Oxo Music has released Oxo Synth2, a free, open-source recreation of Daichi Laboratory’s classic Synth1 software synthesizer.
The new instrument is designed to keep Synth1 sounds and existing preset collections accessible on modern systems, with versions available for macOS and iPad.
Synth1 has been a widely used freeware virtual analog synthesizer since its introduction in the early 2000s. However, the original instrument has not received updates in recent years. Its continued use on newer Mac systems has also become a compatibility concern, particularly as Apple moves away from support for older Intel software.
Oxo Synth2 is an independent recreation developed by François Chabloz. According to the developer, the project retains Synth1’s original parameters and interface, without intentionally changing its synthesis engine. The instrument was recreated by measuring the original synthesizer’s audio output and modeling its parameters individually. The developer says the process involved approximately 3 GB of measurement data.
Features:
- Virtual analog synthesis architecture based on Daichi Laboratory’s Synth1.
- Up to 32-voice polyphony, with mono and legato modes and portamento.
- Two oscillators and a sub oscillator, with detune, frequency modulation, ring modulation, hard sync and noise.
- Five filter types: LP12, LP24, HP12, BP12 and LPDL, with saturation, keyboard tracking and velocity control.
- Amp and filter envelopes, plus a modulation envelope for pitch, FM or pulse width.
- Two LFOs with six waveforms, tempo synchronization and key synchronization.
- LFO modulation routing for pitch, filter, amp, pulse width, FM and pan.
- Arpeggiator with up, down, up-and-down and random modes, covering one to four octaves and supporting host tempo synchronization.
- Effects section with two analog distortion types, digital distortion, decimation, ring modulation, compression and four phaser types.
- Tempo-synchronized delay with stereo, cross and ping-pong modes, plus chorus and flanger.
- Unison mode with up to eight voices, detune, stereo spread and pitch controls.
- MIDI Learn for assigning MIDI CC messages to instrument controls.
- Built-in interface themes and a theme editor.
- Compatibility with Synth1 `.sy1` patches and ZIP-format preset banks.
Oxo Synth2 is an independent project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Daichi Laboratory. The source code is available under the MIT open-source license, allowing developers to study, modify and contribute to the project. The developer has also invited contributions toward additional platform versions.
Pricing & Availability:
Oxo Synth2 is available as a free download for macOS in VST3 and Audio Unit formats, requiring macOS 14 or later. An iPad version is available as an AUv3 instrument for devices running iPadOS 17 or later. A Windows VST3 version is in development, while Linux ports are welcome as community contributions. More information and downloads are available from the official Oxo Synth2 product page.
