Ableton has launched Synthology, a Live pack featuring a vast library of Instrument Racks by UNDRGND Sounds.

Synthology offers a collection of hardware-sourced synth sounds, extended effects schemes, intricate Macro assignments and seamless Push integration.

UNDRGRND Sounds Synthology

An immense undertaking by one of the soundware industry’s newest players, UNDRGND SOUNDS’ Synthology plugs a powerful battery of classic analogue and digital synths directly into Live. Drawing on a roster of iconic hardware instruments – including the Roland Juno-60 and SH-2, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Oberheim SEM and Korg Wavestation – and suitable for all modern genres, this artfully multisampled 8 GB library takes in everything from booming subs and chest-throbbing basses, through evocative drones and lush pads, to funky chord stacks and hard-hitting leads.

Synthology’s 148 emulations are housed in four Selector Racks: Bass, Synth, Chord 1 and Chord 2. Each Selector contains up to 50 sounds of its named type, stepped through using the Synth Selector Macro knob. Every sound is a fully realised Chain in its own right, with an extensive series of effects shaping and polishing the raw samples of the source Simpler into a tailored, mix-ready sound. Bespoke per-preset Macros dive deep, distilling the essential programming elements – filters, LFO modulation, saturation, ambience and so on – into a user-friendly interface that maps automatically to Push for immediate hands-on control. Further processing is on hand in the global Master FX Rack, tweaked directly or via the top-level Macros in each Selector; while velocity, mod wheel and/or aftertouch assignments give every preset an expressive performance angle.

Although the Selector Racks may well be all you ever need, each and every Synthology preset is also included as a self-contained Instrument Rack – ideal when you know what sound you’re after and want to keep your Live project as lean and CPU-light as possible.

Aimed at producers of house, techno, future beat, trap and electronica of all kinds, Synthology offers unrivalled access to a who’s-who of vintage synthesisers, with all the convenience, flexibility and portability of the Live Rack format. Whether you’re seeking instant preset gratification or a starting point for your own sound design endeavours, its intuitive workflow, inspirational playability and expansive range of tones and timbres – from the bread-and-butter basics to the complex and stylised – make this a truly empowering and universal electronic music toolbox.

Synthology is available for 49 EUR. Requires Live 9 Intro (version 9.7 or higher).

More information: Ableton / Synthology