Drawing on his 30 years of experience in the synthesizer industry, John Bowen (of Zarg Music) has been known for his important contributions to various analog creations (Prophet 5, Wavestation) and excellent software synths for the Creamware platform (Orion, Red Dwarf, Dark Star, Ambient, Pro One & Prophet Plus). What you may not know is that he also adept at discovering brilliant emerging synth designers (such as 'wavelength'), and helping them get started in the business. Now Zarg Music is introducing a new synth for the Pulsar/Scope platform called the Python Pro, done in collaboration with new designer Paul van der Valk, of XD7 Systems.

"Paul had entered an earlier version of the Python in the Creamware Modular contest and received 2nd place", says John. "But when I listened to what he had done, I felt he should have won 1st! I was very impressed by the intelligence behind the design - clearly here was something that was more than just another 'virtual analog' style synth".

In fact, Paul likes to call it 'resonant FM synthesis'. Incorporating 2 FM style oscillators, a variable filtered noise source, 2 'Tube' (comb) filters, and 2 external inputs, a wide variety of new yet familiar sounds can be obtained. From physical model-like plucked string and struck metal sounds, to breathy flutes, to strange percussive clangorous objects - the Python Pro provides new sonic territory for exploration. With 3 envelopes (one of which is multi segment with looping), 3 LFOs, a comprehensive modulation section, and stereo delay and chorus, this synth has real depth.

Paul has provided a number of excellent audio examples on his Python Pro Info page.

Says John, "The Plucked and Multitracked examples are deep and full, but I find the External Signal Processing examples to be perhaps the most interesting". These use external sources (such as tapping a mic or a hi-hat loop) as impulse material to trigger the tube filters, allowing
for very realistic and expressive timbres.

For the curious, a Demo version for Creamware SFP users is available from the Zarg Music web site, as well as the Owner's Manual: The demo and the manual
Available now, the price is normally $199, but is being offered through the end of January at an introductory price of $149.

You must be logged in as a registered member to use this feature!

Ask Blinkbits BlinkList Blogmarks Bluedot Connotea Del.icio.us Digg

Diigo Dzone Facebook Fark Google Bookmarks Ma.gnolia Netscape Newsvine

Rawsugar reddit Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot Smarking Spurl Squidoo

StumbleUpon SWiK Tailrank Technorati Windows Live Wists Yahoo! My Web