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KVR Rank: 565 547 [30-Day: 698; 7-Day: 667; Yesterday: 565]
36 members are watching Orion for news
Product Orion
Developer Synapse Audio
Primary Type Virtual Studio
Price (MSRP) $99
Plug-in Formats
Can Host
Instruments
VSTDirectX
Can Host
Effects
VSTDirectX
ReWireReWire Mixer Application
Operating System Availability
Operating
System
Latest
Version
Download Is it
Available?
WindowsWindows 64 / x64 7.6.2 Demo / TrialReleased
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Orion

Orion is a fully featured music creation and production environment. It includes a sequencer, mixer, instruments and effects, thus no extra software is required to produce any style of music.

Instruments
Orion includes 11 synthesizers covering subtractive synthesis, FM, physical modelling as well as wavetable synthesis. Additionally, a fully featured sampler that supports SoundFont, Kurzweil, AKAI and REX formats is available. 3rd party VST and DX instruments may be used and seamlessly integrate into the environment.

Effects
A total of 43 effect plugins that span dynamic effects, delay, reverberation, distortion, filtering, vocoding, phasing, flanging and chorus are included in Orion. Additionally container effects are available, where multiple effects can be grouped together to form a new effect. Not only can effects be chained in parallel or in series, it is also possible to split effects into different frequency bands, allowing to create multiband effects such as a multiband compressors for instance. 3rd party VST and DX plugins are supported as well.

Arranging/Sequencing
Both pattern and track based sequencing is possible in Orion, depending on user preferences. Editing tools include a fully featured piano roll as well as step sequencers. Multiple MIDI in devices are supported to allow simultaneous recording into multiple tracks at once. For beginners, the alternate "Easy" mode greatly facilitates working with MIDI by always sending all MIDI data to the active generator window- no setup is necessary, and any instrument can be played right away via a connected MIDI keyboard.

Mixing/Mastering
Orion features an analog-style mixer with insert and send effects, a parametric EQ, multiple busses and effect return channels. Mixer channels are created and assigned automatically when new instruments are inserted into a project, allowing for a fast workflow.

Audio Recording
Up to 256 audio tracks can be used in Orion. New audio clips are added with a single click into the playlist. Multiple tracks can be recorded simultaneously using the ASIO interface.

RSS FeedAll KVR Audio news items relating to Orion.

Synapse Audio announces Holiday Offers for Orion and SynthPack Ultimate 8th December 2009
Synapse Audio releases Orion x64 2nd February 2009
Synapse Audio updates Orion to v7.62 6th January 2009
Synapse Audio releases Orion 7.61 for Non-SSE processors 5th January 2009
Synapse Audio updates Orion to v7.6.1 22nd December 2008
Synapse Audio releases Orion 64 Beta 17th December 2008
Synapse Audio releases Orion v7.6 and announces Xmas Sale (save $50) 11th December 2008
Synapse Audio Software releases Orion 7.5; discontinues Orion PRO; launches Orion Reloaded 7th May 2008
Synapse Audio announces Orion Platinum 7.5 and launches Two-Week Special Promo 20th December 2007
Synapse Audio releases Impulse Response Library 24th April 2007
Synapse announces Holiday Specials 22nd December 2006
Synapse Audio releases Orion Platinum v7.1 25th September 2006
Synapse Audio releases Orion Pro 7 7th August 2006
Synapse Audio releases Orion Platinum 7 30th June 2006
Synapse Audio releases Orion Platinum v6.2 16th January 2006
Synapse Audio releases Guitar Collection for Orion Platinum (+$50 OFF Sale) 12th December 2005
KS-UK Bass Synth Vol 1 released (for Orion) 22nd August 2005
Synapse Audio releases Orion Platinum 6 8th August 2005
Synapse Audio Holiday Offer 15th December 2004
Synapse Audio releases Orion Pro v5.8 7th December 2004
Synapse releases TR-505 Samplepack for Orion Platinum 1st December 2004
Orion Platinum v5.8 released 16th November 2004
Synapse Orion Pro v5.5 released 27th May 2004
Orion Platinum v5.5 released 19th May 2004
Synapse Audio Orion Platinum v5.2 released 8th February 2004
Synapse Orion Pro v5.0 released 6th January 2004
Synapse Orion Platinum v5.1 released 15th December 2003
Synapse Orion Platinum v5.0 released 29th November 2003
Synapse Orion Platinum v4.1 released 13th September 2003
Synapse Orion Pro and Platinum v4.0 released 29th April 2003
Synapse Orion Platinum v3.8 released 28th January 2003
Synapse Orion Basic v3.721 released 17th January 2003
Synapse Orion PRO v3.7 released 3rd December 2002
Synapse Orion Platinum v3.7 released 23rd November 2002
Synapse Orion Platinum v3.54 released 6th November 2002
Synapse Orion Platinum v3.5 released 8th October 2002
Synapse Orion Pro v3.06 released 20th August 2002
Synapse Orion Platinum demo version released 8th August 2002
Sonic Syndicate now Synapse Audio - Orion Platinum released 4th August 2002
Sonic Syndicate Orion Pro v3.03 released 20th May 2002
Sonic Syndicate Orion Pro v3.02 released 14th May 2002
Orion Pro v3.01 released 10th May 2002
Sonic Syndicate Orion Pro v3.0 released 2nd May 2002

User Reviews by KVR Members for Orion.

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By carrieres
On 31st May 2004
Version: 5.5

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carrieres


2 of 7 people found
this review helpful.

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i will review the platinum version.
This virtual studio comes with :
ULTRAN - WAVE MORPHING SAMPLER : huge stereo pads and ambient textures (4 osc synth, 3 env and 2 lfo).
TOMCAT - DRUM SYNTHESIZER : percussive monophonic synthesizer for electronic drum sounds (3 osc, 3 env and 2 filters).
SAMPLER - support of AIF, AKP (akai S5000/S6000), KRZ (KurzweilK2000), RX2 (recycle), SF2 (soundfont) and WAV.
integrated Groove Slicer and Program Editor (with pitch detection) (3 env and 2 lfo) and up to 16 outputs.
WASP - VIRTUAL ANALOG SYNTH : FM and ring mod (3 osc, 3 env and 2 lfo), unisson mode, distortion and easy programming of note slides.
DRUMS GENERATOR : load wav and LM4 kit has a step sequencer and 4 outs
MONOBASS - VIRTUAL ANALOGUE : TB303 with accent and slide programming
XR-909 DRUM SYNTHESIZER : 8 vintage drum sounds, with a step-based loop programming and 10 outs (optional)
WAVEFUSION : WAVETABLE SYNTH (ala waldorf PPG) but with 3 osc, 3 lfo and 2 env.
SCREAMER - VIRTUAL ANALOG SYNTH : (ala MS20) 2 osc with attitude
PLUCKED STRING
and MIDI OUT
35 effects and a band fx to split the signal in 3 band and assign 6 effects to this 3 bands.
some effects support audio and midi side chain.
SEQUENCER : comes with Parameter automation, arpeggiators, Microtuning (support of Scala files), Groove Templates, Pluck Templates
MIXER : 4 bands EQ, 4 inserts, 4 sends, and a master mixer with 4 effect busses and 4 submix busses.
PLUGIN SUPPORT: VST and DX, The VST instrument support the genetic preset feature to create a new preset from 2 existing presets.
finaly, Orion Platinum supports :
Vsti and DXi synth
Vst and DX effect
Low-latency ASIO output
Audio Tracks
Multitrack audio recording
ReWire2 Master+Slave
it's possible to bundle all the samples used in a project to easily collaborate with others musicians
it's the most intuitive sequencer i have seen, it works like a real studio around the central mixer.
Sequencing in Orion is pattern-based, every instrument has 64 patterns and each pattern can have a different length.
One of the most important thing is the sound of the filters they just scream and make you dance around tweaking your cut-off and resonance knobs all the night (and you will not be the first).
 
Last edited by carrieres on 2nd June 2004    Report
By VitaminD
On 28th July 2003
Version: 7.1

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VitaminD


8 of 10 people found
this review helpful.

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helpful to you?
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Orion Platinum (OP)


Things I like about OP:

* Sequencing is excellent (very, very easy).. especially if your favorite "midi controller" is your mouse.

* I really dig the Sampler module in OP. It supports Akai S5k/S6k, Kurzweil K2k, Wav, Aiff, Soundfont2, and it's own .OSP format. On top of that, it can break wave files into segments ala recycle (aka Groove Slicing) which it can paint onto the piano roll.. nice!

* Arpeggiator is built into each VSTi or DXi Instrument you use (click the OPT button) and the arps are text editable.

* Drums module is easy to use and comes with a load of drum sets to get you started!

* Event (parameter) editing is easy to use/view.

Things I don't like about OP:

* Built-in FX. Some I think are nice.. but many of them lack critical parameters to really tweak the sound, making them not so useful. Others I find are lacking sonically... Some of this has been corrected as versions have increased; usually not by updating the old plugins, but creating new ones.. resulting in a ton of various built-in effects when a few could do the same thing.

* Sample set, while large, is less than inspiring.
Wavefusion instrument and Ultran instrument(which uses soundfonts) sound a lot alike to me (glassy and buzzy)

* Broken songs. If you make a song with a VST or DX Instrument or effect, and for some reason uninstall it... loading up your songs can be a task.

an example would be..

I had the old dbTempodelay (v1.0 no colorful gui) and saved a song or two with it. Uninstalled it when I got the newer version.. tried to load up the song that made use of dbTempodelay 1.0 and OP begged for me to find this plugin :x if one doesn't find the plugin and clicks 'cancel', then a 'filter delay' plugin will take it's place - regardless of the plugin. I wish it was just a pass-through plugin that didnt alter the sound any.

* Volume/Levels seem a bit unusual to me. Theres some sort of overdrive ability that can sound nice, but at times I wish wasn't there.


All in all:

I really like Orion Platinum.. It has really come a long way since I first reviewed it some 4 years ago.

It is the most easy to use sequencer I've ever seen. Which encourages it's use. Try the demo for yourself and see!

As of writing, there is a 7.5 version in testing.. which will include, among other things, multi-core support and a very nice sounding chorus. 8)

edit: updated my review from 4.086 to 7.1
 
Last edited by VitaminD on 30th June 2007    Report
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