Image Line Software, the developer of FL Studio, has announced the upcoming release of Sawer, its latest virtual synthesizer.

Described as "a powerful vintage modeling synthesizer that cuts through the mix with precise articulation and a punchy sound", Sawer pays homage to the envelopes and filters of a rare 1980's Soviet analog synthesizer, Polivoks. Maxx has devoted meticulous attention to the detail of Sawer's filter and envelope designs, ensuring Sawer delivers a unique sonic character reminiscent of the Polivoks hardware. But Polivoks, like all analog synthesizers, wasn't without its problems. Keeping the oscillators stable and in tune has been likened to 'moving a pile of live frogs, by wheelbarrow', impossible! As Sawer is algorithmic, this solves the problems of tuning and stability, however, in the same way electrical component instability makes analog gear unique (if not cranky), Sawer benefits from the 21st century equivalent, a coding error.

While programming the SAW oscillator, Maxx accidentally set some incorrect variables and immediately the sound gained bass, acquired some light but pleasing noise on the attack and an overall richer sonic spectra. Maxx realized this was no mistake but a discovery and built on this, adding some frequency modulation to give it a touch of analog authenticity and so 'Sawer' was born.

Key features :

- Main oscillator for subtractive synthesis: SAW shape with Sync frequency.
- Sub oscillator (-2 to +2 octaves) with level, phase & detune controls.
- 1 Noise Oscillator.
- Variable polyphony (1 to 24 voices).
- 8 voice Unison with user-adjustable stereo panning, detune and 'Octaver'.
- Sync & Ring frequency modulation.
- 2 ADSR envelope generators (one user-assignable to modulation parameters).
- 4 Filter modes - low pass (24 & 12 dB/Oct), band pass and high pass.
- Chorus, Phaser, Delay & Reverb effects.
- Multi-mode Arpeggiator.

Sawer is currently available for pre-order for $79 (instead of $99) until the end of March 2009. It will be available for Windows and Mac OS X in VST, AU, FL and stand-alone formats. Pre-release demo versions are already available for download.

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