HG Fortune has announced the release of Ultra Swamp, which is a completely reworked version of HG's Swamp/Swamp XT offering hugely increased sonic potential.
Ultra Swamp is really for the good, the bad and the weird sounds thus ranging from sweet over dark to really strange and crazy stuff; transforming the wave samples beyond recognition. And it's not just for pads and atmos but also for snappy percussive sequencer sounds.
Although it does look not a very complex synthesizer - don't let yourself get fooled by this as the sonic results will prove different, as you can check with the sound demo videos. This is a very versatile synthesizer but is fairly easy to edit. The patch programmers had so much fun with it they did 3 complete additional banks of more patches for the Pro version.
Ultra Swamp is powered by 2 PCM wave oscillators (SF2 based) as primary sound-sources and two secondary sound-sources: Timbremodulator (introduced with the very 1st Swamp) for applying some upper harmonics in a very unique way, and Ringmodulator generating the sum and difference of the input signals so it can give quite a low rumble. As both of these sound-shapers have great capabilities to transform the input signal even beyond recognition these are treated as secondary sound-sources which are processed per voice.
Next are 3 resonant filters selectable: 24dB LowPass, a 12db HiPass and a Bandpass with a 4 channel adaptive mod mixer so 4 sources can be mixed to modulate Cutoff. This adaptive mod mixer gives best control for optimal modulation settings. Filter and amplifier envelope generators work in three selectable modes and have additional adjustable velocity control for Attack and Decay.
Besides LFOs, Sample & Hold and a versatile Gator as mod-sources Aftertouch and Modwheel are selectable at many destinations for real-time modulation interaction to produce an even more vivid sound. Finally the output sections has increased a lot. there is stereo Flanger and stereo Reverb the latter with PreDelay and LowCutoff to remove lower frequencies for an optimized reverb response.
Main features (based on Pro version):
- 2 x PCM wave oscillators with 256 waves in 2 banks as primary sound-sources.
- 1 x Ringmodulator per voice as 1st secondary soundsource.
- 1 x Timbremodulator per voice as 2nd secondary soundsource.
- 1 x Filter - 3 types (LoPass, HiPass, BandPass), ADSR EG with Vel control on Attack & Decay, and 3 Response Modes.
- 1 x 4 channel adaptive mixer for cutoff modulation.
- 1 x VCA EG (ADSR) Vel control on Attack & Decay, and 3 Response Modes.
- 1 x Pan.
- 3 x LFO.
- 1 x S&H.
- 1 x DLFO (Double LFO with two outputs and phase shifting).
- 1 x special Pitch LFO with Speed Up/Down options.
- 1 x ADSR EG as mod-source for RM / TM.
- 1 x Gator not only on Level but optional for Filter and delay Pan too.
- 1 x Delay with several options for panning delayed signal.
- 1 x Stereo Flanger.
- 1 x Stereo Reverb.
- 1 x Bass Enhance.
- 1 x XY-Joypad with 6 controls for 12 destinations and optional display for LFO & Aftertouch motion.
- 3 x Lazy Buttons.
- 12 voices, 512 patches.
Ultra Swamp Pro is available at an introductory offer with 36% off for €24,50 / $34 until June 6th, 2011. The regular price after that will be €39.
A free sibling as HGF birthday edition is available. This free version has some limitations: only LowPass filter, 3 voices, EG 3 mono, no internal patch management, no MIDI Learn, no velocity control on Attack / Decay of VCF / VCA EG, no SF2 Load, 128 internal patches, but two hidden easter egg gimmicks.
