reFX releases Vanguard 2 Software synth
reFX Vanguard version 2 updated with new presets, a new UI and more features, including all your favourite sounds from version 1.
Released in 2004, original reFX’s Vanguard used to be a pretty big deal in the soft synth world, but was discontinued in 2016, due to stiff competition. However, the plugin is fondly remembered and still has its fans, which explains why reFX has now – finally – released version 2.
Vanguard remains a three-oscillator synth, but it now boasts a cleaner vector-based UI, 10 new wavetables, two new filter types, a new delay type, new reverb and distortion effects, synced LFOs and more.
There are also 136 completely new factory presets, but happily, the synth is also compatible with projects that use Vanguard 1. Load up your old songs and the sounds you used before will immediately load up, as well.
Vanguard 2 also appears to be more usable than its predecessor, with an ‘advanced’ sound librarian featuring three columns and offering colour-coded tags, bookmarks, favourites and a dedicated location for user presets. Sounds can be previewed instantly, you can search as you type, and it’s possible to filter presets by categories and tags.
It runs on PC and Mac in VST/AU/AAX formats.
The ‘Complete’ version of Vanguard 2 comes with all 16 Vanguard expansions that were previously sold by reFX, which is equivalent to a total of 2,440 presets and 63 one-shot drum samples, and is available for $79 on the reFX website.
