Impact Soundworks Chro-Nyx Virtual Instrument Inspired by Classic Hardware Synths


Impact Soundworks has introduced Chro-Nyx, a new virtual instrument that they say is primarily inspired by the Roland JP-8080 synthesizer, but also by other classic hardware synths, including the Roland Jupiter 8, Access Virus, Nord Modular 2, Mono/Poly, and RADIAS.

The Impact Soundworks Chro-Nyx goes far beyond the original 7 waveforms of the original 8080, with a total of 31 oscillator types.

“Go from delicate to untamed with FM-powered modes like 2-Op and Raw. Create massive chords with a single voice using Chord and Hellchoir modes. Transform Chro-Nyx into vintage hardware with the J106, Alpha, and Hoover.

Thicken any sound with the Sub Oscillator, Jupiter-8 style Cross Modulation, and up to 10-voice unison with adjustable tune and spread.”

When it comes to filters, Chro-Nyx starts with the 8080’s signature filter design, slopes, and types (LPF, BPF, HPF), then adds dual filters (and a third post-FX filter) that can be run split, in series, or parallel. Plus, each has Virus-style Filter FM, as well as five filter types like “Classic”, “Lush”, and “Acid”, each with their own distinct character and response.

Features:

  • Up to 10-voice unison for the entire signal path (minus FX) with adjustable stereo spread, detune, phase, and phase randomness
  • Voice spread…
  • Three engine modes to balance CPU performance with circuit model accuracy
  • Multiple legato modes for retriggering pitch, filter, amp or any combination, plus portamento/gliss
  • Analog drift adjustment
  • Oscillators:
    • Dual oscillators with 31 modes including all classic JP8080 waveforms (supersaw!)
    • External audio input on oscillator 2
    • Sub oscillator with 7 waveforms
    • Oscillator cross-modulation, ring modulation, and xyz
    • Adjustable phase and phase reset
    • Noise oscillator with white and pink modes, transient ‘snap’ layer, option to route noise to Osc 1 for ‘chaos’ modulation
  • Filters:
    • Dual filters with highpass, bandpass, and lowpass modes; 12db/oct and 24db/oct slopes
    • Five filter models: Modern, Classic, Acid, Lush, Chro-MP
    • Serial, parallel, and split topologies
    • Custom drive section with 18 waveshaper & distortion modes
    • Filter FM from VCO1 to filter 1, noise FM to filter 2
  • Modulation:
    • Dual LFOs with four waveforms
    • LFO BPM sync from 1/64 to 64/1 speeds; free running speeds from ultra-slow to audio rate
    • 16-slot mod matrix with two destinations per source per slot
    • Math modulators: add, subtract, multiply, quantize, smooth, curve, detune, merge
    • MIDI modulation sources: constant, velocity, key, aftertouch, modwheel, pitchbend, expression, MIDI CCs
    • LFOs and all three envelopes usable as mod sources for anything
    • Eight macro knobs
    • Two per-step mod sources in the step sequencer
  • Sequencer & Arpeggiator:
    • (Up to) 16 step arp/sequencer with variable length, velocity, pitch per step
    • Trance gate with multiple blending controls, ADSR, and tail control – can be overlayed on top of the regular sequencer
    • Can be synced to DAW playback
    • 1/16 to 4/1 speeds; separate speeds for arpeggiator and sequencer modes
    • Adjustable shuffle and overall gate length
  • Effects:
    • Adjustable bass/treble tonal control, plus sub boost with adjustable intensity/tone
    • Delay line with 5 stereo modes and internal modulation
    • Dual FX slots that can be run in serial or parallel with adjustable phase and reset
    • Modulation FX: JP, Alpha, and Juno 106-style choruses, Ensemble, Flanger, Modulator, Phaser, Phaser Jet, Rotary cab, Twisting
    • Distortion FX: Asymmetric Drive, Cross Drive, Distortion, Overdrive, Bitcrushing
    • Spatial FX: Delay Pong, two Reverb modules, gated Reverb, sidechained Reverb (three speeds), two Shimmer modules
    • Other FX: Compressor, Parametric EQ, Multiband Compressor, Alpha HP filter, Formant filter
    • Pre and Post-FX EQs with lo cut, hi cut, lo shelf, high shelf, and two parametric bands
    • FX Filter with HPF, BPF, LPF, Notch modes, 12db/oct and 24db/oct slopes, all waveshaper modes from the main Filter section
    • Twelve band vocoder

Chro-Nyx is available now for the free Reaktor Player (VST/AU/AAX), with an intro price of $79 (normally $99).

 

Solstice, New Software Synth Turns Any Sample Into A Playable Landscape


Minuit has introduced Solstice, a new software synth for Mac + Windows that they say is designed to “Turn any sample into an explorable landscape.”

Here’s what they have to say about it:

“Solstice makes any sample into a unique, playable map, revealing hidden textures within your sounds. Made with ambient, experimental, and aleatoric music in mind, but versatile enough for any genre.

Solstice generates a unique map for each sample, clustering frames by timbre similarity. Click anywhere to play, drag to morph between timbres, or let it drift into patterns you didn’t know were there.”

Solstice is priced at €85. As of this post, it is available now as a 30-day demo. Minuit says that they are working to get their webshop up and running.

 

Otter Mods Introduces 3 Modules For MU, Eurorack Modular Synthesizers At Knobcon 2025


At Knobcon 2025, held Sept 5-7 in the Chicagoland area, Otter Mods introduced three new modules, which they plan to make available in both Moog and Eurorack modular synth formats.

The modules include:

  • The O.T.Te.R Oscillating Temporal Tesselation Repeater is a unique and versatile pattern generator style sequencer.
  • The Triquetra is a triple shift register module that produces syncopated gates and stepped CV output. Each register can be clocked and looped independently.
  • The Octet Itero is a traditional 8-step sequencer that can mute individual steps, adjust sequence length, and has multiple CV outputs.

Here’s a video overview of the modules from developer Elton Glover, via CatSynth TV:

The modules are available now in Eurorack format with the following pricing:

  • The O.T.Te.R – $300.00
  • Triquetra – $300.00
  • Octet Itero – $300.00

Glover told us that he expects to have the MU versions available within a few months.