KVR Audio

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 7:26 am

Just tried do do a comparison of features ad those seem to be missing in A1 compared to Largo:

- no 64-bit, VST3 and AAX
- Wavetables
- 1 more Osc + 2 Sub-Oscs
- adjustable waveform phase (or "free" setting)
- Osc Sync
- adjustable Bend range for each main oscillator
- adjustable keytracking setting for all 3 main Oscs (default setting + 100%)
- Unison (with 2 up to 6 voices selection, detune and stereo width control)
- adjustable Noise color
- pitch modulation by multiple sources (including e.g. LFOs, envelopes and FM with the oscillators + Noise)
- FM for all main oscillators with selectable source (in Largo all 3 Oscs as source)
- second multimode filter (switchable to parallel or serial)
- Comb filter modes
- multiple Drive curves (8 in Largo)
- Bass boost feature/switch
- Filter FM (all 3 main Oscs as source in Largo)
- 2 additional envelopes, different envelope modes and trigger modes
- 2 additional LFOs
- Mod matrix
- aftertouch modulation
- Arpeggiator
- additional effects like Flanger, Phaser, Reverb, Delay, Overdrive
- some additional Chorus parameters
- EQ with up to 4 bands (each band with frequency, Q and gain controls)
- Layers (up to 4 in Largo)

The Nave and PPG Wave 3.V plugins are great too they are missing some of those features too, especially some typical VA features like Sync and FM. As an "allround" synth Largo still seems to be the best choice of the 3 major plugins from Waldorf (and also compared to A1...).

TrekStar · Post by **TrekStar** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 7:40 pm

loved A1, too. I's a pitty , that it's no more part of cubase....

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:30 pm

Since our Cubase licenses are backwards compatible.. is there a legal means of downloading the older Cubase to pull out the A1?

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:33 pm

VitaminD wrote:Since our Cubase licenses are backwards compatible..

Are they? Don't think you can legally download and use Cubase 5 if you own a Cubase 8 license...

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:41 pm

chk071 wrote:
VitaminD wrote:Since our Cubase licenses are backwards compatible..
Are they? Don't think you can legally download and use Cubase 5 if you own a Cubase 8 license...

check here http://www.steinberg.net/forums/viewtopic.php?p=210158

We just need the media..

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:45 pm

Wow, that's mighty cool, didn't know about that. Thanks for the heads up.

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:46 pm

Yeap.. little known feature.

Now to find the Cubase Artist (LE) with A1 in it.. hehe

chk071 · Post by **chk071** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:50 pm

Maybe this helps: https://www.steinberg.net/nc/en/support ... ility.html

A1: Due to legal reasons the Virtual Instrument A1 is neither included on Cubase 4 DVDs nor available as download. It only can be copied from an already existing installation of Cubase SX 3. Cubase Studio/Essential are not compatible with A1.

Edit: I see now Ingo already posted it earlier.

Got Cubase Pro 8 here and Retrologue as a built-in synth (like A1 was in SX3) actually seems to be better than A1 that was included with Cubase SX3. Official downloads for SX3 do not seem to be availabele (also not at the Steinberg FTP), only the last updates for it (same about SX2).

Btw, that also makes me think that not Steinberg own the rights for A1 but Waldorf, at least partly, if they're not able to provide it as a download. Which would make the release as part of the VST Classic series not very likely too...

VitaminD · Post by **VitaminD** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:57 pm

well... poo! But thanks for the info.

Yes.. maybe we should petition Waldorf?

layzer · Post by **layzer** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 12:08 am

Ingonator wrote:
layzer wrote:love A1. the magic of A1 is the snappy filter and the distinctive onboard chorus at almost no cpu usage.
Largo still seems to be the best choice of the 3 major plugins from Waldorf (and also compared to A1...).

Cant compare Largo to A1, Largo is wavetable + way more sophisticated.
A1 is a great synth in its own right despite its age. it is a VA with the ability
to make some interesting sounds similar to synth1. its just a nice piece of vintage waldorf.

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 6:44 am

edited, nvm

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:14 am

If i did not misunderstand this the A1 seemed to be incuded with all SX and also SL versions of Cubase.

fmr · Post by **fmr** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:38 am

If it helps, A1 still works in 32-bit current versions of Cubase. You just have to install it in the internal VstPlugIns folder of Cubase. This is also true for the other synths that came with it the bass, the drum synths, etc.). I didn't test in 64-bit versions, but probably they will not work there.

Bottom word is: Anyone which have access to older versions of Cubase (Like SX3) can just copy the DLLs to the new Cubase folder, and copy the presets too (don't remember right exactly where these should go).

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:51 am

fmr wrote:If it helps, A1 still works in 32-bit current versions of Cubase. You just have to install it in the internal VstPlugIns folder of Cubase. This is also true for the other synths that came with it the bass, the drum synths, etc.). I didn't test in 64-bit versions, but probably they will not work there.

Bottom word is: Anyone which have access to older versions of Cubase (Like SX3) can just copy the DLLs to the new Cubase folder, and copy the presets too (don't remember right exactly where these should go).

If you got the 64-bit version of Cubase Pro 8 (or 7.5) installed it could be possible that it also works with the built-in bridge. Got a few other 32-bit plugins working that way.

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Thu Jul 16, 2015 4:06 pm

It looks like A1 was removed from Cubase due to licensing problems when Waldorf was out of business for 2 years or more (around 2004 - 2006). Cubase SX3 (last version with A1) seemed to be released in 2004.

I was able to get an installer for Cubase SX3 which seems to work with my Cubase Pro 8 license (current Cubase licenses seem to be backwards compatible with SX3). The installer also seemed to install the A1 plugin.
Also looks like this one is working in Cubase Pro 8.0.20 64-bit on Windows 7 64-bit here (using the built-in bridge).
Copied the plugin to C:\Program Files\Steinberg\Cubase 8\Vstplugins\Synths (comparable to the location in SX3). Does not work at my default Vstplugins location where i also have my 64-bit plugins. Will also check at other places. Still seems to work in Cubase Pro 8 when SX3 is deinstalled.

Just checked with Bitwig Studio 1.1.9 (that has a built-in bridge) and got a message "Sorry, A1 Analog Synth does not work with this host!". Same messages in Live 9 32-bit and Reaper 4.78. So this indeed seems to be limited to be used in Cubase.

Cubase SX3 seems to be running too here at Windows 7 64-bit without any "tricks". Also removed the USB dongle (with my Cubase 8 license) to see how SX3 reacts and it did not start without it (got an error message and worked again after the dongle was plugged in and clicking on "retry").

PS:
For those searching for a Cubase SX3 installer maybe this thread at the Steinberg forum gives a "hint":
http://www.steinberg.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7259

Waldorf A1 synth (Cubase)... forgotten how good it is!