RealThing is a dedicated hardware box for hybrid soft/hard VST and VSTi (it is not a hardware synth with a VSTi interface) - it has integrated analog and digital components to offer "vintage sound and new combinations". Sound is generated through your sound card - the analog box is controlled by 14 bit MIDI. Complex envelopes can be drawn on screen to control hardware and software.

New optional modules can be added to hardware:

• Tube stage with overdrive.
• State variable filters.

Features:

• Hardware external analog box.
• Connected to two audio board inputs, one output and MIDI in/out.
• Two oscillators: analog waveforms, digital waveforms, additive.
• Two filters: analog 24dB LP with resonance, digital multi-mode.
• Frequency modulation.
• Amplitude modulation.
• Amplitude, pitch, filter envelopes.
• Overdrive with pre and post-eq, "shape" control.
• Chorus/Flanger.
• Modulation matrix.
• Hardware pre-filter and post-filter insert paths.
• Easy interface.

RealThing costs from €350, depending on the configuration. It uses PC audio and MIDI board and the plug-in host's routing capabilities (please contact SKnote for tested configurations).