VU950

VU950 is not about realism. It is about behavior. Sound shaped by limits, gain interaction and audible artifacts — the same forces that defined early digital samplers.

Why it sounds the way it does

Instead of emulating a single piece of hardware, VU950 recreates the way early samplers behaved internally. Resolution limits, imperfect filtering and non-linear stages are treated as musical decisions, not technical flaws.

What shapes the sound

• Instrument sampler (VU950) and standalone effect plugin (VU900 FX).
• VU900 and VU950 sample rate: 7.5 kHz to 48 kHz.
• Built-in browser for fast audio file loading.
• Full timestretch workflow with classic hardware sampler tone.
• Reduced bit depth processing for early-digital density.
• User-adjustable anti-aliasing behavior.
• Mono signal path with selectable left or right input channel.
• Dedicated input gain stage with drive and circuit bias.
• Multiple filtering stages including bandwidth limitation.
• Built-in low-pass filter for tone shaping.
• Anti-aliasing tuned for musical artifacts, not transparency.
• Non-linear processing across the entire signal path.
• Output gain stage that affects tone and density, not just level.
• MIDI-controllable parameters for hands-on workflow.
• Maximum sample length: 63 seconds (VU950 sampler).
• Truncate option to trim sample (VU950 sampler).
• Hold SHIFT key for precise trimming on start and end screen (VU950 sampler).
• One or eight voices of polyphony (VU950 sampler).
• Precise start and end point control for trimming (VU950 sampler).

Input stage & gain interaction

The input stage is designed as an active part of the sound. Increasing input gain reshapes transients, introduces asymmetry and subtle saturation, closely reflecting early digital converter front-ends rather than clean digital amplification.

Filtering & aliasing behavior

VU950 uses multiple filtering stages to control bandwidth and tone. Bandwidth limiting, anti-aliasing and low-pass filtering interact to balance clarity and aggression while preserving raw texture.

Anti-aliasing is intentionally exposed to the user. Opening the filter allows aliasing to remain part of the sound, making artifacts a creative choice rather than something hidden behind fixed conversion.

Output stage

The output stage applies its own gain structure so that level changes also affect tone and perceived density. VU950 responds dynamically to how hard it is driven, encouraging commitment during sound design instead of correction later.

VU900

VU900 was the road to VU950. VU950 includes everything from VU900 plus extended sample rate from 40 kHz (VU900) to 48 kHz (VU950), a built-in browser for audio files and full timestretch functionality with classic hardware sampler tone.

{See video at top of page}