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VAZ Modular
Reviewed By LlunaSol [all]
February 12th, 2004
Version reviewed: 3 on Windows
VAZ Modular 3 has just appeared and it deserves to be rated. I'll justify my rating later, but it's easy to understand that any modular system with a top-notch sound would be 10 in most cathegories since it covers so many possibilities that excels over most software synths.
Someone said that VAZ was the most saved secret on sound arsenals, and that's true since VAZ+1.7 hit the market long before the VSTi revolution. Since then I've enjoyed the hard or soft, but always warm and rich sound of it. The sound is superb, probably couldn't be better on a Virtual Synth (hardware or software).
As a modular system I won't avoid to say that VAZ is the "real" modular concept after all my experience. People may by surprised by its menu popups systems to link modules at beginning. Other synth painting "realistic 3D" cabling just look nice on screen, VAZ modular simply allows to "connect everything everywhere" and on that sense it has the real Moog spirit on it (this is my honest impression). The popup menu connectivity is so clever that Martin Fay already introduced it on his first VAZ ever and is still, for me, the best way to work on a "computer modular". Other elements are so well integrated and easy that once you learn it is the most fast modular system I ever met (and I know most of them).
The new version adds many new modules, but considering that some modules (sequencers, oscillators and filters) hide several levels of use and options it means literally that using the "small modules" approach on Nord Modular or Creamware's Modular, VAZ3Mod would list the double number of modules that it already lists. Another good detail of great base-design.
After long beta-testing processes its stability is rock-solid, its DXi and VSTi integration is superb (it can work as monochannel or multichannel, windows resizable, synth on any VST host as any other freewy-ware out there) and the standalone version with its practical 16 channels mixers allows to use any laptop as a high-performace station everywhere.
There's no weak points but I haven't rated less than 10 on two categories. Documentation. Well, VAZ Modular has always being sold through email sending (fast serving as another good argument for it), so the documentation is not bad but it's a help file that could be better, specially for starters and people with a short synthesis background. Presets. Well, considering the modular possibilites there's so much to explores that the miriad of 1/2 oscs models inside the library doesn't make justice. The sampling and granular possibilites would require to be sold on a CD full of professional patches and wave files. That could push VAZ Modular to a completely new level and public perception.
There's still new things that could be implemented, new modules (and I bet some are on the way to a 3.1 version) but it's suffice to say that VAZ Modular simply can not decive any one with a good electronic music knowledge. For me it's a classic still not surpased.Read Review
Someone said that VAZ was the most saved secret on sound arsenals, and that's true since VAZ+1.7 hit the market long before the VSTi revolution. Since then I've enjoyed the hard or soft, but always warm and rich sound of it. The sound is superb, probably couldn't be better on a Virtual Synth (hardware or software).
As a modular system I won't avoid to say that VAZ is the "real" modular concept after all my experience. People may by surprised by its menu popups systems to link modules at beginning. Other synth painting "realistic 3D" cabling just look nice on screen, VAZ modular simply allows to "connect everything everywhere" and on that sense it has the real Moog spirit on it (this is my honest impression). The popup menu connectivity is so clever that Martin Fay already introduced it on his first VAZ ever and is still, for me, the best way to work on a "computer modular". Other elements are so well integrated and easy that once you learn it is the most fast modular system I ever met (and I know most of them).
The new version adds many new modules, but considering that some modules (sequencers, oscillators and filters) hide several levels of use and options it means literally that using the "small modules" approach on Nord Modular or Creamware's Modular, VAZ3Mod would list the double number of modules that it already lists. Another good detail of great base-design.
After long beta-testing processes its stability is rock-solid, its DXi and VSTi integration is superb (it can work as monochannel or multichannel, windows resizable, synth on any VST host as any other freewy-ware out there) and the standalone version with its practical 16 channels mixers allows to use any laptop as a high-performace station everywhere.
There's no weak points but I haven't rated less than 10 on two categories. Documentation. Well, VAZ Modular has always being sold through email sending (fast serving as another good argument for it), so the documentation is not bad but it's a help file that could be better, specially for starters and people with a short synthesis background. Presets. Well, considering the modular possibilites there's so much to explores that the miriad of 1/2 oscs models inside the library doesn't make justice. The sampling and granular possibilites would require to be sold on a CD full of professional patches and wave files. That could push VAZ Modular to a completely new level and public perception.
There's still new things that could be implemented, new modules (and I bet some are on the way to a 3.1 version) but it's suffice to say that VAZ Modular simply can not decive any one with a good electronic music knowledge. For me it's a classic still not surpased.Read Review
I see myself using more and more Vivaldi, because it's one of those synth which is basically "useful". It has a strong FM character on its own, of course, but I have to admit that I've been surprised by how responsive is and how easy is to get tons of sounds from it.
It has some strongs points, one that this FM synth is the closes one that I've used to an analog in terms of easy of use and predictability on its structure, another is that it can sound FMish and surprisingly quite analog, so it allows to cover a wide palette of sounds (just check its internal bank), but one of the most importants is that it's a 4 layers synth which allows to create wonderful patches.
The interface is clear and has get the most of it's possibilities once you understand you got 4 tabs on right for the 4 layers and each one has its elements on the left tabs. The 3 levels of CPU use allows using lots and lots of instances on a medium machine. No documentation still, but it's support is premium.
I sincerelly recomend it, because being free is a real present, but sounding so fine, it's one of my favorites. Triangle II and Vivaldi are now my first choice of sounds, despite having several commercial synths. Impressive :-) Thanks Stefan!
Just check it! :-)
(No, still, no documentation, although I wouldn't mind.)Read Review
It has some strongs points, one that this FM synth is the closes one that I've used to an analog in terms of easy of use and predictability on its structure, another is that it can sound FMish and surprisingly quite analog, so it allows to cover a wide palette of sounds (just check its internal bank), but one of the most importants is that it's a 4 layers synth which allows to create wonderful patches.
The interface is clear and has get the most of it's possibilities once you understand you got 4 tabs on right for the 4 layers and each one has its elements on the left tabs. The 3 levels of CPU use allows using lots and lots of instances on a medium machine. No documentation still, but it's support is premium.
I sincerelly recomend it, because being free is a real present, but sounding so fine, it's one of my favorites. Triangle II and Vivaldi are now my first choice of sounds, despite having several commercial synths. Impressive :-) Thanks Stefan!
Just check it! :-)
(No, still, no documentation, although I wouldn't mind.)Read Review
Borderliner
Reviewed By LlunaSol [all]
April 22nd, 2002
Version reviewed: 1.1 on Windows
I'm not used to review synths but I have to admit that this one has surprised me a lot. The interface is extremely confusing but probably this is one of its strongest points :-)
I think that the words that mostly defines Borderline is surprisingly new and fresh. It sound extremely metallic, not bass at all, but good for weird sounds or leads so rich in high harmonics that will stand up any background like was usual with Casio synths. Weird phase distortion sound. It's difficult to defined but worth the time I've spent with it. Don't expect a classic synth but a completely new assortment of sounds despite it's basic substractive architecture.
The presets set is good showing a good range of possibilities. It's a pity but it's monophonic.Read Review
I think that the words that mostly defines Borderline is surprisingly new and fresh. It sound extremely metallic, not bass at all, but good for weird sounds or leads so rich in high harmonics that will stand up any background like was usual with Casio synths. Weird phase distortion sound. It's difficult to defined but worth the time I've spent with it. Don't expect a classic synth but a completely new assortment of sounds despite it's basic substractive architecture.
The presets set is good showing a good range of possibilities. It's a pity but it's monophonic.Read Review
