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All Reviews by krraqk


By krraqk
On 9th April 2004
Version: 1.2

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Camel Audio Cameleon 5000

MORPHING SOUND SUBSTANCES WITH FULL CONTROL
The resynthesis function is capable to capture, and very well, the substance of a sound and then you have at your disposition up to four sources of all those “sound substances” to morph for your pleasure. And it really works in a very musical way
But that morph is not a conventional one. It make the sensation that the imported sounds become a liquid, being then possible to transform them in a natural, gradual and highly dynamic way in another different and unique sound.
The morphing can be manipulated independently at the 3 sound component levels (harmonic, inharmonic/noise and amplitude). And what its the best: it can be controlled in real time in many creative ways and you are able to create a totally dynamic and wonderful controllable morphing experience.
What complete this equation is that ALL the parameters are assignable to many source possible of control. Even you can assign the same source to many parameters. With a very important detail: you can set the max and min amount of the destination parameter range that will be affected, allowing a very precise and controllable result.
That permits to make a totally interactive sound that responds to the touch in infinite ways and then is when the sound becomes a wonderful musical experience.

THE GUI MAKE IT EASY:
Not being a synthesis doctor (and not pretending it) I have found the GUI of Cameleon one of the best to make the difficult and easy thing. To create interesting and fresh sounds is like a children game.
All that complex engine has been packed in an user interface which allows a deep manipulation of the sound in a very intuitive way. Although its possible to do very deep programing the additive page.

BUT NOTHING IS REALLY PERFECT
The resynthesis algorithm (IMHO) is not totally perfect. It can be improved. I found that the sounds with a very much inharmonic and noise component are not very well captured. For example a very clean human voice was imported amazingly well. But another human voice with breath and blow content was captured worse. A shakukachi sound also was not good.
The filter is good but while it can create great raw, acid and dirty sounds (which I also like), to me it tends to sound a bit harsh, mainly when the resonance parameter is used. Its hard to find a typical warm analog filter synth sound. An additional filter with a more conventional synth behavior will be a great addition.

TO END
I am using C5K only 3 weeks but is has captured me and I have been immersed, like hypnotized, exploring and programming sounds with it.
As a musician, the important aspect about music is the experience to play it and to feel it in real time (that magical thing that only the really good real instruments seem to provide), and thats what I want from a synth. And Cameleon is great in this area.
In the end a very innovative synth that can produce very fresh and original sounds and provide a highly musical experience.
 
    
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