KVR Audio is the Internet's number one news and information resource for open standard audio plug-ins. We report new releases, product announcements and product updates (major and minor) for all VST Plug-ins, DirectX Plug-ins and Audio Units Plug-ins (and RTAS too). We manage a fully searchable audio plug-in database (updated daily), and offer many free member services including user reviews, product update notifications and a very active discussion forum. We also host official support forums for many plug-in developers plus the official Receptor support forum.
Plug-in Database: Virtual
Instruments, Effects & Hosts
Plug-in
Ranks
Banks & Patches
Download & Upload
Plug-in Ratings
by KVR Members
Wiki: Tutorials,
Audio Lexicon, ...
Listen to Music
by KVR Members
Search
KVR

Google Powered Search:

in new window

KVR Powered Plug-in Search:

Rainbow
by Big Tick
?
KVR Rank: 1549 1491 [30-Day: 1348; 7-Day: 1050; Yesterday: 241]
10 members are watching Rainbow for news
Product Rainbow
Developer Big Tick
Primary Type Synth
Price (MSRP) €40
Plug-in Formats
Instrument(s)VST
Operating System Availability
Operating
System
Latest
Version
Download Is it
Available?
Windows 2.5 Demo / TrialReleased
Miscellaneous Information
Copy Protection Serial Number
Banks & Patches Download Banks
Average User Rating Average rating - 8.525
Compatibility Unknown
advertisement
Rainbow
  • VSTi & Standalone versions
  • FM, AM, additive and subtractive synthesis
  • 1 to 4 oscillators per voice
  • Up to 24 voices (CPU dependant)
  • Selectable shape (sine, saw, square, triangle, noise)
  • Coarse / Fine tuning knobs, with selectable keyboard tracking mode
  • LFO mode
  • Distortion (Waveshaping knob)
  • APDSR (Attack/Peak/ Decay/ Sustain/ Release) level envelope
  • Control of the level by midi velocity and/or key position
  • 4x4 Frequency and Amplitude modulation matrix
  • Selectable Low, High, or Band pass double mode filter, with cutoff and resonance controls
  • APDSR envelope and env mod knob
  • Resonance controllable by midi velocity
  • APDSR pitch envelope
  • Portamento
  • High-quality oversampling mode with antialias filter
  • Fully midi-controlled, all controllers can be customised
  • Supports Doepfer Pocket Dial controller
  • 16 step sequencer
  • Microtuning support.

RSS FeedAll KVR Audio news items relating to Rainbow.

Big Tick Rainbow v2.5 update released 2nd September 2002
Big Tick competition winners! 12th February 2002
Big Tick Rainbow v2.4 released 6th January 2002

User Reviews by KVR Members for Rainbow.

CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR REVIEW


By Spe3D
On 9th June 2003
Version: 2.5

Read all reviews by
Spe3D


1 of 2 people found
this review helpful.

Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
I got a feeling that my reviews are becoming dynamic :O)

After much poking around with this synth I have discovered hidden depths, the sound is not quite on par with today’s market power synths but that’s not to say some good use can come from it, the sound can be rich and has a kind of unique Rainbow quality.

The Gui is a tad large, but dead easy to use, about as easy as a gui can get. If you want something basic to program this is it. The onboard chorus comes in handy and patch loading is a simple right click away. In fact most of the hidden features are.

Value for money, well its would be different things to different people, if you want simplicity this would be good value, but if you want something that’s going to take you further into the future I would reconsider for a bit.

So to sum up give the demo a go, you won’t be doing yourself any favours by not at least tying it. If you can think of anything you would like to see improved or added or even want to voice off how great you find it, try looking here in the BigTick support forum.

Have fun

Spe3d

:O)
 
Last edited by Spe3D on 23rd June 2003    Report

By drk_sum
On 6th August 2002
Version: 2

Read all reviews by
drk_sum


Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
I am a PIII 550 user, so this is a bit power hungry for me, and I have crashed it SO many times it's not even funny anymore. I use the Rainbow for electric piano and massive pad progressions. I have a hard time programming the 4 oscillators, but 2 years later I'm getting better. The lowpass filter is so fat, especially set to x2, and i never have to push the resonance past about 8 oclock before my pads start screaming. Big up the Big Tick.
 
   Report

By ksn
On 22nd January 2002
Version: 2.x

Read all reviews by
ksn


Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
Rainbow can achieve a really wide variety of sounds, most of them you can't easily create with another single VSTI, thanks to several synthesis modes

it especially excels in making complex ambient textures, but big fat basses (Rainbow has very good sound quality for basses) and all types of analog sounds can be easily done as well.

banks and patches bundled with the synth are good examples of this, with both textures and fat analog sounds.

Rainbow is perfect if you want to make your own samples and sound original, and the standalone version is perfect for this.

it also shines when used "live" in your favorite VST host : very stable, not too CPU hungry, it provides good features for this mode too, like glide, finger-glide, mono mode, very powerful filters etc...

Big Tick is always listening to customers (for the commercial plugins as well as for the free ones), for support or for help, provides new patches regularly and constantly develops Rainbow.

Rainbow is not expensive considering its features, the high sound quality, and its overall sound capabilities.

a final word about the interface. i personnaly like it : even if it's not the most beautiful graphics you'll find, it's quite appealing though and everything is clear right in front of you, perfect to spend hours tweaking all the knobs over and over :)
 
Last edited by ksn on 22nd January 2002    Report

By x_bruce
On 11th December 2001
Version: 2.5

Read all reviews by
x_bruce


Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
Revision:

The more I've used Rainbow the more I learn about it. Unfortunately this is not a simple synth and by today's VSTi standards to some might not have a sexy interface (although I like it and once you understand what you are doing it is very functional). Rainbow finds it's way into a lot of mixes because of it's animated sounds and basses that can sound ferocious.

Also, the stability issues change with the system you use. On the Celeron 600 box it was orignally tested on stability was an issue where as on a Athlon XP1700 box - using the same midi/audio interfaces - there are no stability issues. Also, patches are available at the company site.

- - - - - - - -

I judge how much I like a synth in part by concept and execution along with how well it sits in a mix. Whether you consider it difficult to learn will depend on your background in subtractive synthesis, the less familiar the more the Rainbow2 most likely will be simple to work with.

After a few hours work on the demo I was able to make useful sounds from killer to sublime, enough to purchase it for the studio immediately. This is really an extrordinary synth for a reasonable price. Some will find the FM/AM based synthesis engine somewhat difficult but it's very flexible and a good compromise between classic 6 opperator FM and VA analog.

Pros: expressive and varied timbres, decent manual
Cons: slightly different than analog VAs, depending on the program can get resouce intensive

Not a N.I. FM-7 killer but a great sounding and easier to program FM oriented synth. Anyone that doesn't think FM can be warm needs to check out the Rainbow synth.
 
Last edited by x_bruce on 22nd December 2002    Report

By crimsonwarlock
On 4th September 2001
Version: 2.x

Read all reviews by
crimsonwarlock


Was this review
helpful to you?
Yes | No
  GUI
Sound
Features
Docs
Presets
Support
VFM
Stability
Excerpt from the Orion-central review:

Should you buy it ? The Rainbow 2 is clearly in the same league as the gakstoar Delta. If you are aiming at experimenting with sound but don't want to get into modular monsters, then the Rainbow 2 is certainly worth a look. I think the interface could be a tad more intuitive but after playing around with it for a while it's starting to make sense. And then the fun starts. The Rainbow 2 is a great synth.

Read the full review on Orion-central:
http://www.orion-central.com/reviewrainbow2.shtml
 
   Report
Latest 5 reviews from a total of 5

Reviews, articles, interviews, etc. for Rainbow.

None listed yet.

 

Products by Big Tick

Product: Angelina
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Voice/Formant Synth
Price: €30
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
2 tuned oscillators and 1 breath oscillator.Graphical multipoint envelopes with curvature controls.X/Y control pad for formants morph control.MIDI control with assignable controllers.Unison mode, chorus and reverb for ultra-rich vocal pads.... [more]

 
Product: Cheeze Machine
Developer: Big Tick
Type: String Ensemble Synth
Price: Free
OS: WindowsMac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio Unit
This little synth generates sound by feeding a simple, saw-like waveform, into a chorus ensemble emulator, a 6-stages phaser, and a ReverbUp to 32 notes polyphony, with the same note stealing algorithm as EP-StationFully midi-controlledSupports Doepfer Pocket Control midi controllerAvailable with 2 different GUI's... [more]

 
Product: Dodecaline
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Chorus/Enhancer/Stereo Expander
Price: Reg Users Only
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
12 delay lines version of Hexaline.12 stereo delays with cross-feedback.Parallel or serial modes.Up to +/- 100% feedback for ambient special effects.Available for free for registered users of EP-Station, Angelina and Rainbow.... [more]

 
Product: DualDelay
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Delay / Echo
Price: Free
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
2 independent left/right delays with delay and feedback controls. Lowpass (-24 dB/Oct) resonant filter. Delay times can be expressed in ms or in 16th notes (when synced to the host tempo). Group mode for ping-pong delay effects. ... [more]

 
Product: EP-Phazer
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Modulation (Flanger / Phaser / Chorus / Tremelo)
Price: Reg Users Only
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
2 independent left/right phasers.Full stereo effect, with cross-feedback between left and right channels.Available for free for registered users of EP-Station, Angelina and Rainbow.... [more]

 
Product: EP-Station
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Electric Piano
Price: €20
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
EP-station generates sound by mixing 3 different raw electric piano FM models. The mix output is then processed by a tremolo, a phaser, a stereo chorus, and an autopan effectsEach of the 3 models have separate controls for mix level, tuning, decay time, brightness, and velocity response (with 3 different velocity curves). The playing velocity can be used to control the overall model level, or its brightness, or bothThanks to its powerful note stealing algorithm, dense passages can be played, even with a limited maximum polyphony... [more]

 
Product: Hexaline
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Chorus/Enhancer/Stereo Expander
Price: Free
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
3 stereo delays with cross-feedback.Parallel or serial modes.Up to +/- 100% feedback for ambient special effects.... [more]

 
Product: Makunouchi Bento
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Ring Modulator
Price: Free
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
This plugin ring-modulates incoming audio with sine waves of continuously varying frequency, and runs the result through a state-variable filter. It can often produce unexpected effects, from stuttering rhythms to ambient tones.2 independent left/right ring modulators.Variable (from low-frequency to audio rate) modulators range.Variable modulators shape.Built-in resonant filter.... [more]

 
Product: Nasty Shaper
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Distortion / Overdrive / Amp
Price: Free
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
Pre and Post gain knobs.3 different waveshaping functions. Shape 1 has 4 stages, Shapes 2/3 have 2 stages.8x oversampling mode for high-quality offline rendering.... [more]

 
Product: Rainbow
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Synth
Price: €40
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
VSTi & Standalone versionsFM, AM, additive and subtractive synthesis1 to 4 oscillators per voiceUp to 24 voices (CPU dependant)Selectable shape (sine, saw, square, triangle, noise)Coarse / Fine tuning knobs, with selectable keyboard tracking modeLFO modeDistortion (Waveshaping knob)APDSR (Attack/Peak/ Decay/ Sustain/ Release) level envelope Control of the level by midi velocity and/or key position4x4 Frequency and Amplitude modulation matrixSelectable Low, High, or Band pass double mode filter, with cutoff and resonance controlsAPDSR envelope and env mod knobResonance controllable by midi velo... [more]

 
Product: Rhino
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Monster Synth
Price: €70
OS: Windows
Formats: VST
Waveforms Rhino features a huge list of built-in waveforms.Up 6 oscillators per voice for a huge sound! Additive Generator The built-in additive synthesizer can be used to define new waveforms. Ultra-slick graphic envelopes Graphical multipoint envelopes with curvature controls.Envelopes can be synchronized to tempo.Each oscillator has his own level, pitch, and waveshaping amount. Waveshaping section Each oscillator can have his own waveshaper.Waveshaper can be modulated by an envelope, keyboard tracking, velocity or aftertouch. Filter section Dual multimode filter, with -12/-24/-36 dB/oct. ... [more]

 
Product: Ticky Clav
Developer: Big Tick
Type: Clavinet
Price: Free
OS: WindowsMac OS XUniversal Binary
Formats: VSTAudio Unit
Hohner Clavinet emulator, based on physical modelling algorithmsModels strings vibration, as well as the 2 pickups of Clavinet model C.Up to 32 notes polyphony, with the same note stealing algorithm as EP-StationBuilt-in wah-wah effect with selectable manual/autowah modeFully midi-controlledSupports Doepfer Pocket Control midi controller... [more]

 
Coming Soon...