This week’s Sounds and Presets takes a distinctly digital turn and features patches for three modern digital instruments!
Digital synthesis was once the next big thing. Then it wasn’t. And now it’s back, baby! Like every other form of synthesis, digital has come, gone, come back again better and continues to dominate the market. So with this in mind, I’ve found digital sounds and presets for three modern-day digital wonders.
100 Custom Patches for Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave Vol.1 & 2 by Miles Away
When Groove Synthesis dropped the 3rd Wave, it is fair to say most people were gobsmacked. Literally out of the blue (pun intended), a small team led by Bob Coover had created an homage to the PPG Wave. Not only that, but they improved upon it and made it better.
The 3rd Wave is an incredible synth and really does carry the torch for Wolfgang Palm’s work. And so, the world started to fall back in love with that PPG sound. Lovely, crisp, bright, cutting digital waveforms. And this is where Miles Away has exploited the 3rd Wave’s capabilities.
The sounds and presets found in these banks run the gamut between ice-cold and snuggly warm. They show off the 3rd Wave’s broad sound palette with aplomb. To ensure all of the included sounds work, particularly Vol.2, you must have the factory sounds installed and the VS Waves bank too. Your 3rd Wave firmware must be at v1.7. Miles provides instructions on all this in each pack.
Better still, Miles has added a sequence for each patch so you can get a great idea of how the patches work or get some inspiration yourself. And whilst you’re checking this set out, be sure to check out Miles’ other patch banks for synths such as the Oberheim OB-X8, OB6 and KORG prologue.
Volume 2 is currently available for just $22.50 USD (normally $30) at Miles Away’s webshop. Vol.1 is $30.00. There is also a money-saving bundle available, currently selling for $43.00.
Limbic Bits Hyperion Sound Bank for Sonicware LIVEN XFM
I have a massive soft spot for Sonicware. For they last few years they have delivered a fantastic range of affordable and inspirational tools in the form of the LIVEN range of grooveboxes. They’ve also done similarly great work with the ELZ_1 and ELZ_1 play. And then there’s the super-cool SmplTrek and the newly released Lofi-12 XT.
Yup, they are making great stuff. My first Sonicware synth was the one featured here; the LIVEN XFM. And it’s this box that sound designer and YouTuber Limbic Bits has created a new sound bank for. In their own words, Hyperion is “tailored for ambient, techno and electronica genres”
The bank contains in excess of 90 patches and XFM combinations, spread across 29 patterns. There really are some great sounds in here that show off the XFM’s FM engine. Unlike the more “traditional” algorithmic FM engine found in Yamaha’s DX range (and numerous clones), XFM uses cross-modulation FM.
Cross-modulation FM is what Yamaha initially used in their first FM synths, such as the GS1, GS2, CE20 and CE25. Whilst still distinctly FM, taking two pairs of operators and cross-modulating one pair with another can often deliver a more warm and pleasing tone. So give this bank a good listen. There’s plenty here for just 20 of your British Pounds!
Three Free Sound Banks for the ASM Hydrasynth by Analoguesque Sound Designs
There’s not a lot that one can say about the ASM Hydrasynth that hasn’t already been said. New kids on the block, ASM, audaciously released a wavetable-based synthesizer with polyphonic aftertouch and turned the synthesizer world on its head. Since its debut, they’ve released three more versions including the excellent Deluxe version.
A sound designer’s dream, it didn’t take long for people to get in on the act and start producing patch libraries for it. Taking advantage of all the possibilities that the Hydrasynth engine gave, not least the polyphonic aftertouch, there have been some amazing banks.
And here are three such banks from Analoguesque Sound Designs which are completely free of charge! ASD is Ian Wilson, a gentleman with an impressive sound design CV. Over the years, he created many patch banks and sample libraries for the Yamaha SY77 and Casio CZ range, as well as many libraries for later E-MU samplers and the Studiologic Sledge.
The three banks of digital sounds and presets offered here are split into two. There are two ‘Bread and Butter’ banks, each with a wide array of useful sounds. Many of these are recreations of some classic sounds. Check out the website for countless 80s inspirations. The third bank is entitled ‘Esoteric’ and, as such, contains a wide range of more left-field concoctions.
Sadly, there are no online audio demos so you will have to take my word for it. However, as they are all free, you won’t be risking any of your hard-earned cash!
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Image Sources:
- Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave: Groove Synthesis
- Sonicware LIVEN XFM: Sonicware
- Hydrasynth Explorer and Deluxe: ASM
