Dark Matter is an Advanced Loop Re-Sequencer which works with tempo synced Loops in a variety of ways. It has 13 Sequencer Rows and uses 889 loops across 7 Banks at it’s core which includes Synth Sequences, Morphing Sounds, Radio Sounds, Drum Hits and Loops. Sections of any of these can be selected on each step using the Slice Sequencer which allows and of 16 start points to be chosen. There are also 22 modes for each bank that include things such as LFO Chops and reverse modes.
The Main Sequencer can have different step lengths per Row which allows building complex polyrhythmic sequences easily and quickly. It can run freestyle or be forced to reset every X steps. A major focus of the sequencer is that every knob can be recorded as DAW automation so it is possible to evolve a sequence throughout a mix.
There is also a snapshot feature which features 12 virtual Sequences which can be copied from the main Sequencer. They are either triggered via a dedicated octave of Midi Triggers, or the buttons can be automated. The send to snapshot buttons can also be automated and so there is the creative freedom to make snapshots as part of the performance.
The snapshots are rolled out to 16 steps from the polyrhythmic sequence, which means they are always in sync. Also Because shifting a polyrhythmic sequence left/right is impossible should you want to change the start step, it can be copied to a snapshot, shifted and sent back which works most of the time. There are two playback modes defined by the Edit switch. With the edit switch off, the knobs of the main Sequence are hidden but the snapshot will play back meaning that Automation will not overwrite the snapshot. When not automating edit mode provides full editing so it can be used more like a traditional pattern Sequencer.
There are Randomizers for every row and column and lots of Randomize custom options. It also has a feature for adding random values to a row and a probability to determine how often it happens. There is also a Probability Row which determines how often selected steps will trigger.
This years Group Buy has the potential to achieve a total of 15 Products for just $19.99. There are six Kontakt Instruments which will be developed throughout the Group Buy which include Synths, Loop Manglers, a Midi ARP, and a Drum Machine. Circular, a synth which is based around cycling different Waveforms per note is immediately available to kick things off. As well as the Kontakt Instruments, 5 Levels will unlock Bonus Product credits which can be used choose from a range of 56 products from the back catalogue. The products range from Kontakt Instruments to Synth Presets, Sampled content to VST Instruments. Even if you don’t use Kontakt it can be worthwhile to join to get a potential 5 products you may be interested in.
These Group Buys are now becoming an annual event beginning with Cassetto and last years Augment. Because the instruments are developed as the Group Buy progresses, it is estimated that it will run for 3 months to give enough time to complete all of the development. Last year ran at a steady pace so that products were always available as the level was reached, each product is developed in series and will hopefully be ready for each level. Last year saw some great ideas come up through the discussion thread which helped to shape the final instruments, which makes it an interactive experience for those interested.
All Kontakt Instruments require the full version of Kontakt 5 or later and will not run in the player.
A collection of 80+ presets for the Virtual Synthesizer Serum created by Xfer Records. The collection mainly consists of Pads and Atmospheric Sounds with plenty of movement. All Presets make good use of the Modulation Wheel and Aftertouch for added expression capabilities.
A collection of 85 Presets for U-HE Diva. The sounds are mostly Pads with a few keys and Arps. They are full of motion and every preset makes use of the Modulation Wheel and Aftertouch for added expression.
Blue Yonder costs $19.99 but is available for an introductory price of just $14.99.
Gravity Wave adapts the synth engine from Fragments with the goal of building a unique sounding atmospheric synth. Gravity Wave uses very long waveforms which increases the complexity of the end result forming unique landscapes sometimes reminiscent of the Korg Wavestation. The samples used come from the previous releases of Fragments, Air Waves and Air Tones although they have been reprocessed into very long complex waveforms from which the sounds are pulled. Having the combination of the Radio Waves and Musical Sounds, it can make for some very interesting and unique Pads when mixed together.
Gravity Wave has 2 Synthesizers each using 8 sequencers to Sequence the Volume, Filter Cutoff, Loop Length, Loop start, Pan, Drive Amount, Delay Send and Reverb Send. This is a huge amount of Motion available to shape the character. In terms of sample playback, the loop start and length allows moving around the underlying samples, and because they are large results in unique and surprising sequences.
Contours is a collection of 80 Presets for Repro-5 by U-HE. It consists of mainly Pads with a few FX, Keys and leads also included to provide an atmospheric collection. Good use is made of Aftertouch and the Modulation Wheel to add to the expressive qualities of each preset. Repro-5 is an superb emulation of the legendary Prophet 5 Synthesizer available with the Repro Collection.
This video demonstrates a few of the Sounds included:
Kontakt Sequencer Collection features three 12-Pattern Sequencers with different approaches to MIDI sequencing, it also includes the regular versions of Procession and Chordian too, which were developed for the Augment Group buy which still have value as they can be automated by the DAW. The collection costs $29.99.
Chordian is a Midi Sequencer designed to work with the Kontakt 5 Midi output. It is a variation on Procession but with more of an emphasis on stacking pitches and lacks the CC implementation.
Chordian dispenses with 3 of Processions Trigger Sequencers but keeps the pitch Sequencers so that all 4 Sequences are played via a global trigger sequencer. The idea is that in Simple Mode you can easily line up all sequencers to see what is playing across the steps and it is therefore much easier to build Chord type sequences. Polyrhythmic operation is still possible however when Simple mode is switched off, except that it is just the pitches that are Polyrhythmic.
It still keeps most of the features from Procession such as the Scale Remapper, individual Length%, Velocity%, tuning capabilities, the file Browser and the Randomizers. It can even load Procession presets using the ‘A’ sequence for triggering, and on the other side Chordian presets can also be loaded into Procession.
Chordian requires the full version of Kontakt 5 and is free to anyone with an Homegrown Sounds account.
Reanimator is an advanced dual sequencer which re-sequences Loop Slices. there are 2 identical machines and each can sequence Trigger/Volume, Filter Cutoff, the Wave Index (which of the 126 loops in a bank will play) and which of the 16 Slices will play. This is a powerful and creative process which can yield surprising results. Furthermore, the Modulation Wheel is used to offset the current Wave Index for instantly remixing the Sequence, and it can also be used to find the most interesting variation and then by using the Set Wheel button store it to the sequencer..
Destiny features 11 Layers each of which contains a Singularity Synth which is also included as a 2nd Synth. The Layers can either be stacked into a Multi Layer Synth or used as a Multi-Timbral Sound Module. Each Synth has 2 Envelopes, 2 LFOs, a Sequencer which are assigned to Destinations via a Modulation Matrix.
Also included is Singularity which is made from a single Layer of Destiny. It still has 11 Layers but these are solely used for creating a great sounding Unison. Both Synths are preset compatible, although Singularity will convert Layer 1 to Unison Layers.
Singularity Lite is a fully fledged single oscillator Synthesizer which uses Raw Waveforms as the Oscillator. It has 2 Envelopes, 2 tempo clocked LFOs and a Sequencer which are all assigned through an extensive Modulation Matrix. Although Singularity is a single layer of Destiny, it still uses the 11 Layers as a Unison mode and so is good for Supersaw type sounds. All Presets can also be loaded into Destiny and vice versa.
There is also a version of Singularity that is included with Destiny, the only difference is that Singularity Lite uses a reduced number of Waveforms. Best of all, it’s free!
Augment began with the idea that it would be interesting to use Sequencers to manipulate Additive Partials in a rhythmic way, but it soon became apparent that it would be a much more interesting instrument using other waveforms as a huge 11 Layer Synthesizer. As a result Augment retains the additive mode but also uses 200 Waveforms which can be freely selected for each layer. The Waveforms are along the lines of PCM Synths of the past which have an Attack Section and a looped constant tone which works well as it allows the sounds to be more focused on Synthesis rather than sampling. The Attack Section can be disabled per Layer so they become pure tones.
As far as the Sequencing side of Augment goes, the intention was to have sounds which have highly rhythmic components which are locked to tempo. The idea that you have a Pad which will come alive with rhythmic complexity when played alongside other Rhythmic sounds was at the forefront of the design. The Sequence destination are Filter, Volume, Drive and Pan. All sequencers are monophonic with the exception of the Volume Sequencers which are Polyphonic.
Movement has been updated to v1.4 and is available to download from the usual place. It fixes an error where bank 4 was pointing to the wrong Samples. It won’t affect existing projects, but just in case the original is in the ‘Old Version’ folder should it be needed.
Dark Matter is an Advanced Loop Re-Sequencer which works with tempo synced Loops in a variety of ways. It has 13 Sequencer Rows and uses 889 loops across 7 Banks at it’s core which includes Synth Sequences, Morphing Sounds, Radio Sounds, Drum Hits and Loops. Sections of any of these can be selected on each step using the Slice Sequencer which allows and of 16 start points to be chosen. There are also 22 modes for each bank that include things such as LFO Chops and reverse modes.
