E-Phonic has unleashed Invader 2, an 8-voice, virtual analogue polysynth, which has been designed to be a powerful yet easy-to-use instrument.
The 8-voice virtual analogue looks and sounds the business. The softsynth is a classic analogue emulation with two oscillators and a sub-oscillator feeding into one of two low-pass resonant filters, featuring drive and high-pass functions. Other features include two LFOs, two envelopes, a stereo noise generator, ring modulator, delay, arpeggiator and a 16-step sequencer.
Polyphonic stereo unison with optional low CPU unison emulation mode (up to 48 voices)
2 low pass resonant filter types (clean and raw)
Filter drive or high-pass option
Stereo noise generator
Ring modulation
2 LFOs with delay function
2 Envelopes
Delay effect with normal, ping pong, tape and diffusion delay modes
Arpeggiator / 16 step sequencer
4 x oversampled engine
Medium and high-quality modes
200+ presets
The interface offers knob-per-function so users should find it easy to use with an intuitive and familiar design to vintage synths. If you find yourself a bit stuck then Invader 2 comes with a healthy load of 200+ presets to get you started.
Despite the seemingly easy-to-use nature of the softsynth, the sonic results are rather pleasing. The sound demo above comes directly from Invader 2, with no external effects involved.
The Invader 2 is available now for 64-bit Mac and PC systems in VST3 and AU formats from the E-Phonic website.
The polysynth comes with an introductory offer where you get to pay what you want, just as long as it matches or is above the $5 minimum.
Nektar has released the latest stablemate to its SE range. The larger model joins the 25– and 49-key versions. And the Nektar slim new SE61 controller still manages to pack in the features. This time, the MIDI controller manufacturer brings a much-requested 61-key variant to the fold.
The SE61 features 61 full-size velocity-sensitive keys with a synth-action, transpose and octave buttons, with a 30mm volume fader.
Much like the previous 25– and 49-key versions, the SE61 dispenses with all the pads of the Panorama and Impact series’, and despite this, the entry-level range still manages to cram in some extra features. As with most budget USB MIDI controllers, one of the main features you will be looking for is DAW control and Nektar SE range has you covered.
The super-slimline Midi Controller is USB bus-powered and features plug-and-play capabilities with basic controls for 12 DAWs including transport functions, with the aid of Nektar DAW Integration.
Corsynth has introduced the C113 West Coast Timbre, a new module that brings a taste of ‘West Coast Synthesis‘ to Moog format modular synthesizers.
The C113 West Coast Timbre is a dual wavefolder module, letting you create complex sounds from simple sine or triangle waves. The West Coast Timbre features two different wavefolder circuits, based on two classic West coast modular synths, Buchla and Serge.
And, thanks to the module’s VCA, a full-featured voice can be created with a minimal number of modules, like a VCO, an envelope and the C113.
Here is what Corsynth has to say about the module:
A wavefolder is a non-linear waveshaping circuit that allows to create rich harmonic waveforms. It’s a distortion circuit that folds back the signal when it reaches a certain level. Wavefolding can be seen as the opposite of filtering. Instead removing harmonic content to the incoming signal, a wavefolder adds harmonics to the original signal creating a more complex waveform. For this reason wavefolders work best with waveforms with low harmonic content like sine waves or triangle waves.
Wavefolders, together with Low-pass gates, are one of the main building blocks of West Coast Synthesis.
Features:
Two selectable wavefolder circuits.
Manually and CV controlled folding amount
Manually and CV controlled symmetry for non symmetrical folding.
Two audio inputs, one of them attenuated.
Two audio outputs, one of them controlled by a VCA
