Cherry Audio Intros Harmonia Soft Synth for Mac + Windows


Cherry Audio debuts Harmonia, a new virtual synthesizer, for Mac and Windows, that they say is designed for creating “rich, evolving polyphonic sounds like those associated with vector and wave sequencing synthesizers of the 80s and 90s,” but with improved usability through visual patching.

 

What they say about Harmonia:

“The magic behind Harmonia lies in its two sample-based oscillators. Using techniques similar to those found in additive synthesis, each Harmonia oscillator can simultaneously produce up to eight pitches, individually tuned to a harmonic series or semitones. The volume for each pitch harmonic can be fixed or dynamic, and Harmonia’s unique interpolated harmonic scanning enables dramatic sweeps and melodious sequences through a single modulatable slider.

Harmonia derives its distinctive organic sound from hundreds of sampled waveforms recorded from various synthesizers, traditional instruments and voices, colorful “lo-fi” sounds, and more. User samples can be imported, further expanding Harmonia’s tonal palette. Producers can effortlessly create unique morphed and sequencer-like tones by varying the combinations of waveform selection and harmonic presets.

Harmonia reaches new heights by providing four syncable polyphonic LFOs, an expansive stereo multimode filter, click-and-drag envelopes, and a massive mod matrix with eight slots for dozens of sources and destinations. Harmonia includes support for aftertouch, flexible MIDI mapping, and a collection of over 350 breathtaking, professionally designed presets. Harmonia also has 17 studio-quality effects such as distortion, chorus, phaser, echoes, reverbs, and more – all fully modulatable through the matrix.”

 

In-depth look at Harmonia’s oscillators:

Features:

  • Dual sample-based interpolated scanning harmonic oscillators
  • Curated sample library of 285 waveforms in 11 categories, plus support for user-imported samples
  • Dual audio path: most waveform samples are stereo for natural width and organic feel with multiple-stacked harmonics
  • Monophonic and polyphonic voice modes (up to 16 voices)
  • Harmonic mode with six Harmonic Presets for sweeping through sample harmonics to create evolving tones or stacking multiple harmonics to create composite tones
  • Semitone mode with 23 Harmonic Presets for creating sequencer-like melodies or undulating musical chords
  • Create and save custom Harmonic Presets or generate random ones
  • Four tempo-syncable polyphonic LFOs with ten waveforms, one-shot, retrigger, and mono or polyphonic modes
  • Stereo Multimode Filter – Lowpass (24 dB/oct), Lowpass (18 dB/oct), Lowpass (12 dB/oct), Lowpass (6 dB/oct), Highpass (12 dB/oct slope), Bandpass (12 dB/oct slope), Notch
  • Massive but easy-to-use Modulation Matrix with eight slots and simple click-to-assign functionality: 19 sources and 80 destinations, including Harmonia’s integrated effects
  • Click-and-drag Filter and Amp ADSR envelopes
  • 17 Studio-quality integrated effects:
    • Distortion – Tube, Grunge, Fuzz, Sample Crush, Tone & Level
    • Mod – Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Rotary Speaker
    • Echo – Stereo Delay, Ping Pong Delay, Tape Delay
    • Reverb – Spring, Plate, Room, Hall, Galactic
  • User-selectable Bend Depth, Octave Shift, and note Glide
  • Over 350 professionally designed presets in 16 categories
  • Standalone virtual instrument and plug-in versions
  • Complete MIDI control and DAW automation for all controls, with easy-to-use MIDI Learn and mapping
  • Cherry Audio’s popular Focus zoom-in feature, as well as standard UI zoom and resize via drag
  • Complete documentation available directly online from the instrument or in downloadable PDF format
  • User-adjustable oversampling control

 

Harmonia is now available now with an intro price of $49 (MSRP $69).

 

 

 

Open-Source Patch Overlays for the Visually Impaired

 

Developer Geert Bevin (Director of Software Development at Moog Music, and creator of the original MPE specification) has released a collection of open-source designs for 3D-printed patch sheet overlays for the visually impaired.

The patch sheets work the same as the original printed patch sheets, below, but replace the printed indicators with tactile markings, as shown above:

 

“While going through the patch sheet transcription, I kept thinking that there had to be better ways to convey patch information without relying solely on vision,” he notes. Being a 3D printer enthusiast, Bevin went on to create tactile designs and test them with Tim Burgess of Raised Bar, a project to improve the accessibility of musical equipment and resources for visually-impaired musicians.

“Hopefully this is an inspiring starting point for other people and can spark further research and innovation in this domain. Everything in this work is open-sourced under the New BSD license.”

Bevin’s project includes a vocabulary of design elements for translating patch sheets into tactile versions, and a collection of the factory DFAM and Mavis patch sheets, ready to 3D print.

Find out details on the Geert Bevin’s website.

How to Recreate Vintage Monosynths with Eurorack Modules & Cre8audio NiftyKEYZ

In the video, Julien “Stazma” Guillot demonstrates recreating a vintage monosynth, the Roland SH-5, using Eurorack modules and the Cre8audio NiftyKEYZ keyboard rack.

 

Guillot calls the project ‘a bit of fun’, but shows how you can use the NiftyKEYZ to recreate classic analog synth designs – or to create whatever custom design you can imagine…..

Topics covered:

 

00:00 Intro

01:36 The audio patch

02:42 Basic control

04:17 Lfos and Sample & Hold

05:19 Sync & noodling

08:35 A bit more on Sample & Hold

11:09 Using noise & more noodling

12:48 No Ringmod so let’s use “Amplitude Modulation” instead

15:42 End Talk