controller. Each his own, though.

  2. There are a LOT of redeeming values about this piece of kit. Not sure who made the choice for a 4-digit scrolling “nixie tube” display in this day and age, but they should consider an alternative. Look at the amount of real-time info displayed on a Digitakt as example. Build and sell an external Arduino-driven display for $100 or similar, for goodness sake…

  3. There is an ease and immediacy to this machine that I never found with any other piece of gear. The aggregate of what the MPC can do is probably greater–I haven’t used the live yet–but it is more about how the deluge does what it does, and the curation of capabilities.

    Is this worth more than the digitakt (more importantly, a better value)?

    If you’re comparing the FM synthesis alone, I’d say no. The Deluge has simplified FM synthesis capabilities.

    If you’re talking about it as a portable workstation and audio sketchpad/composition tool, I’d say yes, without question.

    The main reason for me being:

    – When I use my electron boxes I find that I think more in terms of 16 steps because it’s what’s presented before me. With the deluge it’s a total non-issue. You can see it all. The lack of display is made up for by an interactive visual indicator of the whole patten (more creative for me)

    – They keyboard input makes it easy for me to enter in melodies that aren’t within one octave. (faster workflow and more creative for me)

    – Internal sampling of external sources or itself to mix things down and cut stuff apart. Immediacy is really important to my creative process

    – Variety of sounds through multi-sample instruments and loading single cycle waveforms

    – I can pipe in my modular and have the deluge live pitch shift a fixed pitch to a polyphonic instrument. Which is… huge. The deluge comes with a stereo input, so you can do this with two sources (L and R)

    – It’s battery powered

    – It has CV out 🙂

    … there are many more.

    The only case when I’d say it’s not is if you REALLY only want to use

    It doesn’t do everything, and the screen can ‘sometimes’ be annoying… but those times are very infrequent.

    For those not familiar with why this is:

    Every parameter is on the 16×8 grid, accessible by pressing function + the shortcut. As a result, you don’t need a screen that reads out what a parameter is that you’re about to edit.

    If you’re editing a sound and want to link modulation, you just press the parameter, and then press a mod source (on the 16×8 grid). They flash to show you that it’s a virtual cable. This allows you to see every mod source for a single parameter.

    The only time I ever find myself using the display is when I’m going to through folders to load samples, but get use to it very quickly. I wish it was a little oled screen, but I suspect that when making small batches of things and trying to make this affordable, putting in the most affordable screen possible was the way to go. It makes sense that they’d cut the fat there given it’s the feature I use (and most use) the least on the deluge.

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