Available now: Tone2 Icarus v3.2

[zeph]

Brilliant stuff - what is the estimate of when it will be released?

[Korg Supporter]

Brilliant stuff - what is the estimate of when it will be released?

Iirc, should be by March.

[Echoes in the Attic]

This is a temporary list of what will be new in Icarus3. Everything in the list below already has been implemented. This list is not final and still will change till release.
The sound of Icarus3 is now absolutely AWESOME as all emements not greatly blend together and the weak points have been fixed. We are conviced that it will be the new reference for synthesizers.

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The update to v3.0 is a major update. It is downward-compatible with all previous versions. All existing song projects and patches can be loaded without any further steps necessary.


New features - synthesis:

• New analog-modeled lowpass-filter with self-oscillation: LP Ladder 24dB.
• New analog-modeled lowpass-filter with screaming self-oscillation: LP MS-20 12dB.
• Added a new oscillator-type "MegaSaw 6", which plays 6 detuned oscillators with a special, very pleasant phase allignment. It is useful for lush pads.
• Added a new oscillator-type "MegaStereo 6", which plays 6 detuned oscillators with stereo spread. It is useful for lush pads and does not occasionally sound ugly like the "hypersaws" from our competitors.
• Added a new oscillator-type "MegaStereo 12", which plays 12 detuned oscillators with stereo spread. We are convinced, that this is the best sounding "hypersaw" sound available on the market.
• Added a new oscillator-type "SuperSaw 5", which plays 5 detuned oscillators. It is inspired by the JP8000.
• Added a new oscillator-type "SuperStereo 10", which plays 10 oscillators with stereo spread. It has a silky signature.
• Added a new oscillator-type "SuperStereo 14", which plays 14 oscillators. It is useful for lush pads and very fat sounds.
• Added a new oscillator-type "Drift 1x" which emulates the oscillator detuning of analog synthesizers.
• Added a new oscillator-type "Drift 2x" which sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 2x unison.
• Added a new oscillator-type "Drift 4x" which sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 4x unison.
• Added a new oscillator-type "Drift 8x" which sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 8x unison.
• Added a new oscillator-type "Drift Stereo 2x" which sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 2x unison and stereo spread.
• Added a new oscillator-type "Drift Stereo 4x" which sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 4x unison and stereo spread.
• Added a new oscillator-type "Drift Stereo 8x" which sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 8x unison and stereo spread.
• The random button creates more impressive patches. It now also randomizes the LFOs, the Arp and effects.
• Added 2 new FM synthesis modes with integer ratios: "FM Sine 4/1","FM Sine 5/1".
• Added 2 new FM synthesis modes with subharmonic ratios:"FM Sine 1/2", "FM Sine 1/4".
• Added 4 new FM synthesis modes with fractional ratios for bell-style sounds: "FM Sine 3/2","FM Sine 5/2","FM Sine 3/4","FM Sine 5/4".
• Added a "Transient-shaper" to SETUP. It dynamically boosts high frequency transients to add punch and clarity
• The arpeggiator is now able to play two-tones. To access them click on '+' and pick one of these chords: m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, d5, P5, m6, M6, m7, M7, P8
• The arpeggiator is now able to play triads. To access them click on '+' and pick one of these chords: C, Cm, su2, su4, C5, C5x
• A new autochord mode as been added to the arpeggiator: C7 Tetrad.
• New modulation source: Random+- is a bipolar random sample&hold value that re-triggers on noteOn.
• New modulation source: FlipFlop+ is an unipolar value that alternates with every keypress.
• New modulation source: White Noise+- is a modulator with biploar white noise.
• The VST3 and AudioUnit version now also support MPE. If you want to use MPE make sure that your DAW proerly transmits on all midi channels. Some older DAWs do support MPE only with VST2.
• It is now possible to combine monophonic oscillators with a polyphonic patch. If 'Monophonic->Root Note' the currently played chord is analyzed and the oscillator plays with the root note. This mode is usesfull for creating glitter in pads or for auto-accompaniment with a bass sound.
• The wavetable editor has a new sweep mode "Warmth" which can softly fade the current waveform to a sine wave.
• There are now 3 different modes available which define the treatment of identical notes that are re-triggered in SETUP:
• Soft kill old voice: If a note that is still in release is played again, the old one will be faded-out quickly. This reduces CPU and results in a clear mix.
• Overlap voices: This is the behaviour that is common in other synths. It can result in a phasing sound.
• Soft-retrigger old voice: The old voice continues playing. This mode is useful for pads and analog sounds.
• Hard kill old voice: If a note that is still in release is played again, the old one will be killed at once. This reduces CPU but can also cause clicks.
• Clicky kill old voice: The new voice will start with a punchy sound.
• Overlap and sync phases: This mode was used in Icarus1 and 1 as a default. It forces all oscillator to be in phase with the old voice. It can cause a swelling sound.

New features - effects:

• New effect-type 'Unison' which stacks 3,5,7 or 9 virtual voices. You can control the detuning and the stereo-spread.
• New effect type: Krautrock Phaser. A phaser inspired by the circuits of the "Schulte Compact Phasing A" devices.
• New effect type: Krautrock Stereo. A stereo version of the Krautrock Phaser.
• New effect-type 'Haas Effect' which creates the impression of positioning a sound source.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Digital XOR. The 'drive' knob controls the bitwise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Digital OR. The 'drive' knob controls the bitwise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Digital AND. The 'drive' knob controls the bitwise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Noise Mix White. The 'drive' knob controls the noise mix level.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Noise Mix Pink. The 'drive' knob controls the noise mix level.  
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Noise RingMod. The 'drive' knob controls the balance.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Noise AM. The 'drive' knob controls the balance.
• New reverb-type "Sitar Resonace" that sounds like the sympathethic resonance of sitar strings.
• New distortion-type for the FX section: Digital XOR. The 'value' slider controls the bitwise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the FX section: Digital OR. The 'value' slider controls the bitwise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the FX section: Digital AND. The 'value' slider controls the bitwise scrambling.

New features - interface:

• GUI with 26 different sizes (with and without keyboard and parameter-editor).
• Native support for WQHD, 4K, 5K and 8K UHD displays.
• We complete reworked the look of the interface.
• Skinable user interface: We created 59 new skins which can selected in SETUP. The look of the previous version is still available as "Icarus2 classic" skin.
• The GUI can be scaled from 50% up to 200% by clicking in the lower right corner.
• Ultrasharp graphics with enhanced HiDpi and Retina Display support.
• The modualtion matrix is now animated and shows the current modulation value. This makes it a lot more easy to understand how patches work.
• You can now right-click and hold down keys on the keyboard.
• It is more easy to understand how patches were programmed as the most relevant tab window is shown automatically.
• The patch browser shows tips how the sounds are intended to be played.
• Installed soundsets are more easy to spot. They have yellow color in the patch browser.
• Duplicate and deprecated categories from previous installations have red color in the patch browser.
• Templates and soundset-demos are greyed-out in the patch browser.
• Custom patch categories created by the user (technically a new subdirectoy within \Icarus_sounds) have yellow color in the patch browser.
• Automatic detection of the ideal GUI size.
• The mousewheel can be used to quick-select patches.
• Entry of menus with sub-menus can be quick-selected with the mousewheel in linear order.
• The total number of waveforms and the number of the current waveform is shown on the top-right of the osc display.
• The wavetable-editor supports HiDpi and has a crisp image.
• The wavetable-editor wastes less screen-space and can be twice as large.
• The wavetable-editor automatically selects a good size.
• The wavtable editor always shows the number of the currently selected waveform.
• The classic orthogonal wavetable view now animates the current waveform with the morph and the phase.
• The 3d wavetable view now animates the current waveform with the morph and the phase.
• It is now possible to drag&drop wavetables to the oscillators. The synth automatically detects if the wav file is a sample, waveform or a wavetable.
• A template-dialog is shown when the user enables the drums within a patch that comes with no drums sounds.
• A template-dialog is shown when the user enables the glitch-sequencer within a patch that comes with no pattern.
• The location where the patches are stored can be shown with FILE->Show patch directory.
• The location where the drums are stored can be shown with <Preset>->Show drums directory.
• The location where the arpeggiator presets are stored can be shown with <Preset>->Show presets directory.
• The location where the glitch-sequencer presets are stored can be shown with <Preset>->Show presets directory.
• The location where the effect templates are stored can be shown with <Preset>->Show FX templates directory.
• The location where the mseg waveforms are stored can be shown with <Preset>->Show presets directory.
• You can show the location of the wavetables on the harddisc in the oscillator section with TOOLS->Show wavetables directory.
• You can show the location of the wavetables on the harddisc within the wavetable-editor with FILE->Show wavetables directory.
• You can show the location of the waveforms on the harddisc within the wavetable-editor with FILE->Show waveforms directory.
• The mouse cursor changes back to an arrow after leaving the modulation-depth area of a knob.
• An up-down arrow is sent when the users clicks on the arpeggiator's note grid.
• Mousewheel support for up-down controls.
• The credits can be viewed by clicking on the Tone2 logo.
• Mousewheel support for the VST3 and AudionUnit version in all DAWs.

Enhancements - sound quality:

• The audio-engine now uses 64-bit precision instead of 32-bit, which results in a higher sound-quality and a more transparent mix.
• Reworked big parts of the audio-code.
• The microtuning-range is now limited and can not longer run 'out-of-tune'.
• The synth 'sits better in the mix', especially when it is combined with other instruments.
• The synth sounds better with patches that use long release times. Unlike conventional synths Icarus does not longer suffer from 'phasing' when a note which is in release is re-triggered.
• The mix is more transparent and the amplitude does not longer get out of control when many notes are played quickly.
• The hypersaws do not longer suffer from an occasional 'phasing' sound.
• More precise pitch calculation.
• More precise filter-cutoff calculation.
• More precise phase calculation.
• Enhanced sound of sample playback.
• Enhanced sound of the drum sequencer by improving the spline interpolation.
• Enhanced sound of the formant synthesis.
• Enhanced parameter-smoothing.
• Enhanced the sound of many chords with the microtuning modes 'Dynamic Silky' and 'Dynamic Valotti'.
• The microtuning-range is now limited and the synth can not longer run 'slightly-out-of-tune' under very special condidions.
• The synth 'sits better in the mix' with other instruments.
• Enhanced sound of the limiter. It has a more precise calculation now.
• The 'Hard Clip' distortion in the FX section sounds better and has less aliasing.
• The 'Rectify' distortion in the FX section has been extended with a DC offset remover and has less aliasing.
• The 'Bitcrush' distortion in the FX section has been extended with a DC offset remover.
• The 'Hard Clip' insert effect in the filter section sounds better and has less aliasing.
• The 'Rectify' insert effect in the filter section sounds better and has less aliasing.
• The 'Bitcrush' distortion in the filter section has been enhanced.
• Reworked the "Physical modeling Guitar" filtertype. It has a more precise calculation. An additional highpass removes low frequency rumble.
• Reworked the "Physical modeling Flute" filtertype. It has a more precise calculation. An additional highpass removes low frequency rumble.
• More precise EQ calculation.
• Enhanced the sound of the White Noise in the lo-fi effect 'Noise'.
• Enhanced the sound of the Noise in the 'Tape Delay'.
• Enhanced the sound of the oscillator type 'Noise White'.
• Enhanced sound of 'One shot' sample playback by improving the spline interpolation.
• Enhanced sound of 'Vibrato' and 'Stereo Vibrato' by improving the spline interpolation.
• Enhanced sound of 'Flanger' and 'Stereo Flanger' by improving the spline interpolation.
• Enhanced sound of 'Smart unison' by improving the spline interpolation.
• Enhanced sound of 'Chorus' by improving the spline interpolation.
• Enhanced sound of 'Feedback' by improving the spline interpolation.
• Enhanced sound of 'Reverb Big'. It has more depth, a more transparent tail and better performance.
• Enhanced sound of 'Reverb Infinite'. It has a more transparent tail, more depth and better performance.
• Enhanced sound of 'Reverb Glass'. It has a more transparent tail, more depth and better performance.
• Enhanced sound of 'Reverb Plate'. It has a more transparent tail, more depth and better performance.
• Enhanced sound of 'Reverb Medium'. It has more depth, better interpolation and has less 'phasing' when stereo oscillators are used.
• Phsycal modeling filters are in-tune if you init a new patch.
• Better default settings for several delay types. They sound less detuned.
• Waveforms now smoothly interpolate when a new patch is initialised.
• Better default values for many effects.
• Several small enhancements for the resynthesis.
• Switching the filtertype while playing a sound does not longer result in an occasional plop-sound.
• Fine-tweaked the default values for the Init-patch.
• A huge number of further small enhancements.

New factory content:

• 150 new patches that make use of the new features have been added. They were carefully crafted by professional sound-designers. You can recognize them as they got an 'I3' or 'i3' (Icarus3) in the name.
• The complete factory content has been reworked.
• All sounds are now properly sorted into the right categories.
• Several new categories have been added.
• Lots of sounds were enhanced and fine-tuned.
• A few mediocre sounds have been kicked to provide only top-quality content. You can download them optionally from the website.
• Additional Arpeggiator and Glitch-sequencer presets have been added.

Enhancements - interface:

• Reworked and enhanced graphics.
• Completely rewritten GUI code.
• The animations are faster and smoother.
• More precise modulation matrix with new sliders.
• Fine-tuned some coordinates in the interface.
• Re-sizing the VST3, Standalone and Audiounit works more reliable.
• Fine-tuned some colors.
• The automatic screen-size detection is smarter.
• Drums tab is shown automatically when drums are switched to ON.
• Glitch tab is shown automatically when glitch-sequencer is switched to ON.
• Enhanced the init patch default settings.
• The 3D wavetable view shows more details.
• Glitch tab is shown automatically when the glitch sequencer is switched to ON.
• The matrix slider values can be set in 5% steps with the mousewheel.
• A tweak of the detune knob smartly switches between mono and stereo.
• Editing the Oscillators is smoother. More responsive visual feedback is given.
• Editing the LFO is smoother. More responsive visual feedback is given.
• Editing the Envelopes is smoother. More responsive visual feedback is given.
• Editing the Filter is smoother. More responsive visual feedback is given.
• Editing the EQ is smoother. More responsive visual feedback is given.
• The time display of the envelopes has a little more contrast.
• Enhanced visual quality of the wavetable display.
• Replaced the VU with a more beautiful one.
• Enhanced look of the vector-knob texts.
• Enhanced look of the diodes.
• TOOLS->'Synthesize a random wavetable' requires less clicks as it is not longer hidden behind a sub-menu.
• The mousewheel snaps on knobs with precise 5 percent steps.
• The filter previous- and next arrows are able to handle unsorted lists.
• The lines in the displays are more thick whena large size is selected.
• Slightly larger texts for the mouse-over texts of knobs in certain resolutions.
• Drag and drop is disabled when the patch browser is open.
• The color of the wavetable editor does not longer change with the skin settings.
• The coordiantes of the drag&drop line are now more precise.
• Fine-tuned the visualisation of the LFO shapes.
• New demo splash screen.
• Updates can be now be downloaded from the help-menu.
• A huge number of further small enhancements.

Enhancements - performance:

• Support for hardware-acceleration.
• Smoother animations and more responisve controls.
• Reduced the GPU load when the patch browser is open.
• Reduced the CPU load when patches with long release times are played quickly.
• Reduced CPU load on extremely fast graphic cards by limiting the framerate.
• Many small performance-optimizations.

Anything updated from the last list?

[Lectropunk aka influx808]

I just installed the computer music magazine with icarus and I have to say icarus 1.6 is awesome!! Great work markus

[Medenka]

Is there info which waves are loaded in the oscillators? Say, I load a patch, change the waves in the oscillators, don't save the patch, save the project, and close DAW. On next project launch, will I see anywhere in the GUI - you have this wave loaded in Oscillator 1, that wave in Oscillator 2, etc.?

AFAIK, this has not been implemented in Nemesis 3 (I own version 2), and is a major drawback. I have to guess by the shape which wave is loaded, then remember how's it called and where exactly in the list it is located.

So, if this has not been implemented in Icarus 3 - this is a feature request! Same for Nemesis, etc.

[Tone2 Synthesizers]

Is there info which waves are loaded in the oscillators? Say, I load a patch, change the waves in the oscillators, don't save the patch, save the project, and close DAW. On next project launch, will I see anywhere in the GUI - you have this wave loaded in Oscillator 1, that wave in Oscillator 2, etc.?

So, if this has not been implemented in Icarus 3 - this is a feature request!

This is already supported in Icarus since a very very long time (maybe even since v1.0?) . The name of the WAV is shown in the lower center of the waveform display.

[mevla]

I just installed the computer music magazine with icarus and I have to say icarus 1.6 is awesome!! Great work markus

If Icarus3 does not run smoothly in Linux, I'll be nevertheless more than OK with 1.6. I tried version 2, but it didn't work well.

This said, all other Tone2 latest updates are running fine. The problem was very probably with GUI management. So it might be looking good for Icarus3.

[Tone2 Synthesizers]

If Icarus3 does not run smoothly in Linux, I'll be nevertheless more than OK with 1.6. I tried version 2, but it didn't work well.

This said, all other Tone2 latest updates are running fine. The problem was very probably with GUI management. So it might be looking good for Icarus3.

Icarus v2.0 and v2.5 still use the old and slow GDI+. The performace under WINE with GDI+ is a bit choppy.
The latest Tone2 updates (Nemesis3, Gladiator4, Saurus4, RayBlaster3, Electra3) use Direct2d with hardware accelertion. This works fine in Linux.
Icarus3 will also come with Direct2d and hardware acceleration. It should work with Linux.

[Tone2 Synthesizers]

Coming to Icarus3: Granular synthesis! I'll post more info here soon.

[Caine123]

Coming to Icarus3: Granular synthesis! I'll post more info here soon.

[Korg Supporter]

Coming to Icarus3: Granular synthesis! I'll post more info here soon.

Will there be a sort of spectral feature too? I'm not trying to pressure you, but I think the additive features recently shown in Zebralette 3 might inspire you to do something cool with the granular engine or wavetables.

[mevla]

It could be nice to have a capability to temporarily zoom the arpeggiator to a larger size in order to be more at ease when configuring it. Instead of having it solely more or less cramped in a corner of the synth.

[Echoes in the Attic]

Coming to Icarus3: Granular synthesis! I'll post more info here soon.

Amazing!

[MJACau]

Awesome.

[exmatproton]

Coming to Icarus3: Granular synthesis! I'll post more info here soon.