Cluster Sound has announced the release of Oscar, a massive multi-sample Live Pack based on the OSC Oscar, a rare and iconic British synthesizer from the early ’80.

Cluster Sound Oscar

The OSCar is a vintage hybrid digital/analogue synth from British manufac-turer Oxford Synthesiser Company (OSC). Designed by Chris Hugget after the collapse of EDP, this masterpiece of engineering features digitally controlled dual oscillators with analog filters and plenty of knobs packed into a yellow plastic case with distinctive rubber elements.

The Oscar implements two wide-range DCOs and a set of 5 additive waveforms but can also carry out harmonic synthesis, allowing to create customized waveforms. The filter is built from two resonant multimode 2-pole filters (the same used in the Wasp synth) with overdrive and separation controls. The digital oscillators and the analog filters are digitally controlled using a Zilog Z80a microprocessor running at 4Mhz.

The Oscar simply sounds like no other synthesizers. Thanks to the characteristic filter design and the additive facility, this stunning rubber-based synth can generate a sound palette far wider than any other monosynth. The Oscar can easily deliver mellow organs, dark drones, brutal distorted basses, sharp pseudo-digital FX and screaming leads. It can also generate classic analog sounds but it’s at its best when taken to extreme.

Oscar is based on 64 multi-sample recordings and 285 WAV effects and loops obtained by stressing the subtractive/additive oscillators through the split personality filter. This Live Pack delivers 271 Instrument Racks, 161 Live Clips and 5 meticulously crafted Audio Effect Racks, an ultra-flexible package delivering one of the coolest vintage synth ever made.

OSCAR features

  • Size: 1.9 Gigabytes.
  • 24 Bits / 44.1 Khz.
  • 64 Multi-sample recordings.
  • 161 Live Clips (119 Audio + 42 Midi).
  • 105 Multi-sample Instruments.
  • 166 FX Instruments.
  • 5 Audio Effect Racks.

The Live Pack is available for purchase for 29 EUR.

More information: Cluster Sound