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Synthesizers

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    Access Virus TI

    Modelled Analogue Synth

    The Virus TI promises to bridge the divide between hardware and software instruments, and create a world of Total Integration, while still offering the classic Virus sound. Is it a hard reality, or have Access gone totally soft?

    Reviews Dec 2005
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    Granular Synthesis

    How It Works & Ways To Use It

    Granular synthesis is the core technology behind the latest time-stretching and pitch-shifting algorithms, but it can also be used to generate extraordinary evolving soundscapes. We explain how the process works and show you how to get the best from the software that uses it.

    Techniques Dec 2005
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    Korg OASYS: Part 2

    Workstation Synth

    We finish our in-depth examination of Korg's new mega-workstation, taking in the remaining synth engines, the sampler, the KARMA algorithms and the onboard sequencer, and draw our conclusions about it...

    Reviews Dec 2005
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    Buchla 200e: Part 1

    Patchable Analogue & Digital Synthesizer

    Alongside Bob Moog, Don Buchla is one of the founding fathers of synthesis, and yet much less is known of him and his instruments. With this two-part review of Buchla's latest synth, and a history of some of his pioneering work, we hope to redress the balance...

    Reviews Dec 2005
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    Korg OASYS: Part 1

    Workstation Synth

    For over 15 years, Korg have produced the world's most successful workstation synths, and the OASYS is their new £5400 flagship, their attempt to take the concept to the next level. In the first instalment of our two-part in-depth test, we assess how they have fared...

    Reviews Nov 2005
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    Camel Space & DVR2

    Plug-in Folder

    We test two hot new plug-ins: Camel Audio's Camel Space (PC VST & Mac OS X AU) and TC Electronic's DVR2 (Mac/PC Powercore).

    Reviews Nov 2005
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    Plug-in Folder

    3 Hot New Plug-ins

    Basement Arts Frantic, Cakewalk Z3TA+, and Progress Software Soup get the install treatment.

    Reviews Oct 2005
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    Roland V-Synth XT: Part 2 VC1 & VC2 Cards

    Variphrase Synthesizer

    Part 2: We conclude our review of Roland's fabulous new rackmount synth, and look at the built-in VC1 and VC2 cards, which respectively convert the V-Synth XT into a fully functioning D50 and a powerful vocal-processing synth.

    Reviews Oct 2005
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    MOTU MX4 v2

    Software Synth [Mac OS X]

    Every major sequencer manufacturer now sells software synths for use with their recording applications, but MOTU's MX4 had not been out long before an updated version was announced. We find out whether v2 was worth the wait...

    Reviews Sep 2005
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    NI Reaktor 5

    Virtual Modular Synth [Mac/PC]

    Native's sound design software is back, and with v5, you have more control over your instruments than ever — offering fully user-definable looks, the ability to construct your own modules from scratch, and an improved library. We get patching...

    Reviews Sep 2005
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    Roland V-Synth XT: Part 1

    Variphrase Synthesizer & V-Synth OS v2

    Part 1: The V-Synth repackaged Roland's groundbreaking Variphrase technology, creating a powerful new kind of sample-based synthesis. Now there's a rackmount V-Synth, and (as you'll discover in Part 1 of our two-part review) it's more powerful than the first...

    Reviews Sep 2005
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    GForce Minimonsta

    Virtual Analogue Synth [PC/Mac]

    Forget completely flexible software synthesis — what everyone wants, it seems, is emulations of 35-year-old monophonic analogue synths! We check out the latest modelled Minimoog, and see how it compares to the original hardware.

    Reviews Aug 2005
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    NI Xpress Keyboards

    Software Synths

    Xpress Keyboards features cut-down versions of NI's B4 tonewheel organ emulation, Pro 53 Prophet 5 emulation and FM7 DX-alike.

    Reviews Aug 2005
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    Roland FANXUP1 & Fantom XR

    OS Upgrade v2 Editor For Fantom X

    The Fantom X is Roland's best-ever workstation, but it has suffered from one or two annoying omissions, such as the ability to import Roland's own sample format. We explore the Fantom Xr rack module and ask if the v2 OS and editing software provide the solutions?

    Reviews Aug 2005
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    Arturia Minimoog V v1.5

    Virtual Analogue Synth [Mac/PC]

    Although we only reviewed this Minimoog-emulating software instrument four months ago, Arturia have now thoroughly redesigned it, taking into account many of the points made in the original SOS review. So let's take a second look...

    Reviews Jul 2005
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    Arturia 2600V

    Virtual Semi-modular Synth [Mac/PC]

    Completing the quartet of vintage synth emulations they began with Moog Modular V, Arturia's latest plug-in aims to reproduce the sound of the greatest semi-modular of them all, ARP's 2600. We see how it fares up against the original...

    Reviews Jun 2005
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    Analogue Systems RS370 & RS375

    Polyphonic Harmonic Generator & Expander

    Having built their reputation on knob-heavy modular synths, British manufacturer Analogue Systems surprise everyone by bringing out a menu-driven additive synthesis module! But don't worry — the optional expander is covered with things to tweak and turn...

    Reviews Jun 2005
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    Roland Fantom Xa

    Workstation Synth

    At £1099, the Xa is the most affordable keyboard in the Fantom range. But, inevitably, features have been removed to make it such a bargain. Have Roland thrown out the works from the workstation?

    Reviews May 2005
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    Yamaha Motif Rack ES

    Workstation Synth Module

    Yamaha's original Motif Rack was a fine-sounding, well-specified synth module, but it suffered from MIDI timing problems when reviewed in SOS. Two years on, we put the follow-up Motif Rack ES to the test...

    Reviews May 2005
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    Arturia CS80V

    Software Synth (Mac/PC)

    Yamaha's CS80 was one of the finest analogue polysynths of all time. How close have Arturia come to modelling its classic sound in software? We put the software up against the hardware to find out...

    Reviews Apr 2005
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    IK Multimedia Sonik Synth 2

    Vintage Synth Virtual Instrument [Mac/PC]

    The latest instrument plug-in from IK Multimedia and Sonic Reality packages eight Gigabytes of samples, mostly from a huge range of classic synths, in IK's Sampletank front end.

    Reviews Apr 2005

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