A Touching Tribute to the OSCar and its Creator: Synth Journal
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A Touching Tribute to the OSCar and its Creator: Synth Journal · Source: YouTube / GForce Software
Cherry Audio releases a Polivoks filter for your DAW, Noise Engineering has new firmware for all three of its module platforms, and Dave Spiers of GForce Software pays homage to the legendary OSCar and its creator: Welcome to the last edition of Synth Journal in 2024!
Filtomika, Noise Engineering, OSCar: Synth Journal
Cherry Audio Filtomika: The Best Polivoks Filter Emulation for your DAW?
Due to its unique and sometimes unruly behavior, the filter of the Soviet-built Formanta Polivoks synth has a reputation for being notoriously difficult to emulate. For the Atomika software synth released a couple of months ago, Cherry Audio teamed up with famed DSP engineer Mark Barton and went to great lengths to capture the iconic character of the Polivoks’ unorthodox filter circuitry, which was based on op-amps not originally designed for this purpose. And while they were at it, they even added a bunch of new filter modes, filter and amp overdrive, and a Starve control.
So it made perfect sense to lift the filter section from Atomika and make it available as an effect plugin. Filtomika is a delightfully aggressive stereo multi-mode filter that’ll pulverize anything you throw at it, from drums to guitars to vocals to, of course, synths. It’s got lowpass, bandpass, highpass, notch, and peak modes, and the unique Starve, Filter Drive, and Amp Drive controls are of course also included.
Moreover, Filtomika offers a syncable LFO modulator with various waveshapes, as well as an envelope follower that makes the filter react to the input signal. The plugin is fully MIDI-controllable and automatable in your DAW.
Cherry Audio Filtomika is available for macOS and Windows in VST, VST3, AU, AAX, and standalone formats. If you already own Atomika, you’ll receive a 20% discount if you purchase it from the Cherry Audio website.
Noise Engineering Releases New Firmware for the Versio, Alia, and Legio Platforms
Just in time for the holidays, Noise Engineering has a treat for all owners of a Versio, Alia, or Legio module. They’ve just released new firmware for all three platforms. And thanks to the swappable firmware architecture, you can download and install the new firmware for free if you already own a compatible module! Two of the new modules are also available in hardware form.
Fala Versio is a stereo formant filter with wavefolding and saturation. With up to 24 bandpass filters, three allpass filters, post-filter saturators, a pre-filter wavefolder, and a clockable LFO, it’s got a lot going on.
Toros Iteritas Alia is a multi-operator, three-algorithm phase-modulation oscillator designed for drones and evolving textures. Noise Engineering says they took their favorite things about FM synthesis and eliminated all the complicated stuff, prioritizing immediacy and hands-on control. With extensive CV control, Toros delivers anything from dark and noisy drones to tonal and “sub-shaking” sounds.
Last, but not least, Ampla Legio is a stereo multi-mode filter/gate designed for organic dynamics control. While it isn’t a true lowpass gate (it’s digital, after all), it offers a vactrol-inspired ASD envelope tied to a multi-mode filter, providing simultaneous control over the dynamics and frequency content of your signal.
While Fala Versio and Toros Iteritas Alia are also available in hardware form ($393 and $385, respectively), Ampla Legio has so far only been released as free alternative firmware for all owners of a Legio platform module.
‘My 30 Year Journey with OSCar’ by Dave Spiers: A Touching Tribute to a Special Synth and its Creator
If you’re only going to watch one synth-related video this week, make it this one. Dave Spiers, co-founder of GForce Software, recalls his 30-year relationship with his favorite synthesizer – the OSCar – and its creator, the late Chris Huggett. From their first meetings during the development phase of the original Novation Bass Station in the early 90s to his acquisition of a broken OSCar from a friend (on the same day he bought his first ever hard disk recording system!) to their long-lasting friendship that was abruptly ended by Chris’ tragic death in 2020, Dave shares a very personal story about a special synth and its inventor.
According to Dave, he had planned to film another chapter of the Bright Sparks documentary about the OSCar and Chris’ work with AKAI and Novation. Due to Chris’ untimely death, that never happened, but this video is like a mini documentary in and of itself. As Dave puts it:
“[There are] some instruments you make a genuine emotional connection with. Not just because of its sound, its history and architecture, but because of how it enriches your life on so many levels and how it’s led to so many amazing opportunities. Those instruments are the truly special ones.”
After watching the video, I’m almost certain he means “instruments and people”.
If this video has inspired you to try Dave’s amazing software recreation of his favorite synth, it’s still on sale until January 7, 2025.
And with that, we’re wrapping up our Synth Journal column for this year! Happy Holidays to everyone, and see you in 2025!
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