New MPE synths...

[gaf_thit]

First batch of micromonsta 2 is already sold out. Didn't ship to Norway. Oh well, watching for that newsletter....

Edit: Orders are open again from December 1.

[pdxindy]

Vital Nov 24 I think.

Good month for MPE!

I am looking forward to give Vital a try. It is clearly based on Serum, but with some added features and an even more intuitive workflow.

I'm really enjoying Vital... This is my first attempt using the Text to Wavetable function using vocal sounds not words and played with my Linnstrument.

https://dandelionaudio.com/sound/Vital-Vocal-1.mp3

[sjmarano]

Well, Dirk, I went ahead and purchased the upgrade as well, and discovered another surprise: it appears that Equator2 won't run on any version of Windows 10 earlier than Release 1909. And I can confirm that: the installation failed on my PC within seconds of being invoked.

I have been holding off on updating my copy of W10 due to some reported performance issues that it might introduce. In retrospect, I should have double-checked the s/w specs before ordering, but this is the first time I have ever encountered a Windows application that required upgrading to a given 'mid-release' version of the latest O/S. I thought those kinds of annoyances were reserved for Mac users.

Well I have to take back my previous comment about Equator2 not running on earlier releases of Windows 10. I decided to get in touch with ROLI just to confirm that was the case, and it turns out the company's new 'ROLI CONNECT' portal - which is their new method of software installation - was the culprit. After reinstalling it and rebooting my computer, the Equator2 installation proceeded without a hitch and took all of 10 seconds to install a tiny new software package (~25MB). Fingers crossed, everything seems to be in order and I'll be trying out the new funtionality over the next couple of weeks.

[JefVerbeeck]

(...)

I'm really enjoying Vital... This is my first attempt using the Text to Wavetable function using vocal sounds not words and played with my Linnstrument.

https://dandelionaudio.com/sound/Vital-Vocal-1.mp3

Testing out the free version, and I 'm really liking it too!

It took me a bit to figure out "timbre/Y" on the LinnStrument is labeled as "slide" on the synth. Also, the bend range seems to be fixed to ±48 semitones.

No MPE presets, but that does not bother me too much since I like to make my own sounds.

[WasteLand]

Shapiro 2 does support MPE. It works, but you need to assign the pitch bend to the oscillators first. I guess the developer does not own a MPE controller...
Product page: https://channelrobot.com/product/shapiro-2/
I got it with this deal: https://audioplugin.deals/shapiro-2-by-channel-robot/

looks pretty nice. can get it with rewards, for great price. worth it?

my last post, i write too long posts, i mentioned one MPE capable synth, that isn't promoted that way, and was overlooked:

Tracktion Biotek2

fully MPE, has release velocity, even before the MPE implementation. great synth. underrated.

and discovered, what a website they have, but bought at the BF sale:

Tracktion Delta V-Audio Spacecraft

also fully MPE. it is mentioned on the website/page, for this granular beast; a magnificant playground, almost no presets. build your own sounds. workflow is well thought through, visual "easy", and still access to all in depth settings.

(and as Tracktion Waveform the daw; is also MPE)

and about release velocity for generate, yes! standard midi 1.x spec. even my novation sl 49 mkii can do it.. (and i discovered it by accident..)

[Roger_Linn]

I've added Shapiro 2 and Spacecraft to the MPE synth listing on my Recommended Sounds page, but Tracktion's page for Biotek2 has no mention of MPE, nor does the site's support section, so it's difficult to add it.

[Tj Shredder]

I got it also in the BF sale. I can confirm Biotek 2 does support MPE...
I think functionality should be more important than advertisement.
Initial Audio‘s Sektor still does not work! (At least on MacOS...)

[Roger_Linn]

Can you tell me anywhere in their documentation that they state MPE compatibility? Or does it shows MPE in any menus or buttons? Or are you saying that you can somehow kludge it to have some degree of MPE function? The problem is that if I state MPE compatibility on my site, people except that it should be MPE compatible, and further that their documentation should explain how to enable MPE.

[WasteLand]

they are in the installer, the 'documentation', biotek2 crashes in cubase, and i pm'd also the dev of biotek, and also made a support ticket (yes...), and he responded with a message that the bug is fixed (update isn't there yet) and he said, that it is indeed not in the manual so he quoted the release notes, that you only see in the installer:

V2.1.5
- Added MPE Support. Quick how-to:
- Activate MPE in the Global Menu. This is a global switch that is saved in the
preferences.
- On the Instrument Edit page there are three new buttons that add MPE to an
instrument quickly and quite effectively:
- "Activate MPE On All Layers" activates MPE on each Sound Layer of the loaded
Instrument.
- "Activate 'MPE Ch Press To Ring X' On All Layers" and "Activate 'MPE Timbre
To Ring Y' On All Layers" route pressure to the X axis of the Ring Pad and the
Y position of a note to the Y axis of the Ring Pad.
Now you can play notes or chords with MPE. Aftertouch modulates a note as if you
would have moved the Ring Pad dot on the X axis, changing the Y direction of the
played note modulates it as if you had moved the Ring Pad dot on the Y axis.
Note that the dot doesn't move on the user interface. This wouldn't work since it
is a polyphonic modulation so every note has a different X/Y position.

You can also set up your own MPE modulations: On the "Sources 1" panel you find a
new section called "MPE" where you can set up the MPE-to-Ring-X and MPE-to-Ring-Y
modulation individually for each Sound Layer.

For fine-grained MPE modulation independent from the Ring Pad, use the "Ch Press"
Assign button and the "Timbre" Assign button. With those, you can assign these
polyphonic modulations to any continuous parameter of BioTek 2.
If you feel that a different response curve would work better, use one of the
Modifiers to alter the input. You would set it up so that source one would be
either "Ch Press" or "Timbre" and as an operation, you would use e.g. Switch,
LinExp, LinLog, Quadratic, Cubic, Step, Reverse, Threshold, Saturate, Filter,
Lag or Ramp. Then you would assign this to any number of destination parameters.

V2.1.4
- Added buttons to each edit page to switch off any active Assign buttons and close the Assignment page.
- Added MPE Support. Use the MPE switch in the Global Menu to activate or deactivate it globally. To activate MPE in a specific Sound layer, activate MPE on its Sound page.


-----

i have biotek2 myself, the buttons MPE to rings etc, are big, in global is a MPE enable button.
and of course i use it with MPE...

EDIT: i have placed almost the same message in the tracktion subforum. it is so unknown..
and indeed, not in the manual (is it updated?), the developer said, it should belong there.
it is still being maintaned, biotek2, of course. but a bit strange MPE isn't mentioned.

functionallity over advertisement, yes, of course, but the little time it takes to mention it or add it to the manual. MPE assignments are pretty straightforward, when you know biotek2..

[Roger_Linn]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. Is there anyway that I can access that MPE documentation on their site? I searched their product page and support system and could find no mention of MPE anywhere.

[Tj Shredder]

Can you tell me anywhere in their documentation that they state MPE compatibility? Or does it shows MPE in any menus or buttons? Or are you saying that you can somehow kludge it to have some degree of MPE function? The problem is that if I state MPE compatibility on my site, people except that it should be MPE compatible, and further that their documentation should explain how to enable MPE.

Here you go...

Tracktion MPE.png

[WasteLand]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. Is there anyway that I can access that MPE documentation on their site? I searched their product page and support system and could find no mention of MPE anywhere.

it is indeed not mentioned. nor on website, or manual (or it is updated in the meantime or the next update). Tj shredder made a screenshot.

the MPE possibilities are in more tabs very visible. and if it isn't your first MPE synth, it is quite understandable.

but i understand the problem, tracktion does not seem to care, to add, a simple line: MPE is here.
also the biotek video's are old, still usefull, are for biotek1.

well, of course your choice. but it is a powerfull synth, also for MPE, a modulation nightmare for some, a modulation dream for others (me..). i have biotek2 from a sale, a half year ago, upgrade from biotek1. the demo only showed me, it is MPE! that is why i bought it.

o well. strange ways...

[Roger_Linn]

Thanks-- that's good enough. I've added it to the Recommended Sounds page.

[Lind0n]

I've added Shapiro 2 and Spacecraft to the MPE synth listing on my Recommended Sounds page, but Tracktion's page for Biotek2 has no mention of MPE, nor does the site's support section, so it's difficult to add it.

Thanks Roger, nice to get on any page you curate...

[Tj Shredder]

Brian Clevingers new baby Plasmonic is released, its a brilliant synth and supports MPE...
https://rhizomatic.xyz/index.php/plasmonic/