Available now: Tone2 Electra 2.11 - Synthesizer Workstation

[Markus Krause]

Product link:
https://www.tone2.com/electra2.html

Summary of key features

• Four synthesizers in one interface
• High-end sound quality
• Huge sonic range
• High flexibility
• 15 different, combinable synthesis methods
• Free support and updates
• Psychoacoustic processing
• Low CPU load, multi-core processor support
• Easy to use
• 4x multitimbral, 4x stereo unison
• Over 3000 sounds in 1369 presets by professional sound designers
• 41 exclusive filter types
• 53 oscillator types
• 64 effect types; Master effect section with Equalizer
• More than 1000 waveforms
• 64x4 voices
• Midi learn
• Realtime displays
• Drag & drop modulation
• Expandability
• Can import samples in wav and sfz format
• Can export samples in wav format
• Standalone version for PC
• Flexible preset management
• Context sensitive help

Summary of features per synthesizer layer (x4)

• Several playmodes: Monophonic, legato, polyphonic, glide
• 3 multi-synthesis oscillators
• Dual multi-mode filters
• Dual multi-mode distortion/waveshaper with 18 types
• 3 LFOs (global or per voice), a Step LFO, BPM syncable
• 17 Sine-LFOs (free-running)
• Four Envelope generators
• 13 Decay-Envelopes
• Arpeggiator
• Insert effect, BPM syncable
• Flexible modulation
• Key splitting

64 studio quality effects:

• Reverbs: Hall, Cathedral, Room, Infinity, Reverb Big, Glass, Band, Real, Hall old, Cathedral old, Gated, Reverse, ...
• Delays: Delay, Delay Band, Ping Pong, Multitap, ...
• Hyper Unison, Phaser FB, Phaser Stereo, Vibrato, Vibrato Stereo, Tremelo, Tremelo Stereo, Chorus, Ensemble, Phaser, Flanger, Rotary, Trancegate, Compressor, Ampsim, Equalizer, Punch, Surround Encode, ...
• Vocoder

Summary of synthesis methods & OSC features

• Subtractive
• FM
• Sample playback and import of own samples with loop support
• Wavetables
• Resynthesis function and the ability to load own waveforms
• Ultrasaw (up to 18 detuned oscillators per voice)
• Fractal (a completely new synthesis method)
• Physical modeling
• Phase distortion
• Waveshaping
• Exclusive oscillator types
• PWM
• Soft sync, hard sync
• Noise
• Ringmod
• Vocoder
• Analog oscillator modeling
• Microtuning

41 exclusive filter types

• 13 analog modeled filters with self oscillation: Low-pass/High-pass/Band-pass 12dB/18dB/24dB, Ladder, Butter, Filter-FM
• High precision digital filters: Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, Notch
• Equalizers: LowShelf, HighShelf, Peak, Wide
• Special types: Phaser, Comb+, Comb-, Vocals, Vocals2, Vocal AM, LP Shaped, LP AM, LP Elliptic, BP Boobs, M-Shape, Aliaser, Ringmod
• Exclusive fractal filters
• Physcial-modeling String, Physical-modeling Flute

System requirements

PC: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 / 11 (32 bit or 64 bit)
Plugin formats: 32-bit VSTi, 64-bit VSTi, VST3, Standalone

Mac: macOS 10.7 or higher / macOS 11 / macOS 12 / macOS 13
32bit Intel or 64bit Intel or M1 or M2
Plugin formats: VSTi, VST3, Audio Unit (AUi), Universal Binary, Standalone
Native support for M1 and M2

User-friendly copy-protection: No dongle, no cloud, no data-collection, no need to be online, does not install an additional 'license-manager' or driver


Full size screenshot: https://www.tone2.com/mypic/Tone2_Elect ... enshot.jpg

[Markus Krause]

Electra 2.9.5 (free update)

The update is available for free for all Electra2 users. It adds native Apple M1 ARM support for Mac.

New features:

- AudioUnit version supports M1 native.
- VSTi version supports M1 native.
- Help->'Show version info' displays the mode in which the plugin is running (ARM/Intel).

Enhancements:

- Much faster loading times on M1 Macs.
- The native M1 support results in 20% lower CPU use compared to Rosetta2 Mode.
- More responsive GUI on M1 Macs.
- More precise graphics for the knobs.
- Several small enhancements.

Changes:

- AudioUnit is now an AUv2 plugin.
- AudioUnit and VSTi are now a Universal Binary for Intel and M1.
- Minimum MacOS version is now 10.11. If you still use an older version you must stick with Electra v2.9.

Notes:
Unlike what Apple suggests to their customers porting complex products to native M1 is not easy at all. In our case it did mean many months of additional work.

Download link demo:
https://www.tone2.com/Tone2_Electra2_demo_Mac.pkg

Download link full version (requires a valid keyfile):
https://www.tone2.com/update/Tone2_Electra2_Mac.pkg

[Markus Krause]

Electra 2.9 (free update)

The update to v2.9 is available for free. It adds a VST3 version and includes several enhancements and fixes.
Electra 2.9 is downward compatible with all previous versions. All existing song projects and patches can be loaded without any further steps necessary.

New features:

• Added a VST3 version (PC).
• You can select from 3 different installation types (PC): Minimal (VST2 only), Default (VST2 + Standalone) and Full (VST2 + VST3 + Standalone).
• HiDPI support for the VST3 and Mac.
• Longer parameter-names with Layer-number for the VST3 version.

Enhancements:

• Smaller binary and slightly faster loading.
• More linear frequency respone for very high frequencies.
• Enhanced oversampling for 44 and 48kHz.
• More precise timing.
• More detailed tooltips.
• It is not longer necessary to reboot MacOS 11 & 12 to detect the AudioUnit.
• Slightly better performance.
• Further optimisation to prevent denormalisation.
• Smarter detection of VST2 path.
• Several small enhancements.

Fixes:

• Workaround for some DAWs that did not update the GUI properly after re-sizing it.
• The VST3 plugin (beta v2.8.5) did not properly sync the BPM-rate.
• Recording Automation with the VST3 version (beta v2.8.5) did not work in all DAWs.
• Fixed a possible GUI glitch with the Step-LFO.
• Better compatibility with MacOS 11 & 12. The effect parameters did not always update and tooltips did not work in Dark Mode.
• Workaround for several GUI glitches caused by Big Sur.

Changes:

• The 32 bit version will not longer be updated. If you still depend on it, you can install Electra 2.8 instead.
• Updated some links.

[Markus Krause]

This is a beta that still can contain bugs. It includes a VST3 version and a standalone for Mac (M1 native and Intel).
If you experience problems please contact support[a t]tone2.com .

Download link:
<removed>

Notes for the VST3 version:

We recommend to use the VST3 version only if your host does not longer support VST2.
For you as a producer there is no need at all to migrate to VST3 quickly. All hosts that currently support VST2 will continue to do this also for a very long time in the future (except Cubase in M1 Mode on Mac).
Unlike what Steinberg advertises in their marketing, VST3 does offer no significant advantages for synthesizers compared to VST2. The opposite is even true. VST3 does not offer proper Midi support.

[0degree]

GOD, I love this plugin

[Markus Krause]

Electra 2.10.0 beta (free update)

The update to v2.10.0 is available for free for PC and Mac.

New features:

• Added a VST3 version for Mac (M1 native and Intel).
• Added a standalone version for Mac (M1 native and Intel).

Enhancements:

• Several small enhancements.

Fixes:

• Automation in the VST3 version did not work with parameters that were located behind the 10th slot.
• Workaround for a bug of Ableton which did not display the M1 native AudioUnit.
• Workaround for a bug of Reaper which did display automation parameters incorrectly.

Changes:

• The AudioUnit interface had to be completely rewritten because of various compatibility issues introduced with Apple M1 support.
• Sadly Steinberg's VST3 format still does not offer proper Midi support. That's why it was technically necessary to limit the VST3 version on receiving Midi-learn messages only on channel 0. We recommend to use the VST2 version if your DAW supports several plugin formats.

This is a beta which still can contain bugs. If you experience issues please send an email to markus[a t]tone2[do t]com.

[THE INTRANCER]

If the GUI can't be reskinned, please lose the orange and blue spotlights. These lights have no realism in respect of the interface design or serve any practical benefits. They actually make the GUI difficult to look at.

[trusampler]

I've always wanted tone2 to update this synth, as it could use a much better browser, as well a better layout for layering sounds.

[Alex_Longard]

Ou, my loved synth)))
I will test it, I hope automation params still work.

[Markus Krause]

Tone2 Audio has updated the synthesizer-workstation Electra to v2.11. The update comes with VST3 support, a new standalone version and enhancements. It is available for free for all Electra2 users.

New features:

• Added a VST3 version for Mac (M1 native and Intel).
• Added a standalone version for Mac (M1 native and Intel).
• Completely new AudioUnit interface.
• AU and VST3 version display the layer of the automation parameter.
• The installer of the PC version automatically detects the path of a previous installation to avoid duplicates.
• The VST3 version now comes with mousewheel support for all DAWs on PC.

Enhancements:

• Many small enhancements.

Fixes:

• Workarounds for many DAWs which did not resize the VST3 plugin properly.
• Automation in the VST3 version did not work with parameters that were located behind the 10th slot.
• Workaround for a bug of Ableton and FL Studio which do not properly stick to the AudioUnit2 standard and did not display the AudioUnit.
• Workaround for a bug of Reaper which did display automation parameters incorrectly.
• Compatibility fix for Ableton which did not record the automation of knobs from layer2-4 correctly.

Dowload link free demo:
https://www.tone2.com/Tone2_Electra2_demo_PC_x64.zip
https://www.tone2.com/Tone2_Electra2_demo_Mac.pkg

Download link full version (requires a valid license and a keyfile):
https://www.tone2.com/update/Tone2_Elec ... _64Bit.zip
https://www.tone2.com/update/Tone2_Electra2_Mac.pkg

[commodore]

Great update, thanks!

I haven't updated since 2.8, and I really like the changes. I can tell things seem smoother in general. I remember clicking around sometimes seemed to lag a bit. Looking forward to using it. And I love the vst3 version as well. Now I can use it in Komplete Kontrol

[D-Fusion]

Thank you for the update
Love the sound of the Tone 2 Synths

[Examigan]

Electra and Saurus are my two favorites from Tone2.

[D-Fusion]

Electra and Saurus are my two favorites from Tone2.

Same here + Warlock

[Markus Krause]

We are currently woking on an update for PC.
It will provide support for WQHD, 4K, 8K UHD and hiDpi displays. It comes with ultrasharp graphics and hardware-accelaration.
You will be able to select from 16 different sizes for the GUI.



Full size screenshot:
https://www.tone2.com/mypic/Tone2_Elect ... enshot.jpg

New features:
- GUI with 16 different sizes (with and without editor/effects).
- Support for WQHD, 4K, 5K and 8K UHD displays.
- GUI can be zoomed from 50% up to 300% by clicking in the lower right corner.
- GUI supports hardware accelaration and is faster.
- Ultrasharp graphics with enhanced HiDpi and Retina Display support.
- Automatic detection of the ideal GUI size.
- Keyboard in patch browser is hidden when editor or effects are hidden.
- The user is warned if he/she selects a GUI size that is too large for the screen.

Enhancements:
- More precise pitch calculation.
- Completely rewritten GUI code.
- More beautiful graphics for the LCD displays.
- More contrast for the knob handles.
- Fine-tuned several coordinates in the interface.
- Fine-tuned some colors.

Fixes:
- Fixed an unlikely crash that could happen with switching a patch while playing a chord with microtuning.