Soloist Vintage Synth WRONGTOOLS

The ARP Pro Soloist

is a legendary monophonic synthesizer that made its debut in the early 1970s, leaving a profound mark on the world of electronic music. Known for its expressive presets, aftertouch sensitivity, and the rich analog warmth of its oscillators, the Pro Soloist remains a cult favorite among synth enthusiasts, despite the rarity of the original hardware today.

In this technical deep dive, we'll explore the ARP Pro Soloist's unique sound architecture and how Wrongtools painstakingly sampled each note to create their SOLOIST sample library for Kontakt, avoiding digital emulation and instead preserving the authentic analog experience of the original.

The ARP Pro Soloist's Sound

Preset-based Monophonic Synth: Unlike many synthesizers of its era, the Pro Soloist was designed to be preset-based, making it quick and easy for performers to access a wide range of sounds. It had 30 preset sounds, from brass and reed-like timbres to string and bass patches. Many otf them sounds alike, so Wrongtools picked out 19 of them, with most character.

Expressive Playability: One of the most defining features of the Pro Soloist was its aftertouch capabilities. This allowed for expressive control, such as pitch bends, vibrato, and filter modulation, simply by applying pressure to the keys.

Distinct Analog Character: The sound of the Pro Soloist is unmistakably analog, with warm oscillators and resonant filters that give it a rich, lively character. Each preset had its own unique sound profile, with imperfections and subtle inconsistencies that contributed to its charm.

The Wrongtools Approach: True Analog Sampling, Not Digital Emulation

In creating the SOLOIST sample library, Wrongtools made the conscious decision to avoid the route of digital emulation. Emulations, while convenient, often fall short of capturing the nuanced behavior of analog circuits, particularly with vintage synthesizers like the ARP Pro Soloist, where each oscillator, filter, and envelope generator can behave slightly differently across notes, or even over time.

Instead, Wrongtools employed a multi-sampling approach, carefully recording each note and capturing the unique behavior of the synth's sound engine in all its analog glory.

Multi-Sampling for Authenticity

To recreate the rich analog texture of the ARP Pro Soloist, Wrongtools sampled each note multiple times: The Pro Soloist's analog oscillators are not perfectly stable, which is part of the appeal. Slight variations in pitch and timbre occur naturally as part of the aging electronic components. Wrongtools captured these nuances by sampling each note many times across the full range of the keyboard. This method ensures that each note played back in the sample library retains the organic fluctuations that define the analog sound.

Preserved dynamic range: The ARP Pro Soloist responds differently depending on how it is played, particularly with its aftertouch features. To capture this, Wrongtools sampled at various velocity levels and with different aftertouch pressures. This means that when you play a note in the sample library, it responds in a way that mirrors the original instrument's dynamics and expressiveness.

Captured individual presets with precision: The ARP Pro Soloist's presets are each finely tuned for specific sounds—whether it's a biting synth brass, a smooth lead, or a resonant bass tone. Wrongtools meticulously sampled the individual characteristics of these presets, maintaining the subtle tonal shifts between low and high notes, ensuring that the recreated sounds have the same range of expression as the original hardware.

Respecting the Imperfections

One of the hallmarks of analog synthesizers like the ARP Pro Soloist is that they are imperfect. These imperfections—whether it's the slight detuning of oscillators, the non-linear response of filters, or the occasional quirks in modulation—are what give analog synths their life and character. Rather than "cleaning up" or normalizing these imperfections, Wrongtools respected and preserved them in their sampling process. By doing so, they allowed the natural, unpredictable qualities of the ARP Pro Soloist to shine through in the final library.

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Digital Emulation

Digital emulation of analog synthesizers, while improving over the years, often misses the mark when it comes to truly replicating the analog feel. Emulations typically rely on algorithms to recreate the behavior of circuits, which can result in a more static, less dynamic sound. The natural inconsistencies that arise from an analog synthesizer's components—such as filter drift, oscillator instability, and nuanced modulation—are difficult to model digitally in a convincing way.

Wrongtools bypassed these limitations by capturing the actual sound of the ARP Pro Soloist in real time, rather than trying to simulate it. As a result, their SOLOIST sample library offers a truly authentic reproduction of the Pro Soloist's sound, with all the organic movement and character that an emulation would struggle to deliver.

A Living, Breathing Library

In a world where digital emulation often takes the lead, Wrongtools has gone against the grain by investing time and effort into true analog multi-sampling. Their SOLOIST sample library stands as a testament to the power of accurate sound capture, especially for iconic instruments like the ARP Pro Soloist.

SOLOIST isn't just another synth plugin; it's a gateway to a timeless sound that continues to inspire musicians over 50 years after its creation.