Sonico: Returning to the Roots of Analog Synthesis
In a world dominated by digital technologies, sometimes you want to return to the warm, tube sound of the analog era. The Sonico plugin from Solcito Musica is exactly such a journey through time, offering a unique look at classic synthesis with a touch of retro.
Analog Soul in a Digital Shell
Sonico was created by Solcito Musica as an expression of gratitude to Escuela Sonica (Buenos Aires, Argentina) and inspired by (although not a direct emulation of) the Torturator hardware synthesizer, which the developer created in the 80s using the legendary 555 chip. This legacy is felt in every detail of the plugin, giving it a special, authentic character.
It is worth noting immediately the key “analog” features of Sonico, which are part of its identity, not limitations: it is monophonic (keyboard and output) and does not respond to key velocity. This is a conscious decision to achieve the simplicity and straightforwardness of sound that was inherent in many classic synthesizers of the past.
Sound Architecture: Simplicity and Possibilities
Under the hood of Sonico is a set of components that allows you to form diverse, although vintage in spirit, timbres:
- One standard oscillator, which is the basis for sound generation.
- One square wave oscillator, which generates a signal in four different octaves at once, opening up interesting possibilities for creating rich timbres.
- Two envelope generators, which allow you to flexibly control the dynamics of the sound, forming attacks, decays, sustains and decays.
- One low-frequency oscillator (LFO), necessary for adding modulation and creating moving, live textures, such as vibrato or tremolo.
- One filter with two simultaneous bands, which makes it possible to form timbre, emphasizing or muting certain frequencies.
Vintage Coloring: “Lead” and “Vintager” Effects
To give the sound even more authenticity and warmth, Sonico is equipped with two special effects:
- The “Lead” effect: gives the sound a typical retro “lead” character, perfect for creating punchy melodic lines that easily cut through the mix.
- The “Vintager” effect: specially designed to add warmth, slight saturation and overall “vintage air,” making the sound more saturated and analog.
These effects allow you to further color the sound, giving it that elusive quality that is associated with classic recordings.
Verdict
Sonico from Solcito Musica is not just another VST synthesizer. It is an instrument with character that deliberately limits itself within the framework of the analog era to offer an authentic sound creation experience. Its simplicity and specific features make it an interesting choice for musicians looking for inspiration in retro sound, creating music in genres such as synthwave, retrowave, 80s electronics, or simply wanting to add vintage color to their tracks. Unfortunately, the plugin is temporarily unavailable, but its unique heritage and sound remain relevant.
