XILS-lab has launched The Eighty — successfully appearing as a digital Vangelis soundalike homage to an iconic Seventies-vintage synth basic that the Academy Award-winning Greek musician, composer, and producer of digital, progressive, ambient, and classical orchestral music made into his signature sound, due to its exceptionally full performer expression options (resembling a layered keyboard that was each velocity- and pressure-sensitive in motion, albeit, in contrast to most keyboards of the time, that aftertouch could possibly be utilized to particular person voices, and a ribbon controller permitting for polyphonic pitch-bends and glissandos), devoted to the unique and enhanced for the long run as the most recent entry into the audio software program firm’s lengthening lineup of digital devices.
It’s honest to say that Bladerunner — the now-classic Ridley Scott-directed sci-fi movie from 1982 set in a dystopian future Los Angeles of 2019 — is, for a lot of, inextricably linked with Vangelis’ BAFTA- and Golden Globe-nominated rating, showcasing his superlative expertise with that iconic Seventies-vintage synth basic that was arguably as forward of its time as that trailblazing rating to which its sound subsequently turned inextricably linked in itself. A lot missed, Vangelis left this mortal coil in 2022, sadly, whereas the comparatively few remaining totally operational examples of Yamaha’s CS-80 synth — supporting true eight-voice polyphony, with two impartial synthesizer layers per voice every with its personal set of entrance panel controls, along with a variety of hardwired preset voice settings and 4 parameter settings shops based mostly on banks of subminiature potentiometers — that musically meant a lot to him are extremely coveted by high-flying collectors, commanding eye-watering costs extending into excessive five-figure territory, placing them nicely past the attain of mere musical mortals… not that many may comfortably carry one anyway as they weigh in at a back-breaking 100kg/220lbs (together with built-in arduous case), no matter how deep their pockets might be!
Quick ahead to at this time, although, and XILS-lab’s The Eighty digital instrument is impressed by the long-lasting Yamaha CS-80 as a meticulously-crafted software program emulation, faithfully recreating its distinct sound and character. It contains the unique presets and integrates varied efficiency options to reflect an genuine CS-80 expertise whereas providing new enhancements.
Enter the 2 major synthesis sign paths impressed by the CS-80, that includes the linked HPF (Excessive-Cross Filter) and LPF (Low-Cross Filter) that contribute to its iconic sound, whereas a 3rd synthesis sign path can moreover be blended via an revolutionary 2D mixer for expanded sonic potentialities.
Put it this fashion, although: these meticulously modelled zero-delay 12 dB resonant high-pass and low-pass filters are carried out in every synthesis sign path to take care of an analogue-like sound with out digital artefacts, whereas the meticulously modelled oscillators additionally embrace distinctive CS-80 traits resembling noticed wave creation with brief pulses, thereby guaranteeing distinctive tone and texture.
The Eighty affords polyphonic aftertouch, keyboard followers, and velocity sensitivity, permitting gamers to form sounds with nuanced expression — albeit whether or not they can match that which was demonstrated on so many memorable musical events by Vangelis is all the way down to how nicely the participant in query can truly play! Efficiency choices moreover embrace the SUB OSCILLATOR and RING MODULATOR sections, designed to boost stay playability.
And as if that was not sufficient to be getting on with, the delicate ARPEGGIATOR helps cyclical modulation and muting, going past easy up-and-down chord patterns to breathe life into arpeggiated sequences.
Moreover, 4 built-in results — DEL (delay), PHA (phaser), RVB (reverb), and EQ (equalisation) — with impartial routing choices duly ship a heat and deep sound. In the meantime, MOD (modulation) choices embrace that RING MODULATOR part with ATTCK (assault) and DEC (decay) envelope management, in addition to CHORUS for TREM (tremolo), vibrato, and ensemble results.
A sophisticated, single-window preset supervisor facilitates speedy entry to The Eighty’s sounds, with over 500 presets from famend sound designers — together with the unique 12 presets that helped form iconic tracks by the likes of Stevie Marvel and, after all, Vangelis. Finally, customers can handle, tag, and organise presets effectively to streamline sound choice. Absolutely Vangelis — had been he nonetheless with us — would approve of XILS-lab so efficiently recreating the instruments that musically formed Bladerunner and plenty of extra cultural milestones.
The Eighty is on the market to buy as an iLok-protected digital instrument plug-in (together with computer-based authorisation), priced at a time-limited introductory promo worth of solely €89.00 EUR till January 31, 2025 — rising thereafter to its common worth of €179.00 EUR — straight from XILS-lab right here: https://www.xils-lab.com/retailer/theeighty/
The Eighty is downloadable in 64-bit AAX (native)-, AU-, VST2.4-, and VST3-compatible codecs for macOS (10.13+) and 64-bit AAX (native)-, VST2.4-, and VST3-compatible codecs for Home windows (7/8/10/11) from right here: https://www.xils-lab.com/retailer/sources/#theeighty
A time-limited full model of The Eighty may be requested for pre-purchase analysis functions right here: https://www.xils-lab.com/retailer/theeighty/#xils-download-id-3
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