We have a nice collection of hardware synth patches and samples this week that includes sounds for Kodamo’s MASK1, amongst others.
I’ve become acutely aware that in recent weeks, this column has been catering a lot for software synths, so I thought I’d redress the balance somewhat and, luckily for me, there just so happened to be some decent presets for hardware synths launched this week!
Unmasked for Kodamo MASK1 by Pulsophonic
The Kodamo MASK1 is a hugely underrated and oft-overlooked synthesizer, and I am really sad about that. I have theories as to why that is, the most obvious being its price. It’s not a cheap synth, but there are good reasons for that, the biggest being that Kodamo is a small manufacturer, and their costs per unit far outweigh that of a larger manufacturer.
They haven’t scrimped on the build quality, and the technology they’ve come up with to generate sounds is very unique. There’s also the very unique note-slurring technology built into the keyboard that makes it sound very unique. And yet, people pooh-pooh it without even trying one. And that’s their loss.
However, those of us who love it know we have a gem and Pulsophonic have just produced a third free sound set for it and it is one of their best in my opinion. Drawing inspiration from classic synth tones, ‘Unmasked’ delivers 40 voices that will excite any synth player. Take a listen…
So, if you have a MASK1, this bank (and all Pulsophonic’s other banks) is a no-brainer. Even more so because it is completely free! And if you don’t have a MASK1, I strongly urge you to try one. You will not be disappointed.
Download Unmasked for MASK1 here for zero pounds, euros or dollars!
UVI World Suite 3
One of the great things about sampling is its ability to allow us to indulge in instruments that me might not normally have access to. This doesn’t just go for expensive and/or rare synthesizers, but also to a wide range of instruments from around the world.
UVI has offered to indulge us in such things through their World Suite libraries and we are now up to version 3 which grows and expands the library both sonically and in terms of usability. UVI has been honing their user interfaces in such a way as to reduce clutter and improve clarity.
World Suite 3 does a fantastic job in this regard but all of this would be for nought if the sounds hidden behind said interface weren’t up to scratch. And trust me, the samples contained here are exemplary. Covering instruments from all over Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond, there is something for almost every requirement.
You can browse through instruments from each region one by one or use the Voice Traveller mode to combine sounds from different regions into powerful and varied ‘multis’. But it’s not just instruments that you can play with. There are ambiences and vocal presets too, both solo and choir.
Playing through World Suite 3 is a real trip around the world and you will end up getting lost in countless countries and cultures for a very long time.
UVI World Suite 3 is currently available direct from UVI for an introductory price of €199, reduced from €299. It is also available as part of their excellent value-for-money subscription service, SonicPass, which costs just €24 a month and gets you access to everything UVI have available!
Matrix Vol.1 for Oberheim TEO-5 by GEOSynths
Isn’t it great that Oberheim is back? I think we can all agree that, even if we can’t afford one, it’s great to see that name amongst today’s synth options. Their latest offering is clearly designed to bring that Oberheim sound to more people and the TEO-5 hits that spot.
Clearly a close relation to Sequential’s Take-5, the TEO-5 betrays its small footprint with a huge sound and some unique sound-shaping features. And Master Sound Designer, Jamie Morden, has wrangled these features into his first bank for the synth, entitled Matrix Vol.1.
Matrix packs in 128 patches covering all bases (and basses), demonstrating the TEO-5’s powerful synth engine at its best. All of Jamie’s sound design prowess is on display here and this giant bank of sounds is a mere $39!
Grab Matrix Vol.1 for Oberheim TEO-5 from the GEOSynths website here.
VAST for Arturia Pigments by Dystopian Waves
Pigments really is the jewel in Arturia’s software crown. It’s deep, powerful and sounds incredible. It’s so popular that many people have petitioned Arturia to make it in hardware. And I can understand why. Now in its 5th iteration, it is as popular as ever.
VAST is a new bank of 56 sounds designed by Dystopian Waves and is described as being perfect for cinematic scores, soundscapes, video game audio and ambient. And I can’t disagree, as the demo below clearly demonstrates.
And if you’re using Pigments within Arturia’s AstroLab environment, you can take these sounds out on the road with no computer required!
Americana Autoharp for Kontakt by Orange Tree Samples
We finish things off with a lovely little sample pack for Native instruments Kontakt and NKS compatible hardware. The Autoharp is a distinctly American instrument that closely resembles a zither but has the ability to mute notes outside of the chord selected on the chord bars.
Mostly used in Country and Folk music, the Autoharp has some notable users within those genres, including the Queen of Country herself, Dolly Parton. However, if Country isn’t your thing, don’t let that put you off as there is a notable charm to the tones an Autoharp can produce.
Orange Tree Samples has captured a 21-button example meticulously, capturing all the chord voicings as well as sustains, mutes and release samples. You can play via a keyboard, but you can even strum the strings on the interface itself, using your pointer! There’s plenty of sound-shaping capability, all encapsulated in a simple Kontakt-scripted interface.
American Autoharp requires Kontakt v5.7 and above and does not support Kontakt Player. It is also fully NKS compliant.
Buy American Autoharp now for just $19, which is discounted from the full price of $29.
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