KVR Audio

vic_france · Post by **vic_france** » Sun May 04, 2014 12:30 pm

hueynym wrote:
aMUSEd wrote: Well I don't think 'intricated' is a word
It's not a word in English - although U.S. President Bush used it (incorrectly) several times. However, I believe the word, and idea behind it, is more closely related to: "InStricated" - Although it's probably fine as it is now...

Just so long as we don't misunderestimate the power of XILs 4

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Sun May 04, 2014 1:01 pm

hueynym wrote:
aMUSEd wrote: Well I don't think 'intricated' is a word
It's not a word in English - although U.S. President Bush used it (incorrectly) several times. However, I believe the word, and idea behind it, is more closely related to: "InStricated" - Although it's probably fine as it is now...

President Wow I knew it would end like this, my mother warned me ( perhaps Mr Bush would not have been my 1st choice as a mentor but well .... )

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Sun May 04, 2014 1:06 pm

aMUSEd wrote:Will this be able to import XILS3 patches - maybe into each core so you can layer them or (even better) morph between them?

Good ideas are always shared

yes there's a double browser, and you can load the right or left synth in either of the 2 synth core engines.

You can see me loading a patch in the *Left* VCS 3 at approx 0'30'' in the video . I could have then loaded a different one in the Right engine.

Its a very creative feature for those who want to layer/mix/match quickly two presets, like a Pad + Fx, or two leads, in the Xils 4

Frantz · Post by **Frantz** » Sun May 04, 2014 2:52 pm

I am saving my money for XILS 5. Here is the preview:

chilledpanda · Post by **chilledpanda** » Sun May 04, 2014 3:05 pm

aMUSEd wrote:
Lotuzia wrote:
aMUSEd wrote:'intricated' = integrated?
Oops. Hmmm, I'm not sure *integrated* is the right word, but you'll tell me : more like "interlocked" "interlink with" Basically the idea is that the two VCS3 engines are, or can be, tied, communicating with each other.

So do you think *integrated* is the right wrod for that Stephen ?
Well I don't think 'intricated' is a word - the interacting part you have covered already so integrated would probably be a reasonable substitute. Maybe the phrase should be 'integrated, interlinked and interacting' - you get bonus points for the alliteration

Sounds more like VCS3 laison or Dual VCS3 liaison. Though you wouldn't need to put the dual as liaison by definition implies two or more co-operation (working together).

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Sun May 04, 2014 3:37 pm

So... this is basically two XILS 3.2's combined? Pretty awesome... XILS 3 is one of my go-to instruments when I want a vintage sound in software.

Here's my wish though... it would have been so awesome if they had used this update as an opportunity to ditch the skeuomorphic UI a bit (though I still like buttons to look pressable and knobs to look tweakable) and move to a UI that's more like Madrona Lab's Aalto. Call me dumb, but the one thing I have an issue with on XILS 3 is being able to glance at a patch and "grok" it it right away. I understand why Synthi used push pins, but they are really a meaningless concept in our software world.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Mon May 05, 2014 6:38 am

Frantz wrote:I am saving my money for XILS 5. Here is the preview:

We have a project for that, but its code name is not Xils 5. Can't speak about it now, because it could prevent people from sleeping well, as its quite .... terrific.

Btw thinking that the Xils 4 is equivalent to loading two instances of the Xils 3 would be totally missing the point. Most of the patches made especially for the Xils 4 could not have bene created by loading simultaneously 2 Xils 3 instances.

Btw the Xils 4 factory library includes around 300 new presets especially designed for it. And will inherit the Xils 3 Factory Library as well.

That means a lot of stellar presets

electro · Post by **electro** » Mon May 05, 2014 12:42 pm

Lotuzia wrote:The XILS 4 closely emulates a never released prototype, the EMS VCS4, based on two integrated, interlinked and interacting VCS3 ( Synthi ) cores.

Are there different components in the prototype model than the VCS3?

Lotuzia wrote:
Frantz wrote:Btw thinking that the Xils 4 is equivalent to loading two instances of the Xils 3 would be totally missing the point. Most of the patches made especially for the Xils 4 could not have bene created by loading simultaneously 2 Xils 3 instances.

Are there any sonic changes from 3.2 to speak of?

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Mon May 05, 2014 8:59 pm

electro wrote: ....

Are there any sonic changes from 3.2 to speak of?

Besides that they are interacting, that you can cascade the two cores (ie use the input in the second core ) yes, there are still some other differences.

I"ll post some sound examples in the next couple of days to let people guess.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Tue May 06, 2014 8:48 am

1/ The Xils 4 3D Trailer ( aka How fun it would be if VSTI had a 3rd dimension

)

Based on an awsome bass preset made by Nori. Only a limiter added on Master Bus with EA Reverb. No EQ, No Daw Automation, No Comps, No Nothing, except Xils 4.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Wed May 07, 2014 9:09 am

zerocrossing wrote:So... this is basically two XILS 3.2's combined? Pretty awesome... XILS 3 is one of my go-to instruments when I want a vintage sound in software.

Here's my wish though... it would have been so awesome if they had used this update as an opportunity to ditch the skeuomorphic UI a bit (though I still like buttons to look pressable and knobs to look tweakable) and move to a UI that's more like Madrona Lab's Aalto. Call me dumb, but the one thing I have an issue with on XILS 3 is being able to glance at a patch and "grok" it it right away. I understand why Synthi used push pins, but they are really a meaningless concept in our software world.

Hi ZC,

Thanks for your kind words.

Regarding the UI and GUI, I like Aalto design ( and sound too ). But .. imho

It can only work if you have few modules to connect and a rather small ammount of simultaneous connexions. To illustrate this : Aalto has only one Complex ( and interesting ) Oscillator. The Xils 4 has ..... 12 Oscillators + 2 Noise oscillators with tone control. In the Xils 4 you have more than 1100 possible connexions per patch. Could you imagine this in the middle bar of Aalto ?

Same with cables ( I already expressed the différences with cables in the Xils 3v.2 verbatim on Xils site ) An UI with more than 500 cables could look a bit messy.

SOoo I think all designs ( Xils 4,Aalto, Moog Modular, Korg MS-20 ) are valid, but the best is probably to adapt a design to the purpose and concept of the synthesizer. The Xils 4 is a modular monster, not only does it offer numerous modules that other synthesizers dont, but also the Polysequencer, wich is intimately tied to the synthesis engines etc. So in this case my impression is that an Aalto type of design would have not have been adapted. This doesnt mean that the UI and GUI cant be bettered of course : We have -hopefully- made big steps in ergonomics since the 1st XIls 3 has been released. ( see below )

Also, about "reading" a patch, and therefore building it, I hope that the Xils 3 v2.0 brought some clear enhancements about this : You can now have the two main matrixes on the same screen, and two smaller matrixes as well. It makes a big difference in ergonomics. I agree however than reading a patch has a small Learning curve on the Xils 3-4, wich imho is the price to pay for modular synths, that are also pure research synthesizers. However, after a while, I think you can read a whole patch rather easily in a glance, and this can include a hundred of simultaneous connexions ( though the limit is in theory around 500-600 simultaneous connexions per patch )

Well, as I see it, either people will use the easy way and begin with presets, or more or less modified presets, and there are a LOT of presets in the Xils 4, either they'll use it as a pure sound research unit, and research probably means *some time* spent on the machine to fully understand it, then master it.

As for me, after hundred of hours spent on it, I still discover new things every day.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Fri May 09, 2014 9:10 am

Xils 4 Minitrack Demo 1 Extravaganza

Demo Track 1 Extravaganza

In this track, I massively used a feature of the Xils 4 that is not present in the Xils 3 series. Guess wich one

twolegstoneworks · Post by **twolegstoneworks** » Sat May 10, 2014 10:43 am

Purchased the upgrade, but cant seem to locate the install file... contacted support, but it's weekend.. anyone else having problems?

murnau · Post by **murnau** » Sat May 10, 2014 11:01 am

metal wrote:Purchased the upgrade, but cant seem to locate the install file... contacted support, but it's weekend.. anyone else having problems?

XILS 4 release date : May 14th 2014

filulilu · Post by **filulilu** » Sat May 10, 2014 11:04 am

metal wrote:Purchased the upgrade, but cant seem to locate the install file... contacted support, but it's weekend.. anyone else having problems?

It's not there yet. It will be available on May 14th.

Xils 4 The Pin Matrix Modular Analog Synthesizer [V1.5 released + Intro Price offer]