Available now: Tone2 Icarus v3.2

[Tone2 Synthesizers]

Are there any big differences between the unison modes on Electra3, Icarus2 (or 3), and Warlock - Electra3 doesn't seem to have the "stereo hypersaw" that Warlock and Icarus have. And Warlock only has one 7x mono unison mode, while it seems Electra3 and Icarus have both a Hyper (Virus) and Super (JP) variant. They have slightly different names in each so I was curious

The unison modes on the various Tone2 synths are some of the best around, Electra3 in particular.

The synthesizers have a different architechture and a different sound. I'd say that the Stereo Hypersaw oscilltors of Icarus 2.5 or later offer the best results among the different modes and effects. Of course, tastes are different.

Icarus:
Has true stereo oscillators and dual stereo filters. The stereo oscillators allow stereo hypersaws and various unison types. Icarus3 will also offer an additional Unsion as an effect type.

Electra:
Has mono oscillators and dual mono filters. It has 4 layers that can be used for 4x unison. You can use the COPY button to create unison sounds with several layers and detuning.
There is also an additional 'Hyper Unision' available as an effect-type.

Warlock:
Has true stereo oscillators and a stereo filter. The stereo oscillators allow stereo hypersaws. They sound very good and are very close to Icarus 2.5.

Nemesis, RayBlaster, Gladiator, Saurus:
Offer up to 4x stereo unison. Nemesis offers also a 'HyperSaw' as an effect-type.

[Korg Supporter]

How are the filters stereo if you can't pan them (which would be a cool future feature)?

[RPH]

Very impressed with Icarus 1.x (CM version), bought the upgrade today. Looking forward to V3.x

Cheers!

[paulm12]

...

Awesome, thanks so much for the explanation. Excited for Icarus3.

[0degree]

One question - I have Icarus 2 and a month ago I purchased an upgrade to v3 version from v2 but the Digital River automatic email says "Tone2 Icarus2 upgrade" even tough the purchased item on the website said "Upgrade any version of Icarus to v2.x or v3.x". I hope I haven't purchased v2 to v2 upgrade, right?

[Tone2 Synthesizers]

Anyone who purchases Icarus2/3 or the Icarus2/3 upgrade after November 2023 through our website receives the upgrade to v3 for free. The shipment inlcudes a key 'Icarus3.t2k' that can be used to unlock v3 once it is released. Check out your email from the delivery for this key.

We am aware that someone created confusion by posting a deprecated link in a thread on kvr. Do not use this link. It does not include the Icarus 3 upgrade. For security reasons do not click on links from unknown sources and use only the shop on our website.

If you accidently bought the wrong (outdated) upgrade contact our support. We will take care of you.
Please contact support[at ]tone2[dot]com or send a PM. Include your name and your email. Then we can track your order and check it out.

Have a nice weekend!

[Tone2 Synthesizers]

Here is an update about the stuff that has been already finished. This list is not final and still will change.

New sounds:

Icarus3 comes with over 150 new patches that make use of the new features. They were carefully crafted by professional sound-designers. You can recognize them as they got an 'I3' or 'i3' (Icarus3) in the name.


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.
• The random button creates more impressive patches. It now also randomizes the LFOs, the Arp and effects.
• 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.
• There are now 3 different modes available which define the treatment of identical notes that are re-triggered in SETUP:
  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 classic behaviour that is common in other synths. It can result in a phasing sound.
  Soft-retrigger old voice: The old voice continous playing. This mode is useful for pads and alalog sounds.

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 categroies 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 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.
• 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 'Reverb medium' by improving the spline interpolation and making the tail more transparent.
• 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 a more transparent tail and better performance.
• Enhanced sound of 'Reverb Infinite'. It has a more transparent tail and better performance.
• Enhanced sound of 'Reverb Glass'. It has a more transparent tail and better performance.
• Enhanced sound of 'Reverb Plate'. It has a more transparent tail and better performance.
• 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.
• A huge number of further small enhancements.

Reworked factory content:

• 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.

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.
• 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 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.
• 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 CPU load on extremely fast graphic cards by limiting the framerate.
• Many small performance-optimizations.

Enhancements - compatibility:

• Buggy DAWs can not longer crash the plugin by submitting garbarge bpm or songposition info.
• Demoversion does not longer re-load with a silent patch when saving was enforced by the DAW.
• Enhanced stability and robustness.

[Lectropunk aka influx808]

Awesome guys !!

[Brittlestem]

Here is an update about the stuff that has been already finished. This list is not final and still will change.

Bloody hell. Now that's an update.

[pdxindy]

Here is an update about the stuff that has been already finished. This list is not final and still will change.

Is there an ETA for Icarus 3? And is there a discount if I purchase an update to Icarus 3 now instead of when it is released?

(My apology if this info is in the thread. I didn't read through it)

[exmatproton]

That list is insane.

[Korg Supporter]

I love the list. However, in Icarus 2.5, I have to maximize a wavetable imported from Gladiator to hear it at full volume. Any chance that can be fixed? Speaking of Gladiator, it would be nice to have some spectral oscillator filter modes or even a custom filter/resonance feature like in Harmor.

[Medenka]

How are the filters stereo if you can't pan them (which would be a cool future feature)?

Because they process the incoming stereo signal, keep it in stereo, and output a stereo signal. You don't need a pan option for something to be stereo. Your question is kind of wrong, that's why my answer is kind of obvious.

Oh, but wait!
Tone2 Synthesizers said:

Icarus:
Has true stereo oscillators and dual stereo filters.

Does this mean that the filters are not-true stereo?!

[Tone2 Synthesizers]

Icarus:
Does this mean that the filters are not-true stereo?!

Unlike many competing synthesizers Icarus does have true stereo osciallors and true stereo filters.
Technically it has even 4 multimode filters per voice. 2 for each stereo pair.

Proof:
You can use play a sawtooth on Osc1 and pan it to the left with the Osc1's PAN knob. At the same time you can play a squrewave in Osc1 and pan it to the right with the Osc2's PAN knob.
Then you can send this though a filter of your choice.
Such a setup would not be possible without a thrue stereo filter.

[Tone2 Synthesizers]

Here is an update about the stuff that has been already finished. This list is not final and still will change.

Is there an ETA for Icarus 3? And is there a discount if I purchase an update to Icarus 3 now instead of when it is released?

(My apology if this info is in the thread. I didn't read through it)

Most likely it will be finished in 2 months.
If you upgrade now you'll get a keyfile for Icarus2 and Icarus3. If you upgrade later you'll only get a keyfile for Icarus3.
Thank you for supporting our small company.