Tone2 releases Icarus3

Tone2 Audio has released Icarus3, saying:

The update to v3.0 is the biggest update that we ever released. It is downward-compatible with all previous versions. All existing song projects and patches can be loaded without any further steps necessary and do benefit from the enhanced sound-quality.

Icarus3 is available now for €149 / $ 169. The upgrade is free for anyone who bought Icarus2 directly from tone2.com after November 1st 2023. All other Icarus1 and 2 owners can upgrade for €79 / $89.

New in Icarus3

New factory content:

• Over 230 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.

New synthesis features - mixed stuff:

• 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.
• 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 key press.
• New modulation source: White Noise+- is a modulator with bipolar white noise.
• New modulation targets: Mseg1 Speed and Mseg2 Speed can now be modulated by any source.
• The VST3 and Audio Unit version now also support MPE. If you want to use MPE make sure that your DAW properly transmits on all MIDI channels. Some older DAWs do support MPE only with VST2.
• The new arpeggiator mode 'Dual Layer Root' makes it possible to create multi-timbral patches with an auto-accompaniment on the root note.
• It is now possible to combine monophonic oscillators with a polyphonic patch. If 'Monophonic->Root Note' the currently played chord is analysed and the oscillator plays with the root note. This mode is useful 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 synthesis features - Hypersaws and Supersaws

Icarus3 has been extended with many new Hypersaw modes.

Unlike competing synthesizers ours do not occasionally sound ugly. We developed smart algorithms that carefully tweak the phase alignment to prevent occasional 'phasing' and huge volume peaks. We are convinced, that Icarus3 has the best sounding "hypersaws" and "supersaws" available on the market.

The following new modes are available in the list-selector above the DETUNE knob:

• "MegaSaw 6" plays 6 detuned oscillators with a special, very pleasant phase allignment. It is useful for lush pads.
• "MegaStereo 6" plays 6 detuned oscillators with stereo spread. It is useful for lush pads.
• "MegaStereo 12" plays 12 detuned oscillators with stereo spread.
• "SuperSaw 5" plays 5 detuned oscillators. It is inspired by the JP8000.
• "SuperStereo 10" plays 10 oscillators with stereo spread. It has a silky signature.
• "SuperStereo 14" plays 14 oscillators. It is useful for lush pads and very fat sounds.
• "Drift 1x" emulates the oscillator detuning of analog synthesizers.
• "Drift 2x" sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 2x unison.
• "Drift 4x" sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 4x unison.
• "Drift 8x" sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 8x unison.
• "Drift Stereo 2x" sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 2x unison and stereo spread.
• "Drift Stereo 4x" sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 4x unison and stereo spread.
• "Drift Stereo 8x" sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 8x unison and stereo spread.

New synthesis features - Granular

Icarus3 has been extended with Granular synthesis. With this mode you can time-stretch or pitch-shift a sample in high quality and very few artifacts. The WAVE knobs controls the sample position. You can modulate it with any modulation source. This allows rhythmic textures.

The following new synthesis modes are available in the list-selector above the MORPH knob:

• "Granular classic" works well for pitch-shifting or time-stretching. The MORPH knob controls the window size.
• "Granular BPM" syncs to BPM and creates rhythmic textures. The MORPH knob controls the speed.
• "Granular variable" allows a very tight timing with very small window sizes. The MORPH knob controls the window size.
• "Granular freaky" shifts the frequencies in weird ways. It is useful for creating freaky voices or disharmonic textures. The MORPH knob controls the frequency.

New synthesis features - FM

Tone2 extended the FM capabilities of Icarus3:

• 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".

New synthesis features - Additive

Icarus3 bas been extended with additive synthesis. These modes drastically extend the sonic range, especially with disharmonic and unusual sounds. Icarus3's additive synthesis is not limited to sine-waves. It can handle any waveform or synthesis mode. Tone2 developed smart algorithms that carefully tweak the phase alignment to prevent the occasional volume peaks that some synthesizers suffer from.

The DETUNE knob controls the spectral spread of the partials. The following new modes are available in the list-selector above the DETUNE knob:

• "Add Bell 4" stacks 4 oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• "Add Bell 8" stacks 8 oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• "Add Bell 16" stacks 16 oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• "Add Stereo Bell 4" stacks 4 stereo oscillators. The second pair is up to 2 octaves higher.
• "Add Stereo Bell 8" stacks 8 stereo oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• "Add Stereo Bell 16" stacks 8 stereo oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• "Add Stretch 5" symmetrically spreads 5 oscillators in the spectrum.
• "Add Stretch 9" symmetrically spreads 9 oscillators in the spectrum.
• "Add Stretch 17" symmetrically spreads 17 oscillators in the spectrum.
• "Add Random ? 4" plays 4 oscillators with random pitch.
• "Add Random ? 8" plays 8 oscillators with random pitch.
• "Add Random ? 16" plays 16 oscillators with random pitch.
• "Add Stereo ? 4" plays 4 stereo oscillators with random pitch.
• "Add Stereo ? 8" plays 8 stereo oscillators with random pitch.
• "Add Stereo ? 16" plays 16 stereo oscillators with random pitch.
• "Add Partials 2" plays 2 partials with a spread of up to 4 octaves. Use the mousewheel with the DETUNE knob to lock it to integer ratios.
• "Add Partials 4" plays 4 organ-style partials. Use the mousewheel with the DETUNE knob to lock it to integer ratios.
• "Add Partials 8" plays 8 sawtooth or square partials. Use the mousewheel with the DETUNE knob to lock it to integer ratios.
• "Add Partials 16" plays 8 bright peek or hollow partials. Use the mousewheel with the DETUNE knob to lock it to integer ratios.
• "Add Stereo Par 4" plays 2 stereo partials with a spread of up to 4 octaves.
• "Add Stereo Par 8" plays 4 stereo partials with an organ-style.
• "Add Stereo Par 16" plays 8 stereo partials with a bright sound.

New synthesis 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 bit wise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Digital OR. The 'drive' knob controls the bit wise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Digital AND. The 'drive' knob controls the bit wise 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 Resonance" that sounds like the sympathetic resonance of sitar strings.
• New distortion-type for the FX section: Digital XOR. The 'value' slider controls the bit wise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the FX section: Digital OR. The 'value' slider controls the bit wise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the FX section: Digital AND. The 'value' slider controls the bit wise 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.
• Skin able user interface: We created 30 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 modulation matrix is now animated and shows the current modulation value. This makes it a lot easier to understand how patches work.
• The oscillator display shows infos with details about the current synthesis mode and the relevant parameters.
• 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 easier 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 subdirectory within \Icarus_sounds) have yellow color in the patch browser.
• Automatic detection of the ideal GUI size.
• The mouse wheel can be used to quick-select patches.
• New knobs with a larger mouse area, sectors to indicate the value and bigger, dynamic text.
• Entry of menus with sub-menus can be quick-selected with the mouse wheel 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 wavetable 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 hard disc in the oscillator section with TOOLS->Show wavetables directory.
• You can show the location of the wavetables on the hard disc within the wavetable-editor with FILE->Show wavetables directory.
• You can show the location of the waveforms on the hard disc within the wavetable-editor with FILE->Show waveforms directory.
• Parameter values are now always shown when the knob value is changed with the mouse wheel.
• The mouse cursor changes back to an arrow after leaving the modulation-depth area of a knob.
• An up-down arrow is shown when the user clicks on the arpeggiator's note grid.
• Mousewheel support for up-down controls.
• The patch browser shows more detailed info about the used synthesis types.
• The credits can be viewed by clicking on the Tone2 logo.
• A VST3-only installation is now possible in the setup on PC.
• Mousewheel support for the VST3 and Audio Unit 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 conditions.
• 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" filter type. It has a more precise calculation. An additional highpass removes low frequency rumble.
• Reworked the "Physical modeling Flute" filter type. 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 initialized.
• Better default values for many effects.
• Several small enhancements for the resynthesis.
• Switching the filter type 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.

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 mouse wheel.
• 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 mouse wheel 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 when a large size is selected.
• Slightly larger texts for the mouse-over texts of knobs in certain resolutions.
• The oscillator detuning can be set more precisely.
• 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 coordinates of the drag&drop line are now more precise.
• Fine-tuned the visualization 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.
• Drastically faster animations and more responsive 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 frame rate.
• Many small performance-optimizations.

Enhancements - compatibility:

• Buggy DAWs can not longer crash the plugin by submitting garbage BPM or song position info.
• Demo version does not longer re-load with a silent patch when saving was enforced by the DAW.
• Enhanced stability and robustness.

Changes:

• Per default the polyphony is now limited to 1 of any note number. You can get the old behaviour by selecting SETUP->Identical note re-trigger behaviour: Overlap voices.
• Removed the demo-version timeout and added a voice-over as a replacement.
• For compatibility reasons the realtime FFT is not longer shown in the patch browser on the Mac by default. It still can be enforced by creating the file ../Icarus_data/IcarusBrowserEnableFFT.cfg. It can be disabled on PC with ..\Icarus_data\IcarusBrowserDisableFFT.cfg.

Fixes:

• Some DAWs could show the VST3 version on PC with an incorrect size when Windows scaling was used.
• Some DAWs could cut off the interface when the GUI was closed after the wavetable-editor was opened.
• Fixed some tiny GUI glitches that could appear in the filter section.

System requirements:

• PC:
  • Windows 11 / Windows 10 / Windows 8 / Windows 7 / Linux with WINE.
  • Plugin formats: 64-bit VSTi, VST3, Standalone.
• Mac:
  • MacOS 10.12 and later including macOS Sonoma.
  • Intel CPU or M2 or M1 (native support for enhanced performance).
  • Plugin formats: VSTi, Audio Unit (AUi), VST3, Standalone, Universal Binary.