Aly James Lab introduces SY-4X Syncussion Drum Synth
Aly James Lab has introduced SY-4X Syncussion, a new virtual instrument, for macOS and Windows, based on the original Pearl Syncussion SY-1 drum synthesizer.
Aly James Lab lovingly recreates this classic analogue drum synth with heaps of new features, putting four Syncussion units in a single plugin.
The Pearl Syncussion SY-1, released in 1979, is a legendary drum synthesizer known for its unique sound shaping capabilities and wide tuning range. At the core you find two identical modules each containing two oscillators, a custom filter, two envelope generators, LFO, Sample & Hold, and a noise generator.
The original SY-1 was used by artists such as Prince, Kraftwerk, Herbie Hancock and Aphex Twin, and later by electronic music producer such as Luke Vibert.
An OG Syncussion will set you back a pretty penny these days, but thanks to Aly James Lab, you can put not one, but four Syncussion modules into your DAW with the developer’s new software emulation: SY-4X.
The original machine was a two-voice drum synth, but SY-4X quadruples that percussion power and gives you enough polyphony to dial in an eight-voice drum kit or four-voice polysynth. Along with the extra voices, the plugin also adds new oscillator modes, enhanced envelope control, a ‘Berserk Mode’ for clipping and bitcrushing, and more options for pitch-tracking and scaling.
Aly James has precisely recreated the SY-1’s original circuits, allowing you to dial in an emulation of its CMOS-based oscillators that captures their sonic quirks, producing distorted waveforms and additional harmonics. The SY-1’s unique filter design has also been emulated, giving you a two-stage low-pass state-variable filter that models the original’s distinctive tone and behaviour.
The six oscillator configurations offered by the SY-1 (single oscillator, FM, dual oscillator mix, dynamic oscillator mix, FM/Custom Ramp OSC, and pure noise) are joined by two new modes that cover oscillator sync and cross-ring modulation; a new trigger-controlled mode scanning feature can be used to switch to a random oscillator mode at a rate of up to 50 times per second.
SY-4’s aptly-titled Berserk Mode turns the plugin into a ‘nastier beast’ by introducing asymmetrical clipping before the filter or bitcrushing after the filter, with the option to reign in both effects through a Stability control.
Features:
- 4 Independent Syncussion modules.
- CMOS based oscillators for authentic tone generation.
- Multi Outputs routing capability.
- Drum Kit or Keyboard Modes.
- Modeled VCF Filter topology, 2-pole spreading low-pass filter with extra user control.
- Up to 60 optional pitch scaling rules to choose from.
- Optional Berserk Mode with 2 types of distortion.
- Most parameters respond to automation.
- Settings and preset browser pages.
- Improved VST3 MIDI support (e.g., can receive MIDI 2.0, enable Ableton Live’s “External Instrument rack” inputs detection, etc.).
- Up to X16 Oversampling
Audio Demo:
SY-4X Syncussion will set you back €51 and is available now in VST3/AU formats for macOS and Windows.
