Waveformless Soundware’s latest offering is a collection of sounds for u-he’s virtual analog Diva software synthesizer for Windows and Mac.
DIVA Prima is a testiment to the flexibilty of u-he’s creation. Chunky Minimoog basses, Kraftwerkian synth percussion and drums, raspy mono-leads, lush Solina-like synth strings, massive, Jupiter-esque pads, delicate, glassy plucks, and even digital, FM-type sounds.
On top of that, we’ve included some sound-alike patches. Need the resonant synth sound from Yaz’s “Only You”? We’ve got it here. Need the famous Yamaha TX81Z “Latelybass” preset? We’ve got a pretty convincing version of that, too. Gary Numan-esque strings? Gotcha covered.
But we don’t stop there. Amidst all of the beautiful sounds are their ugly cousins, using crossmod, filter FM, and other unusual techniques to give you startlingly original and edgy sounds sure to stand out in a mix.
The soundset includes 128 patches (plus an Init to create your own). Unfortunately they aren’t categorized or tagged as such, which is a shame because I do like my patches neatly ordered when possible. With this amount of patches it’s alright though, also since many patches have good descriptions.
Many patches have useful modulation mappings, allowing for more expressive playing. Diva’s patch information panel is used to describe the patches and show which controls are mapped.
When you audition your new patches, be sure to check out what the mod wheel or aftertouch does. It might be something subtle like opening the filter or adding vibrato, or it might be something much more striking via crossmod or filter FM, but almost every patch has some sort of modulation assigned to it for more expressive sounds.
Have a listen to the demo tracks below to get a good idea of what’s included. These are all DIVA only (with just minimal mastering processing).
So what do I think?
Format: .h2p patches for u-he DIVA
Price: $9.99 USD
Like: Well programmed, good variety, cheap
Don’t like: —
Verdict: 8/10
With DIVA Prima, Tom Shear delivers a solid set of sounds for u-he’s virtual analog synthesizer.
Tom’s industrial/EBM background shows, but I am always pleasantly surprised by the versatility of his sounds. As with previous Waveformless soundsets, this collection includes a well balanced amount of bread & butter patches, as well as more unusual sounds.
Diva truly is a superb synthesizer – I reckon one of the best virtual analog’s at this moment – and the sounds of DIVA Prima do shine on this beast. Also, the $9.99 price tag is not likely to be a deal-breaker. Check out this great value for money soundset at the Wavefromless website, and make sure to pick up the free demo pack with 10 patches.
Hey there, I'm Ronnie and I run Rekkerd.org. I'm a bedroom music producer and guitar player, and I love chicken vindaloo & all things glitch.
