Past To Future Plugins has released PTF 224 White Reverb, a software recreation of the Lexicon 224 digital reverberator, introduced in the late 1970s.
The original Lexicon 224 is probably best known to synthesists as the ‘Vangelis reverb’ – as heard on the Blade Runner soundtrack.
The plugin models the original unit’s signal path, including its input filtering, digital conversion characteristics, and network of eight delay lines used to generate reverberation.
The software includes nine programs, independently adjustable bass and midrange decay times, and a virtual version of the original white remote control. It also offers a choice between a three-dimensional representation of the hardware controller and a traditional flat-panel interface.
Features:
Lexicon 224 Emulation: PTF 224 White Reverb recreates the signal path of the classic digital reverberator, using impulse-response measurements taken from an original hardware unit to guide its reverb programs.
Nine Programs: The plugin includes two small concert halls, one large concert hall, a vocal plate, an acoustic chamber, a percussion plate, a constant-density plate, a room, and Chorus A.
Hardware-Matched Decay: The eight reverb programs match the sampled hardware’s decay times within 8% across seven octave bands from 125 Hz to 8 kHz, with an average deviation of 2.2%.
Vintage Digital Conversion: The processing engine recreates the original unit’s 12-bit mantissa and 2-bit exponent conversion characteristics, alongside an eighth-order input filter operating at approximately 8.1 kHz. These features reproduce the bandwidth and signal-dependent noise behavior associated with the original hardware.
Independent Reverb Times: Bass and midrange decay times can be adjusted separately, with a crossover control determining the frequency boundary between them. Reverb times range from 0.6 to 70 seconds.
Additional Reverb Controls: Treble Decay adjusts the high-frequency decay, while Depth controls the relationship between the early reflections and the reverberation tank. Pre-delay can be adjusted up to 255 milliseconds.
Extended Parameters: A secondary control page provides access to mix, input and output levels, bandwidth, mode enhancement, and decay optimization, allowing users to modify the emulation beyond its original operating settings.
White Remote Interface: The plugin recreates the original controller’s program buttons, CALL, IMMED, SET, and SHIFT functions, four registers, and six sliders. Users can choose a detailed 3D-rendered interface or a classic flat-panel appearance.
Preset Management: The software includes 42 factory presets across six banks. Four registers can store custom control configurations with the DAW session, while additional presets can be saved as files.
Audio Routing: PTF 224 White Reverb supports stereo input and output, as well as mono input to stereo output. Wet/dry mix and bypass controls are included for integration into mixing and sound-design workflows.
PTF 224 White Reverb is available now for macOS and Windows. The introductory price is €62, reduced from the regular €80 price. A 7-day trial version is also available.
DSP Bricks has released the Optigan Plugin, a software recreation of the unusual optical organ introduced in 1971, featuring its original optical-disc sound library, chord-based accompaniment, and new controls for integrating the instrument into modern DAW workflows.
Rather than generating sounds electronically, the original Optigan played looped recordings of instruments and accompaniment patterns encoded on interchangeable optical Program Discs.
The plugin reproduces this playback concept, including the original instrument’s relationship between playback speed and pitch. It includes all 40 original Program Discs and three unofficial Prototype Discs, alongside additional controls for tempo synchronization and independent pitch adjustment.
Features:
Optical Playback: The plugin recreates the original Optigan’s optical playback system, using recorded instrument sounds and accompaniment material rather than conventional oscillator-based synthesis.
Program Disc Library: The instrument includes all 40 original Program Discs and three unofficial Prototype Discs, covering melodic instruments, chordal accompaniment, rhythm patterns, and special-effect sounds.
Original Pitch and Speed Behavior: The plugin reproduces the original mechanism in which changing playback speed also changes pitch. Faster playback raises pitch, while slower playback lowers it.
Flex Mode: A new Flex Mode allows pitch and playback speed to be adjusted independently, expanding the original instrument’s capabilities for contemporary sound design.
DAW Tempo Synchronization: Playback can synchronize with a digital audio workstation’s tempo, making the Optigan’s loops and accompaniment patterns easier to incorporate into modern arrangements.
Spring Reverb: The plugin includes an emulation of the original keyboard section’s spring reverb, recreating an important part of the instrument’s signal path.
Chord Detection: Multiple chord-detection options allow users to control the Optigan’s accompaniment section from played notes, simplifying performance from a MIDI keyboard or other supported input.
Reverse Playback: Program Discs can be loaded upside down in the virtual instrument, reproducing a quirk of the original hardware that reverses playback and creates backwards sounds.
Performance Controls: The instrument can be played using a MIDI keyboard, the computer keyboard, a mouse, or a touchpad.
Scalable Interface: The plugin interface can be resized from 50% to 200%, accommodating different display sizes and studio configurations.
Plugin and Standalone Formats: DSP Bricks Optigan is available as a standalone application and in AU, VST3, and AAX formats, supporting integration with compatible recording and production software.
DSP Bricks Optigan is available now for €49 through the manufacturer’s website. The software supports macOS and Windows, with native Apple Silicon support. Available formats include AU, VST3, AAX, and standalone.
Analogue Solutions has introduced the Series 700, a large-format analog modular synthesizer designed to reproduce the circuitry, layout, and physical dimensions of Roland‘s original System 700, released in 1976.
The British manufacturer says it has recreated circuits from original schematics, making only necessary changes where components are no longer available.
The system is offered in six blocks covering sound generation, filtering, modulation, sequencing, mixing, and effects. A basic single-channel MIDI-to-CV converter is the principal functional addition to the original design. Customers can order the complete system or purchase individual blocks to build or expand a setup over time.
Features:
Circuit Recreation: The Series 700 reproduces the original Roland System 700’s circuit designs using original schematics as a reference. Component substitutions and internal mechanical changes were made where necessary, while the manufacturer aimed to preserve the original specifications.
Main Synthesizer Block: The main block includes three voltage-controlled oscillators, a ring modulator and noise generator, multimode and low-pass filters, two VCAs, dual envelopes, LFOs, sample-and-hold, mixing facilities, and additional signal-processing functions.
VCO Expansion Block: A dedicated oscillator block adds six VCOs, a three-channel mixer, an LFO, sample-and-hold, and a dual envelope generator, expanding the system’s sound-generation and modulation resources.
Analog Sequencer: The sequencer block provides a three-channel, 12-step analog CV sequencer and pulse-shaping functions for creating repeating control-voltage patterns and coordinating modular patches.
Filter and VCA Block: A dedicated expansion block provides additional multimode and low-pass filters, VCAs, gate delay, dual envelope generators, and signal multiples.
Interface and Mixer Block: The interface block combines an interface module, VCA, and four multimode filters with audio-mixing functionality for additional sound processing and routing.
Effects Block: The effects block includes a two-channel phase shifter, a two-channel audio delay, an analog switch, and a switched multiple.
MIDI Integration: A basic single-channel MIDI-to-CV converter is the main addition to the original System 700 design. It supports integration with contemporary MIDI equipment, particularly for synchronizing the analog sequencer.
Physical Design: The Series 700 retains the original system’s overall physical dimensions, layout, and visual design. Custom-made knobs and slider caps, along with specially ordered switches and potentiometers, help reproduce the original instrument’s appearance and controls.
Modular System Configuration: The manufacturer offers the system as six blocks, allowing customers to purchase the complete configuration or build a system incrementally. Individual loose modules are not offered for sale.
Optional Keyboard: An optional keyboard based on the Roland 701 is in development. The proposed design includes four channels of polyphonic CV, MIDI input and output, and velocity CV output. Its availability depends on demand.
The Analogue Solutions Series 700 is now in production, with orders being accepted through the manufacturer. Visit the AS site for details.
