Arracis Gold: A Synthesizer with the Heart of a Step-Sequencer
In the world of music production, new instruments are constantly emerging that offer unique approaches to sound creation. Among them, synthesizers stand out, capable of going beyond standard possibilities, allowing musicians and sound designers to explore uncharted sonic territories. HG Fortune, a renowned developer of virtual instruments, has introduced Arracis Gold – a VST synthesizer for the Windows operating system, distinguished by its original approach to sound generation and modulation.
Arracis Gold is not a typical subtractive or additive synthesizer. Its fundamental feature lies in the concept of an “oscillator stepping synthesizer.” This approach allows for the creation of dynamic, rhythmic, and unpredictable sound textures that are difficult to achieve through traditional methods.
The Heart of Arracis Gold: 4×8 Oscillator Step-Sequencer
The key feature that defines the character of Arracis Gold is its powerful 4×8 oscillator step-sequencer. Instead of using one or more oscillators simultaneously to generate a steady tone, this sequencer allows you to sequentially switch between four different oscillators at each of the eight steps. This opens up wide possibilities for creating complex, pulsating rhythmic patterns and melodies, where each “step” can have a completely different timbre or waveform.
The sequencer offers detailed control over each step, including an adjustable gate-length. This means that you can precisely control the duration of each oscillator’s sound at a specific step, creating both long, smooth transitions and short, choppy “blips.” Moreover, the gate length can be controlled through modulation, which adds another dimension of dynamics and unpredictability to your sequences.
Particularly interesting is the ability to mix the step-sequencer’s output signal with the “normal” (steady) signal of the oscillators. This allows you to integrate rhythmic patterns created by the sequencer into more traditional sound textures, such as pads or atmospheric sounds. The result is living, evolving timbres that are constantly changing and developing.
Versatile Sound Palette
In addition to the unique sequencer, Arracis Gold is equipped with four PCM wave-based oscillators. Each oscillator has access to a significant library of 384 waves, distributed across three banks. This provides a rich selection of initial sound sources, from standard synthesizer shapes to more complex and experimental waves.
The flexibility of sound generation is underscored by the ability to load your own wave files (User wave) and even SF2 (SoundFont) sound banks into each oscillator slot. This means that you are not limited to the built-in waves, but can use your own recordings or samples as the basis for synthesis, expanding sound possibilities to infinity.
The output signal of the oscillators can be mixed in groups of two, giving an additional level of control over the shaping of the initial timbre before further processing.
Sound Shaping and Processing
For further sound sculpting, Arracis Gold offers a pair of powerful filters:
- 24 dB resonant LP filter: A resonant low-pass filter with a slope of 24 dB per octave. Ideal for shaping warm, soft sounds or for creating classic “wah” effects. Equipped with an ADSR envelope and the ability to modulate parameters.
- 12 dB resonant HP filter: A resonant high-pass filter with a slope of 12 dB per octave. Useful for cleaning up the lower spectrum, creating “thin” or “radio” effects. Also has an ADSR envelope and modulation.
Both filters can be bypassed with the possibility of modulating this function, allowing you to dynamically turn filtering on or off depending on control signals.
The effects section includes “Bass Enhance” to add density to the low frequencies, a unique “Spook Fx” to create ethereal and unusual textures, and two delays connected in series. These delays allow you to create complex echo effects and spatial panoramas.
Panning is available for the direct signal, the first and second delays separately, and all these parameters can be modulated, which provides extraordinary flexibility in creating spatial movement of sound.
Modulation and Control
To enliven the sound and create dynamic changes, Arracis Gold offers a rich set of modulation sources:
- 6 LFO (Low-Frequency Oscillators): Six independent low-frequency oscillators that can control various synthesizer parameters, creating vibrato, tremolo, “floating” filtering, and much more.
- 1 S&H (Sample and Hold): A “sample and hold” type modulation source that generates random or stepped values, ideal for creating unpredictable and robotic sounds.
These modulation sources can be assigned to numerous synthesizer parameters, opening the way to complex and lively sound design.
For quickly exploring the plugin’s capabilities, there are 6 “Lazy Buttons” – buttons that generate random settings (patches). The “All” option is especially useful, which creates a completely new random patch with each click, offering an unlimited source of inspiration and unexpected results.
The synthesizer supports 10 voices of polyphony, which allows you to play chords. Key Velocity sensitivity can be assigned to amplitude (volume), filter cutoff (LP & HP Cut), and filter bypass, adding expressiveness to your performance.
Conclusion
Arracis Gold from HG Fortune is not just another synthesizer in your collection. It is a tool for experimenters and those seeking fresh, extraordinary sounds. Its unique oscillator step-sequencer in combination with a rich wave library (including support for your own), flexible filters, effects, and extensive modulation capabilities makes it a powerful tool for creating rhythmic sequences, atmospheric landscapes, and experimental textures. If you work in genres of electronic music, ambient, or just like to delve into sound design, Arracis Gold can become your indispensable assistant.
Immerse yourself in the world of “oscillator stepping” and discover new sound horizons with Arracis Gold!
