Great news from Sonic Charge! Synplant 2, the follow-up to one of the most unique software synthesizers of all time is finally here. We are old enough to remember our excitement when the original Synplant came out back in 2008, which led to our related Q&A with its developer, Magnus Lidström.
Synplant 2 was 15 years in the making, so why did it take so long, and what’s new about it?
The Sonic Charge team has some answers for us (and a three-week fully functional demo for you to actually check out Synplant 2!)
“We released the first version of Synplant roughly 15 years ago, and with its unique user interface, it quickly became a favorite with many. Ever since we have wanted to create a worthy follow-up, but the road to this update has been long and paved with abandoned experiments. When we finally solved the machine learning algorithms that made it possible to match synth parameters to a sample, we knew we had something exceptional — and finally good enough — for Synplant 2.
We call this technology Genopatch, and it is a perfect fit for Synplant, a synthesizer that is about planting seeds that grow into your own sounds. In Synplant version 1, these seeds were either preset patches or random. Now, with Genopatch, you can take any audio recording (and your samples as well!) and use it as a seed for your synth patch.”
In this preview video you can see the Genopatch feature in action:
Genopatch is the big new thing obviously, but this update is stuffed with a lot of other enhancements. Here is a brief run-down:
- Rewritten audio engine with plenty of new parameters (“genes”) and improved DSP algorithms for every part of the signal chain.
- New DNA editor with a structured parameter layout and animating graphs of the various settings. You can automate and control all genes with MIDI CC.
- New “bulb modes” give you alternative ways to trigger the different branches: velocities, different ranges over the keyboard, and a “layered” mode that triggers multiple branches simultaneously.
- New performance features, such as support for mono patches, glide/portamento, and tempo sync that synchronize any rhythmic components of the sound to the host tempo.
- Instead of growing all branches, the mod-wheel can easily be reassigned to control various standard destinations, such as filter cutoff, LFO amount, envelope time, and more.
- Rudimentary MPE support with per-channel mod-wheel, pitch-bend, and pressure.
- Extendible and moddable with Javascript support, skins, etc., just like Microtonic.
Check out the video below to learn more about Synplant 2:
Compatibility Notes
Once installed, Synplant 2 will replace Synplant version 1. Unfortunately, you cannot run them both side by side.
If you open a patch or an old song created with Synplant version 1, the audio engine will run in “backwards compatibility mode” to ensure that everything sounds exactly like before. However, you will have the option to upgrade old patches to the better-sounding version 2 audio engine.
Pricing and Availability
Synplant 2 is available to download and purchase today. You also get access to 300 additional patches and an alternative “nightshift” skin when you purchase.
The upgrade price for all Synplant version 1 owners is $50/€50 (incl. VAT), and the full price is $149/€149 (incl. VAT). In other words, Synplant version 1 owners get the upgrade for the price difference.
Visit the Sonic Charge product page to demo or purchase Synplant 2, I’m sure you won’t regret it!
