As a long-time admirer of the Ondes Martenot, I’ve always been fascinated by the instrument’s distinctive speakers, known as “diffuseurs.” These unconventional resonators play a crucial role in shaping the Ondes Martenot’s ethereal and haunting tones. Now, Xils-Lab has captured the essence of these iconic speakers in their latest release, Les Diffuseurs, a software bundle that brings the magic of La Palme and Le Metallique to your DAW.
Recreating the Classics: La Palme and Le Metallique
The Ondes Martenot is known for its two unique speakers: La Palme, featuring a palm-shaped resonance chamber with 12 strings, and Le Metallique, a gong cabinet that imparts a distinctive metallic character to the sound. Xils-Lab, with the help of Ondes Martenot experts Nori Ubukata and Yves Usson, has meticulously recreated these classic diffuseurs in the digital domain.
Here’s a video with a demonstration of the Ondes Martenot and its special speakers (around 2.15 you can see the different types of speakers):
As someone who has spent (too) many hours exploring the intricacies of the Ondes Martenot, I can vouch for the charming tones of Xils-Lab’s emulations. Les Diffuseurs captures the nuances and quirks of the original speakers, allowing you to infuse your music with the same captivating timbres that have enchanted audiences for decades.
Here’s an introduction to the various settings of Le Metallique and how they affect the source sound (including a peculiar version of Pink Floyds’ Money!):
Beyond Emulation: Expanding Creative Possibilities
While staying true to the essence of the original diffuseurs, Xils-Lab has also introduced new features that expand the creative potential of Les Diffuseurs. You can now mute individual strings in La Palme, opening up a world of experimental possibilities. The global transposition feature allows you to easily adapt the diffuseurs to your composition’s key, while the real-time gong size adjustment in Le Metallique adds an extra layer of expressiveness to your performances.
Here’s a beautiful synth rendition of Debussy’s Reverie, through different settings of La Palme:
Immersive Stereo Imaging with TSDE
One of the most exciting aspects of Les Diffuseurs is the True Stereo Dynamic Engine (TSDE). This innovative feature goes beyond simple panning, allowing you to position the two diffuseurs anywhere within the stereo field. Whether you want to place a speaker up front for a more intimate sound or further back for a sense of depth, TSDE gives you complete control over the spatial characteristics of your Ondes Martenot-inspired creations.
Pricing, Availability, and Final Thoughts
Les Diffuseurs is available now on the Xils-Lab website for €49 (excluding taxes). If you would like to check it out before buying, there’s a demo version waiting for you.
If you’re an Ondes Martenot enthusiast or simply seeking to expand your sonic palette with unconventional textures (how about putting some drum machine sounds through these? Or maybe vocals and guitars?), Les Diffuseurs is a cool addition to your virtual instrument collection.
Xils-Lab has once again demonstrated its dedication to preserving and extending the legacy of classic electronic instruments, and I can’t wait to see how musicians and producers incorporate these unique diffuseurs into their work.
Last but not least, if you’re looking for a software version of the Ondes Martenot, I recommend checking out the SonicCouture Ondes. For iPad users, Ribbon is a fun simple take on this iconic instrument.
