Acustica recently made the leap into the world of virtual instruments, using their renowned modelling technology to capture the sound of Roland’s legendary Jupiter-8 synthesizer. They’ve now announced that the TH8 and TH5 versions included in the original release will now be joined by TH2, a packed-down, entry-level version that’s being offered as a free download.
Designed for professionals and casual enthusiasts alike, TH2 promises to deliver the same iconic sound as its siblings in a new, compact format. It can operate with either two or three voices, and features a scaled-down GUI that houses VCO, VCF, Envelope, LFO and Master sections derived from the fully featured TH5 and TH8 versions, as well as a simplified modulation system. It’s VCO section offers a choice of sine, triangle, sawtooth and pulse waves along with a sub-oscillator level control, while the VCF module pairs six filter types with Cutoff, Resonance and Key Follow controls.
There are four envelope modes on offer (ENV-8, ENV-5, ENV-Ser and ENV-Pro), and the Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release parameters are joined by a pair of sliders that allow the envelope to be applied to the VCO and VCF sections. As for modulation, there’s a selection of seven LFO waveforms and a Speed control, with three sliders allowing the LFO to be assigned to the VCF, VCO and VCA sections. Glissando, Tune, Unison Spread and Super Stereo controls can be found in the instrument’s Master section, and there’s also an Age knob designed to introduce the sorts of variations caused by worn-out vintage hardware components.
As for built-in sounds, TH2 comes equipped with the same browser system employed by TH5 and TH8, and comes loaded with over 120 factory presets that showcase its capabilities.
Compatibility
Thing TH2 is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or higher, and Macs running macOS 11 and above. VST3, AU and AAX plug-in versions are available.
Availability
Thing TH2 is available now, and is free for anyone to download.
