VST instrument capable of creating self-generative
ambient/minimal textures and FX.
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Features:
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- Dual synthesis architecture. The sound is generated by the conjunction of
1 substractive oscillator (7 waveforms) and 2 WAV files with samples from real solar sounds.
- Wave loading option. You can substitute the 2 internal waves (the SOLAR MODES) with your favourite .WAV files, (8/16/24 bits and 8.000 to 96.000Khz, mono or stereo, compatible). There isn't any limit in size for the files, but take into account that you're using your computer's RAM, so the larger the files, the more common you can run into problems.
- Randomization capabilities. The sampled waves pass through three note-sequencers (MUSIK, GROOVE AND VARIATIONS), which reproduce MIDI patterns that can be combined in several ways.
- The substractive oscillator (the HELIOS HEARTBEAT) features its own 3 self-generative modes of randomization, called QUANTA, VOICES and MULTIPLIER. You have control over the speed of the sequence, depth, spectrum, panorama and volume.
- The sound passes through a matrix of selectable send effects, which includes chorus, delay, random and filter. Finally, a VCA and a 4-Mode filter (Lo Pass, High Pass, Band Pass, Band Reject) completes the signal path.
- 3 notes polyphonic.
- Completely automatable via MIDI CC.
- Includes 24 Factory Presets to give and idea of the potential of the synth.
- Moderate CPU use (-10% Athlon 2400+)
Additional information
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- HOW TO PLAY this synth? Well, difficult question... Maybe the question should be: do you HAVE TO play this synth, or better let it to play for itself? The answer is that you have the freedom to do whatever you prefer... By default, the synth will start to generate sound just when you switch it ON. If you prefer using it in a more conventional way, just put the MUSIK, GROOVE and VARIATIONs of OFF, and the volume of the HELIOS HEARTBEAT to 0, and then play your MIDI keyboard.
- We recommend you to listen carefully the 24 example presets to know what kind of music you can get with this synth. You can choose between relaxing, exciting, mysterious, rythmic, free jazzing, electroacoustic, fractal, ambiental and even really weird sounds. Tweaking the knobs as the sound evolves can be really fun.
- Feedback and fxp/fxb presets are welcomed. You can send them to elogoxa@ono.com .
- NOTE ABOUT AUTOMATION AND CLICKS IN THE AUDIO: If you hear audio clicks and dropouts when automating the knobs, please close the window of Sun Ra (its interface) and let it play in the background. Clicks should disappear this way.
Credits
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Concept and Programming by cosmodelia
Graphical interface and final testing by sahul
Version history
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v1.03a (09/25/2003)
- Improves custom .WAV loading, it shouldn't crash the host anymore.
- File size reduced, as the GUI is now compressed in .PNG format instead of .BPM.
- Recompiled with Synth Edit v0.9497.
v1.03 (08/22/2003)
- Probably fixes random crashes when loading big custom .WAV files. Latest SE betas seems to have solved this issue, as we couldn't make Sun Ra 1.03 crash in our tests with Cubase 5.1 and SX.
- "Helios heartbeat" oscillator has now its Pulse Width synced to host tempo.
v1.02 (03/23/2003)
- For still unknown reasons, Sun Ra didn't respond to MIDI controllers 52 to 62 in Cubase.
We have remapped those knobs to different MIDI CC's, find them at the picture included with this release. (Thanks to Jose for discovering the bug and pointing that out)
v1.01 (03/21/2003)
- Corrected a bug in the automation system that made Sun Ra not to respond to MIDI CC
messages in some hosts.
- The .zip now includes a picture with the MIDI CC Controllers that Sun Ra uses.
- Some very minor GUI changes (alignment of knobs and vu-meter mask smoothing).
v1.0 (03/17/2003)
- Official release. It solves all the known bugs in the latest beta, and also
adds some new features and presets.
v0.60 - v0.67
- Beta versions.
Installation
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Unzip the file Sun Ra.dll into your VST Plugins folder.
The plugin can be used as VST Instrument.
Special Thanks
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- To David Haupt for his outstanding MIDI Switchers SE modules. Without them this synth wouldn't have been possible. More excellent SE modules and plugins from dhaupt at http://www.dehaupt.com/SynthEdit/ .
- To Toda_V, Andy Howarth and the syntheditusers group for sharing knowledge about randomization.
- To Richard Brooks and Naima for the creation of the Sun Ra background and skin used in the beta versions.
- This synth is a homage to the great master musician Sun Ra and His Arkestra.
If you want to read about him visit Saturn Web at www.dpo.uab.edu/~moudry , and get his albums if you want to listen really amazing music.
