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Circle Synth
has got to be the sexiest interface ever. the videos for this thing are freaking awesome.
| quote: | Something interesting is happening in software synthesizer design: after years of trying to boast more of ingredient �xx� (whether it�s modulation, eight-zillion-point envelopes or other whiz-bang features), the new challenge is to make the user experience itself different. The challenge: don�t just do more sonically � make it easier to actually make music. I�ve personally been a big fan of the elegant tabs in Cakewalk�s Rapture, the minimalist aesthetic of Ableton�s Operator, and the drag-and-drop routing in Native Instruments� Massive. Now, could one instrument really leap forward in terms of guiding its design?
Circle is one of the most ambitious soft synth designs I�ve seen yet. Its core features read like a wish list for what a modern soft synth would do:
* On-screen routing designed for the computer screen, with color-coded circles, drag-and-drop, previews � and no silly virtual cables. (Sorry, Propellerhead.)
* OpenSoundControl support for the Monome, Lemur, Wacom tablets, whatever you�ve got � along wih easy MIDI learn.
* �Live performance�-optimized UI � actually very much a kindrid spirit with tools like Ableton Live or FL Studio in design aesthetic, workflow, and accessibility, but in a synth � just the thing if you�ve felt a gap between the sequencing workflow and the synth / sound design working method. And you can even swap presets with an Apple Remote if you�ve got one.
* Easy sound design (more on this soon)
The sound engine itself is a good survey of the kind of tools you might want, with a mix of analog- and digital-style waveforms and modulation, but plenty of oddball wave shapes and modulation and effects thrown in, too.
What I like best about developer Future Audio Workshop�s approach: rather than be the most powerful or the most sonically unusual or the most feature-laden instrument, they want you to achieve a sense of creative �flow.�
But I really can�t talk about the instrument very well as a result � have a look at the demo videos, and I think you�ll be as intrigued as I am. (I�ve been working a little bit with an early build, and really like it a lot.)
Future Audio Workshop (skip to the videos, really)
Mac / Windows (Intel, Vista, AU, VST, RTAS)
Pricing TBD (but expecting a fairly reasonable price point); available soon
Stay tuned, as I�ll be making some music with this software over the coming days and want to report back in more detail � particularly when it comes to evolving OSC connectivity for hardware like the Monome (and software connectivity, too, naturally � would be great to couple this with Reaktor, for instance).
If you�re at Musikmesse in Frankfurt, stop by and say hi to the developers. They�re also keeping a Flickr stream of the new goodies at the show � not just theirs. Hope they�re able to break away from the booth and look around. |
original link:
createdigitalmusic
and i am absolutely thrilled it has OSC / Lemur support 
discuss
Last edited by jupiterone on Mar-12-2008 at 07:26
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