Vember Audio has released version 1.5 of Surge, a software synthesizer combining wavetable and analog-style oscillators with a highly innovative filter array and an abundance of effects.
Changes in v1.5
- Filters – The new filters in version 1.5 are capable of self-oscillation and can sound anywhere between clean to dirty depending on how hard they’re driven. They are incredibly fast which means that no matter how much they are modulated it is practically impossible to make them “blow up”. The previous filters are still available using the subtypes button which provide a broad sonic palette. A 4-pole band-pass filter has also been added, bringing the selection of types/subtypes up to 27.
- Oscillator: FM2 – This new oscillator uses 2->1 operator configuration and provides a quick way to generate harmonic sounds which are instantly useful in a musical context. It has a set of parameters designed to achieve this particular goal, providing an interesting alternative to FM3 which is the weapon of choice for ‘scraping paint of walls’.
- Oscillator: Window – This oscillator type combines a primary wavetable with a secondary “window” waveform which together provides a wealth of interesting formant-shifting and cross-modulation options.
- Wide – This new setting is a serial filter-block configuration where everything is in stereo (oscillators, noise, filters).
- Vocoder – A 20-band stereo-carrier vocoder has been added to the effect section.
- Meta-controllers – The freely assignable controllers can now be named. They can also have their values edited directly in the GUI as well as automated by the hosting application.
- More efficient – Through careful optimization in key elements of the DSP code using SSE/Altivec instructions the CPU-usage has been reduced by a significant amount. Memory usage has also been decreased.
- Lots of other changes.
Surge is available for Windows PC and Mac (VST/AU) and costs 135 EUR (EU) / $150 USD (non-EU).
Visit Vember Audio for more information and a link to download a demo version of Surge.