CHROMAPHONE 3
ACOUSTIC OBJECT SYNTHESIZER
WHAT'S NEW
We have streamlined Chromaphone and brought it to a whole new level.
New Home view
With macros mapped to key sound characteristics—modulation, timbre, envelope, and effect—the Home view presents a distraction free and laidback browsing and tweaking experience.
New Two-Voice Multitimbral
Chromaphone 3 combines two independent timbres—stacked or split—to create performance-friendly, texture-full, and spacious sounds that are sure to make a good impression.
New Factory Library.
Chromaphone 3 ships with a completely new factory library of 421 sounds created by top sound designers. Michel Basque, Christian Halten, Jerry Kovarsky, Christian Laffitte, Niall McCallum, Adam Pietruszko, Daniel Stawczyk, Sean Divine, and Venus Theory form an incredible team that made the most of the latest Chromaphone 3 features. It's with great pride that we present these new signature sounds.
REMASTERED Chromaphone 2 library
A long and fastidious process of fine-tuning went down in the AAS quarters. Each and every sound of the legacy Chromaphone 2 library went under the eyes of the AAS team members. They now boast a consistent gain-stage, unity-gain effects, better dynamics, and compelling real-time sound transformation assignments to take advantage of the new features of Chromaphone 3. That's an extra 676 solid sounds in your hands.
New Browser
With Packs, Sounds, Categories, and Creators views, Chromaphone 3's brand-new browser offers an efficient way to home in on the sounds you're looking for.
New Macros
Chromaphone 3 now boasts four performance macros per layer that respond to user-defined MIDI controls. Each and every sound features modulation, timbre, envelope, and effect morphing assignments that can be played in real time for enhanced expressivity and sonic dimension.
IMPROVED Microtonal tunings via Scala scale files
Chromaphone 3 now supports the Scala scale file format as well as reference note frequency tuning for microtonal music making.
NEAT Compatible with Chromaphone 2 sounds
Simply copy Chromaohone 2 banks in Chromaphone 3's packs folder to convert them.
EXPANDED Multi-Effects Module
Chromaphone 3's multi-effects module now sports reverb, equalizer, compressor, tremolo, and guitar amplifier processors for even more completeness. Furthermore, the five effect slots can be re-arranged in any order.
DISTINCTIVE SONIC SIGNATURE
With 1000+ sounds on hand, Chromaphone 3 proficiently nails the classic synthesizer categories with a unique and refreshing character that can't be found anywhere else.
421
State-of-the-art signature sounds
Chromaphone 3 ships with a completely new factory library of 421 signature sounds. The collection propels our favorite instrument into the future of modern productions with a delightful naturalness.
9
Top sound designers
The entire Chromaphone 3 factory library features exclusive signature sounds from nine a-list members of the craft: Michel Basque, Sean Divine, Christian Halten, Jerry Kovarsky, Christian Laffitte, Niall McCallum, Adam Pietruszko, Daniel Stawczyk, and Venus Theory.
670
Remastered Chromaphone 2 library
The Chromaphone 2 library gets back totally revitalized. Remastered, each an every sounds bring forward a consistent gain-stage, unity-gain effects, better dynamics, and compelling real-time sound transformation assignments that take advantage of Chromaphone 3's latest features. That's an extra 670 solid sounds in your hands.
34
Synthesizer sound categories
Chromaphone 3 shows high proficiency by covering 34 sound categories—arpeggios, basses, bells, brass, chimes, choirs, claps, clavs, cymbals, effects, formants, guitars, hi-hats, impacts, keys, kicks, layers, leads, noises, organs, pads, percussions, plucks, reeds, rhythmics, sequences, snares, splits, strings, sweeps, textures, and toms.
{See video at top of page}
SoundCloud.com/appliedacousticssystems/aas-chromaphone-3-demo-adam-1
Reviewed By blatanville [all]
August 7th, 2018
Version reviewed: 2.1.1x64 on Windows
Chromaphone 2, bears the same, utilitarian face as most of AAS's virtual instruments. And that's fine - they've devised a simple, clear, and useful interface for their wares.
Underneath, and at the speaker end of things, though, this synth is special. It's alive. Really, really alive and responsive (when you take advantage of the possibilities, of course. Read tommyzai's more-comprehensive review if you want more details. I'm "chiming in" here to lend another voice supporting this amazing synthesizer.
Reviewed By tommyzai [all]
March 30th, 2016
Version reviewed: 1.0.2 on Mac
Note: I'd like to give score this a 9.5, but that's not an option, so 10 it is (9 would be insulting).
INTRO
Chromaphone-2 by Applied Acoustics Systems is an extremely versatile and dynamic virtual synth that is capable of an astounding array of timbres. It's the biggest little virtual synth I have ever used.
Chromaphone-2 does not use samples or waveforms, nor does it utilize FM, subtractive, or additive synthesis. It's based on physical modeling whereby algorithms emulate the specific vibration of instruments and other objects. The results yield an unparalleled array of realism and clarity of sound. AAS initially called v1 a "percussive synth," but it soon after proved to be capable of much, much more! As expected, it shined when creating one-shots, plucks, etc., but it easily produced lovely strings, pads, and ambient textures as well. The second version is called an "acoustic object synthesizer," which is more accurate — especially considering all the additions and enhancements. This is by far one of the most versatile virtual instruments ever created. The range of timbers is vast. I mostly used the previous version for ambient wah-wahs to add a hypnotic pulse to my tracks, but I plan to use v2 for just about everything! Be sure to check out the basses, pads, kicks and snares. The overall sound of this synth is fantastic — expressive, crisp, clear, and pleasing to the ear.
The redesigned interface is divided into three sections: Play, Edit, and FX. It's easier than ever to navigate around this lovely beast. There is a streamlined keyboard strip that is excellent for previewing sounds. The multi-effect processor contains all the groovy stuff needed to spice up patches: chorus, delay, distortion, flanger, notch filter, phaser, reverb, and the previously mentioned wah-wah. The filtering section has greatly been improved. It now has pitch bend and a really cool arp! There is also a very useful compressor and EQ on board. The new version contains over 600 patches that sound great as is or serve as an excellent start point for creating new patches.
FAVORITE FEATURES
• Easy purchase, install, and authorization.
• User-friendly, eye-pleasing interface.
• The sound! As nearly every reviewer states,"crystal clear"*.
• I love the compressor, which truly delivers "distortion-free dynamics"
• Excellent collection of presets with a convenient management system.
• Improved resonators.
• V1 presets can be converted.
• Easy to tweak and/or program.
• Fantastic built-in arp.
• Physical modeling = Small footprint (10MB for standalone version)
• Stable.
• Excellent developer — innovative and responsive. They are also great people. I met then in person at NAMM.
OTHER THOUGHTS
• *In general, the sound is crystal clear, but with a little creative processing the possibilities are endless.
• CPU friendly considering the quality of sound. More complex sounds are naturally hungrier. My favorite patches seem to range between 5 to 15 percent.
SUMMARY
Chromaphone-2 is a joy to launch. Don't expect synth to be a one-trick-pony bell-like mallet machine; it's capable of just about anything, either straight out of the box or with a touch of processing. A few words that come to mind (besides clarity): Alive! Dynamic! Real! I highly recommend this fine software synth to any electronic musician, producer, sound designer, etc., regardless of genre! Tommy Zai gives this new version of Chromaphone an extra thumb up! Great job Applied Acoustics Systems. You are creating a clear path to the future of sound.
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