Waldorf has released version 3.0 of the Quantum & Iridium firmware, offering “a ton of new features.”
Waldorf says that the common platform for all Quantum and Iridium models makes sure that all hardware variants will participate from future developments. It’s Waldorf’s Synthesizer OS powering forward-looking instrument designs.
Quantum / Iridium Firmware 3.0 Feature List (compared to version 2.8):
Quantum (MK1 & MK2)
Added 8 additional digital-only voices to increase polyphony up to 16.
New “Voice Allocation” mode on Layer/Voices page to choose from various analog, digital and mixed modes.
Gain staging has been adjusted to new increased polyphony of 16.
Oscillators
New “Mix” Screen providing levels, pans and destinations for all 3 oscillators.
“Control” renamed to “Pitch & Tools.”
New “Min Note” and “Max Note” parameters per oscillator.
For Mono Mode: New “Mono Retrig” parameter to force oscillator to retrigger when previous note is still in release.
Wavetable Oscillator
Re-organizing some parameters into new “Mode” sub-screen.
Now all parameters from hardware controls are also available on the display.
New Wavetable FX “Truncate” and “Reduce” will perform value quantizations similar to bit reduction.
Waveform Oscillator
New Noise modes “Pings” and “Geiger.”
Both noises react to “Reset Phase” parameter.
Noise is now stereo and width is controlled by “Stereo” parameter.
Resonator Oscillator
Re-organizing some parameters into new “Exciter” sub-screen.
Now all parameters from hardware controls also available at display.
“Track Pitch” option for samples to disable pitch tracking (in Samples->Edit).
Sequencer
New popup selector styles for quick access.
Increased maximum step count from 32 to 64.
Samples
“Mods only” option for “Track Pitch” in sample map.
“Track Pitch” sample options also for Particle Oscillator.
Increasing maximum samples per round-robin zone from 8 to 128.
LFOs
New “polarity” parameter for unipolar option.
Modulation Matrix
New mod-matrix presets
Encoder Menues
New popup selector styles for quick access.
Effects
New Tremolo FX.
New effect routing algorithms.
Drive
New drive type “Cuff” for FX and Digital Former.
MIDI
“Apply Split to Inputs” option in Global->MIDI->Inputs.
“Send NRPN” option in Global->MIDI->Outputs.
Sustain & Control Pedal now adhere to local off & MIDI Out.
XY pad sends midi CCs.
Iridium Desktop
New option in Global->MIDI->Inputs:
“Latch” button will also latch incoming notes from external controller.
Global->System->Info –
The beta number is now displayed in Global->System->Info in case it’s a beta.
Cableguys has announced the release of FilterShaper XL Modulatable Dual Filter. It’s an update to its FilterShaper 3 plugin, originally released in 2014. Described as a ‘modern reboot’ of the original, FilterShaper XL has been updated with new features, modulation capabilities, support for additional formats and more.
FilterShaper XL is built around two multi-mode filters, both of which feature a redesigned filter algorithm that offers 20 filter types, including variations on low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, notch and peak. ‘Warm’ filter types recreate the sound of the “Sallen-Key filters of a legendary semi-modular synthesizer” while the ‘Clean’ options offer a more precise, modern and digital sound.
The original FilterShaper was praised for its deep and complex modulation options, and FilterShaper XL is taking the modulation possibilities of its younger brother to new heights with 60 LFOs and 50 envelope followers onboard. Every parameter in FilterShaper XL is equipped with its own LFO (including the LFO parameters themselves) and customized waves can be drawn in using the LFO-editing tools found in CableGuys ShaperBox 3.
Also new in FilterShaper XL is a drive algorithm that’s said to be capable of everything from subtle saturation to gnarly distortion. Drive can be applied at both filter stages, pre- or post-filter. FilterShaper XL’s revamped interface is now resizable, and its preset library browser has been redesigned and equipped with a variety of new filter presets.
FilterShaper XL is available now in AU/VST2/VST3/AAX formats for Mac and PC. It is currently priced at an introductory €49/$49/£49 before it goes back up to €79/$79/£79, but if you own FilterShaper 3, you can have it for free.
sonicLAB has introduced Oceanic, a software bundle for Mac and Windows that they say “captures the essence of the ocean’s waves and transforms them into a symphony of additive sound synthesis.”
Oceanic controls sound using Gerstner’s wave solutions, a mathematical representation of sea waves. The Gerstner’s trochoidal wave solution captures the nuanced movements of wave surfaces, both vertically and horizontally. By utilizing five periodic trochoidal waves and their superposition, Oceanic crafts a fluid sea surface motion, rich in variations and fully controllable.
Oceanic uses this to control wavetable oscillators and calculate complex modulations of synthesis parameters.
The Oceanic bundle comes with three applications:
Oceanic – A sea-wave simulation that generates intricate wave shapes, providing the foundation for the entire bundle. The scanned sea-waves surface at selected probe points are being used to calculate the wavetables ( micro scale ), the modulation waveforms for synthesis parameters ( meso scale ) and macro scale variations of these waves.
WaveBot – A wavetable synthesizer in plugin format that sources its wave data and modulation from the evolving sea-wave simulations. It’s the heart and soul of the oceanic sound, producing the authentic resonance of sea waves without relying on artificial wavetables or sources. Everything comes from the sea-waves simulation.
WaveCC – A MIDI CC generator that derives its modulation data from Oceanic, ensuring seamless integration and real-time communication
Oceanic is available now, with an intro price of €89,00 (regularly €109,00).
