Myrmidon Review by Xoxos: Unison Powerhouse
Myrmidon by Xoxos is an analog unison synthesizer, bringing the warmth of classic hardware into the digital world. Developed by Xoxos, this VST instrument combines ease of use with deep sound design capabilities, becoming a valuable asset for any musician or producer.
Key Features of Myrmidon
Powerful Unison and Polyphony
The heart of the plugin is its 8-voice unison architecture. This allows for creating extremely dense, rich, and voluminous sounds, ideal for bright leads, powerful basses, and wide pads. Each of the 8 voices works in unison, forming a rich timbre.
Flexible Oscillator
The oscillator offers a smooth waveform transition from sawtooth to pulse (saw to pulse), controlled by the Mix and PW parameters. This feature, based on Mystran’s blep oscillator, allows for precise timbre adjustment.
Modulation for Each Oscillator
A unique feature is the independent pitch and amplitude modulators for EACH of the 8 oscillators. The pitch modulator has Rate and Mod parameters. The amplitude modulator (envelope, controlled by A, R, and Depth parameters) allows for controlling dynamics. This provides extraordinary flexibility in creating moving and complex timbres.
Various Output Modes
Myrmidon offers 4 output modes to adapt to different mixing scenarios:
- Mono (7 oscillators): For centralized, dense sounds (basses, leads).
- Stereo (7 oscillators, spread): Creates a wide stereo image (pads).
- Stereo2 (8 oscillators, split L/R): Interesting panoramic effects.
- Economy (Mono without amplitude modulation): Optimization of processor resources.
Quality Filters
The plugin includes various filters from well-known developers (robin schmidt, neotec, mystran) with a 0 delay feedback architecture. These filters provide clean sound and a character close to analog, allowing for timbre formation with high precision.
Gate Sync and Phase "Seed"
The Gate Sync function synchronizes the oscillator phase with MIDI notes (may cause a noticeable click, which is part of the character). The PW parameter serves as a "seed" for randomizing the initial phase of each oscillator in unison, adding organicness, variability, and liveliness to the sound.
Advanced Modulation Algorithms
The LFO in Myrmidon is not just a standard low-frequency oscillator. It’s a whole collection of algorithms and unique "contours" designed specifically for generative sound creation and complex, evolving modulation patterns. This is ideal for experimental sound design and creating truly original timbres.
Conclusion
Myrmidon by Xoxos is more than just a unison synthesizer. It is an instrument with a deep analog soul and unique digital features. Thanks to its 8-voice unison architecture, independent oscillator modulation, flexible output modes, and advanced modulation algorithms, Myrmidon allows you to create incredibly dense, rich, and original sounds. From classic analog timbres to modern experiments, it will give your music power, depth, and character. It’s a valuable asset for any studio.
