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UVI announces Falcon - Hybrid Instrument with Introductory Price

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UVI

UVI has announced Falcon, a hybrid instrument with 15 oscillators covering both synthesis and sampling techniques, over 80 effects, extensive modulation control and more.

Falcon allows unrestricted use and layering of oscillators, effects, modulation generators and event processors. From advanced time stretching and granular sample engines by the renowned IRCAM institute to pure synthesis oscillators like Wavetable, FM, VA, Drum and the Pluck physical modeling oscillator, Falcon is designed to provide a sophisticated set of tools for sound and instrument design potential.

Falcon sports a user interface that is designed to adeptly handle both basic tasks and deep instrument design. A user can slice a sample across their keyboard, add effects globally or per note, drag-and-drop modulations and sub-modulations or grab one of the many script processors to creatively tune, modify or sequence their patterns. Parameters can be mapped as macros and controlled by MIDI, OSC or host automation and even arranged as custom control panels through a built-in visual editor. Advanced users can take instrument design further with scripting. Custom script processors can be created to generate or modify MIDI data or even design fully-skinned instruments with the Lua language.

Falcon offers native 64-bit operation in stand-alone and plug-in formats, supports surround setups up to 10.2 channels, is compatible with all UVI powered soundbanks, and allows simultaneous authorization on up to 3 computers or iLok keys.

Price: Falcon is available immediately at an introductory price of $229 through November 9th, 2015 (regularly $349). A free $100 voucher is included with every Falcon license, good towards any soundbank at uvi.net (valid for 2 months from time of purchase).

Watch trailer on YouTube: youtu.be/4JjuEgP_v04

Listen to audio demos on SoundCloud: SoundCloud.com/uvi-official/sets/falcon-showcase

Discussion

Discussion

Discussion: Active
naveman00
naveman00
5 November 2015 at 1:15pm

Anyone who has actually purchased this (and who does not work-it, for the company) have any info on this product? Could use some insight into the pros and cons on this piece of software if you have the time or hands-on experience even yet. It seems like a beast so even people who just purchased may not have a good feel for the capabilities yet, but I just wanted to see if I could get a thread rolling on this bad boy.

gacain
gacain
7 November 2015 at 4:39am

@naveman00 - I purchased this today, and have spent that last hour just going through the presets to see what the basic sonic capabilities are. So I've no idea at this point about what programming it is like. I like to do a lot with sound mangling, pads, soundscapes and granular synthesis, and the promo material I saw looked especially promising for this application, so that's why I bought it. My first impressions:

1 - It is quite capable of producing an impressive array of sounds.

2 - What I've heard so far sounds pretty digital. I don't mean that as a bad thing. But it doesn't sound analog.

3 - I'm running Intel Core i7 4790 @3.60 GHz with 8 GB RAM. Not a monster machine, but quite sufficient for everything I've thrown at it. I regularly run several instances of Massive/Reaktor/Absynth in my DAW. Bring your best CPU - a couple of the Falcon patches were running well over 30% in just the standalone version.

As I said, I can't speak to any other aspect of this software, but I'm not sorry I bought it. I'm convinced it will become a valuable tool for me in creating soundscapes/pads/grains/etc.

If you're interested I'll post more as I become better acquainted with the instrument, but it may be some time as I have a lot on my plate at the moment.

Hope this is helpful.

Greg.

naveman00
naveman00
7 November 2015 at 11:46am

Greg, .

Thank you very much for the information! I certainly do not mind digital sounding synths... in fact, I prefer them on certain levels and/or types of music. I also appreciate the spec info you provided as that will assist me in making a decision but I think my computer could perform in a manner similar to your own.

Please do keep me informed if you have the time. I expect you will be up to your elbows in this new synth which is spectacular by the way, but if you do have any nuggets of info-- please do share.

Thanks again Greg and hope to hear back from you in a bit. Now I am just working against time as their introductory price expires shortly, as in like Nov 9th I believe. Uggh.

Best Regards, .

Naveman00.

gacain
gacain
8 November 2015 at 3:55pm

Hi Naveman00, .

Ok - I've had a few hours this weekend to get a little more in depth with this synth and do some actual programming. The documentation is very, VERY thorough - almost 200 pages in two sections. The first section describes programming hierarchy and the second section is a series of appendices describing in great detail each of the specific parts - oscillators, filters, modulators, fx, etc. There is no "quick start" and no tutorial per se, but the description of how the thing works was quite easy for me to understand, if a long read. You're likely to find yourself skipping over parts of it if you already know the difference between an AD and an ADSR. Definitely enough information to start programming successfully from scratch.

The sonic possibilities seem nearly endless, and I suspect this could be someone's "go to" or even "single source" software synth. The closest thing I can think of to compare it to is Reaktor - not as completely flexible in terms of routing the components; much easier to use and much better documented, ultimately able to create a very impressive array of sounds - everything from analog to fm to classic sampler to wavetable to granular. I've been able to create a wavetable instrument this morning with several samples of my acoustic instruments (created the wavetable outside of Falcon), get modulation between the wavs, add a filter and a sine oscillator, add a nice reverb (the fx are impressive) - all in less than 20 minutes, including creating the wavetable.

Sorry I don't have more time to write in greater detail about this. If you are at all leaning toward purchasing this synth, I would encourage you to do so. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Let me know how you make out.

Greg.

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