Vortex VSTi – Multitimbral Groove Machine Announced

Full information can be found on the Vortex Page.

Vortex is a ‘break through’ VSTi Multitimbral Sequencer, equally adept as performance player or studio composer. It contains dedicated synths for each of its 12 sequencers … or, if you prefer, you can output any sequencer’s generated midi to your software or hardware instrument of choice … all internal synths, all midi output to your synth or any combination of the two on a sequencer by sequencer basis … it’s up to you!

It is a performance instrument with an emphasis on quick and easy music creation and is ideal for creating a dance/RnB/electronic foundation, although it can be used to make almost any style of music. One of it’s most fun and useful features is the series of real-time triggers which allow manipulating the sequences with effects such as Stutter (and programmable stutter), Restart, Half tempo, double step, note ties and mute amongst others. An octave of your keyboard is reserved for the triggers allowing easy sequence transformations. When sync mode is enabled, once all triggers are released the sequence will revert to it’s former playing state.

A great feature is a series of global knobs for subtracting or adding to the internal synth parameters, amongst them Filter Cutoff, Resonance, Filter Decay, VCA (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release), Filter (Attack, Decay, Sustain), Noise Level, FM, Oscillator Mix, and LFO (Speed, Amount, Sustain). These knobs affect all synths simultaneously and so the entire output of Vortex becomes a single morphing and dynamic instrument capable of epic journeys into the unknown. All of these knobs have CCs and it’s strongly advised to set them up on your controller to get the most out of Vortex.

Vortex began as a midi application and so the internal sound module is designed to behave as an external midi device. The idea is that you simply dial up presets rather than being faced with actual sound editing, although up to 10 CCs can be overridden in a session to give some sound editing possibilities.

Other features include a Multi-Sequencer which allows assigning multiple sequences to a single key, internal FX using the the TerraNova FX engine, a 16 channel midi mixer and 8 rows of assignable CC Knobs.

ARP VSTi updated to v1.7

ARP VSTi Page

V1.7

  • New Sequencer GUI – A purpose built interface has replaced the old sliders on the main sequencer.
    • Muters – This row has now been integrated into the main Sequencer Display so that when muters are enabled only playing notes are visible. Clicking on a disabled slot will add a note and double clicking will remove an existing note.
    • Velocity – The velocity Sequencer from the modulation Page is now overlayed on the main Sequencer Display when it is enabled. Clicking right side of the step will allow editing the value, or alternatively holding CTRL will override note editing so that only velocities are edited. The old Velocity Sequencer is still available for people who still want to use it. The Enable button has also been duplicated to the main screen.
    • Ties – When a Tie is in effect, the note will be turn green so that they can easily be seen.
  • Custom Scales – A new section is now available on the Scale Remapper which allows editing of 12 custom scales. These can either be selected via any of the Scale Menus, or alternatively there is a ‘Use All’ button which will instantly load Custom Scales 1-12 to the corresponding menus. When using the latter method it is then possible to have total control over all scales for each note and so they can be edited on the fly. The Use All button has also been duplicated on the main screen at the top of the Scales column.
  • Studio One – Fixed a crash which happened at startup with some users of Studio One.

ARP updated to v1.61

This update fixes a couple of issues introduced by 1.6 and adds some more CC controllers. The demo has also been updated.

  • Hold didn’t stay on
  • Possible bug when using a midi channel other than 1
  • Added CCs for most of the main Sequencer lists and functions, see the manual CC page for details.

Visit ARP Page

 

ARP updated to v1.6

Go to the Arp Page

V1.6

  • Sequencer Direction – The Sequencer now has a Direction Menu with normal, reverse, four different alternate, and random modes.
  • Full Range Keyboard – Displays incoming notes and can also be used as a preview keyboard using the mouse.
  • Sequencer CCs – The main Sequencer now has 32 CC Controllers assigned for each of the 32 steps (30-62).
  • Channel 16 Hold mode – Channel 16 is used to alter the global Pitch of the Sequencer. The default mode is to only change when a note is held, and the pitch will spring back to default when all notes are released. This new button when enabled will remember the last note received on channel 16 and will only reset when it is switched off.
  • Pulse Width limit – A bug where the upper range of the Pulse Length knob could leave hanging notes has been fixed.