"Expert Sleepers are proud to announce the release of Silent Way, a suite of plug-ins designed for use as part of a modular analogue synthesiser system. The plug-ins produce no sound themselves, nor do they process sound - rather, they generate signals to be used as control voltages (CVs), which can be patched into the control inputs of oscillators, filters, VCAs etc. of an analogue system.
There are currently two plug-ins in the Silent Way suite - Silent Way DC and Silent Way Voice Controller. These are described in more detail below. It is anticipated that more plug-ins will be added to the suite in the future - watch the website for product announcements.
All plug-ins also feature
* full MIDI and OSC control.
* MIDI/OSC scriptability.
* sample-accurate handling of MIDI note messages.
*Silent Way DC*
Silent Way DC is a simple plug-in that generates constant output signals. It is intended to be used in conjunction with parameter automation (via MIDI or directly by the host application) to generate varying signals. For example, you could use it as an LFO where you draw out the LFO waveform in your host’s parameter automation GUI.
*Silent Way Voice Controller*
Silent Way Voice Controller is a virtual instrument plug-in designed to directly control an analogue synthesiser by generating the appropriate CV and gate signals via an appropriate audio interface.
By listening to the synthesiser’s output signal, the plug-in is able to calibrate itself to generate the appropriate pitch CV for the incoming MIDI notes.
As well as the basic pitch and gate signals, the plug-in can generate three multi-stage envelope CVs which you can feed to VCAs, VCFs etc. in your synth.
*Pricing and availability*
Silent Way is available immediately in Mac OS X Audio Unit format, priced at $49. Mac and Windows VST formats to follow.
Expert Sleepers are currently offering a reward for purchasers who document successful use of Silent Way with their modular system - see the website for details."
Expert Sleepers Silent Way controlling an Analogue Systems RS Integrator modular synth
YouTube via expertsleepers
"This video shows the Expert Sleepers Silent Way plug-ins controlling an Analogue Systems RS Integrator modular synth. The plug-ins are running in Ableton Live. The audio interface is a MOTU Ultralite Mk3. The Silent Way Voice Controller is generating the pitch and gate CVs; the Silent Way DC plug-in is generating an LFO via Live's parameter automation, which is controlling the waveshape input of the RS-95 oscillator."
Expert Sleepers Silent Way Voice Controller calibration
"This screen-grab movie shows the Expert Sleepers Silent Way Voice Controller plug-in running its calibration routine. It's connected to an Analogue Systems RS-95 VCO via a MOTU Ultralite Mk3 interface. The movie also shows a typical Ableton Live setup with the routings necessary to expose the full functionality of the Silent Way Voice Controller."
Expert Sleepers Silent Way Voice Controller calibration in Logic Pro
"This screen-grab movie shows the Expert Sleepers Silent Way Voice Controller being used in Logic Pro 8. The synth being controlled is an Analogue Systems modular, via a MOTU Ultralite Mk3 interface. After the calibration routine is run, the plug-in's Envelope 1 is connected to the synth's pulse-width CV input and the parameters adjusted."
Update:
Silent way test
YouTube via justin3am
"This is a test of Silent Way. A control generator Audio Unit from expert-sleepers.co.uk Silent Way is running from within Ableton Live to control the pitch of my Livewire AFG oscillator and trigger my Doepfer A-140 ADSR via a Motu 828. The pattern at the end is generated by Numerology."
Silent Way test2
I wish there was some other way to interface rather than using a MOTU audio interface. It seems a little ... wasteful.
ReplyDeleteI think the motu interfaces are cheaper per port than most midi-CV converters, plus you can use them for Audio, and they have better host integration.
ReplyDeleteWell, the Ultralite mk3 has 10 analogue outs, so that's 5 channels of gate/cv, for 400 odd quid. The Kenton USB Solo has 3 channels of gate/cv/aux for 127 quid. But it's treated as a midi device so won't have the analogue goodness of the MOTU box. And it won't have the audio inputs to complete the tuning loop. Seems to be a niche opening up for a dedicated box for computer-CV purposes.
ReplyDeleteI thank the guys debveloping these plug-ins though. The hybrid possibilities opened up are pretty awesome. I could foresee a DIY modular which just has vcos, vcas, filters, ring mod, etc. All the controllers, envelopes, etc would be in software on the computer. Something like Numerology in such a setup would be huge fun.
you can buy cheap used motu interfaces.
ReplyDeletedon't buy the most expensive new ones.
Like a motu 828 for about 100 quid.
ReplyDelete