TONE2 Unveils Rayblaster – Impulse Modeling Synth Explores New Territory
Ready to wake your ears up? Something different has arrived.
One of our fave synth and plugin developers, Tone2 Audiosoftware, announced the launch of Rayblaster. Available now for $199 in a variety of Mac/PC formats (see below), Rayblaster is based on a new synthesis technique that Tone 2 calls “Impulse Modelling Synthesis” (IMS).
Tone 2 claims that IMS “represents a radically different approach to synthetic sound generation.” From what we’ve heard so far, we’ll say this new synth packs plenty of energy and punch – if you’re read this far, we highly advise you take a listen yourself.
Here’s more from Tone 2 on this exciting new instrument:
“Based on the latest research in psychoacoustics, Tone2 RayBlaster unveils a completely new & unique world of sounds and sound creation that is exclusive to Rayblaster and not possible with other synthesizers.
What is Impulse Modeling Synthesis?
Offering a new world of high quality sounds and limitless creative potential for all styles of music, IMS goes well beyond traditional forms of synthesis.
Conventional synthesizers employ what is known as subtractive synthesis, in which the oscillator source is a looped waveform that is filtered to create a sound. By contrast, RayBlaster utilizes an entirely new and fresh approach to sound generation and creates its distinctive sound from many short bursts of energy, which combine to form a more complex sound. In fact, this innovative approach to synthesis is very close to what happens within the human inner ear.
Whether you’re a professional producer, synthesizer enthusiast, or a live performing musician, distinctive and high quality sounds are just a key press away with RayBlaster’s revolutionary IMS synthesis engine, its psychoacoustic processing, and its carefully designed signal processing.
RayBlaster provides a vast range of sounds that would be unimaginable from other synthesizers and opens up completely new sonic possibilities for you to work with. IMS is both powerful and flexible and allows free manipulation of pitch, time and timbre in real-time.
This enables you to create complex compositions that don’t make the mix ‘muddy’. Especially when played at lower frequencies, the sounds produced by IMS have more detail and character than those produced by other synthesis methods. As a result, you get better sound quality on lower quality playback systems or within difficult acoustic environments.
Rayblaster has something new to offer the world of soft synthesis. (click to enlarge)
Sounds
RayBlaster ships with an inspiring library of over 500 outstanding presets from some of the world’s top sound designers. Many complex sounds such as arpeggiators, vocals or drumloops automatically synchronize to the BPM. For fast & easy access to the specific sound you desire, all sounds are arranged into categories, making them easy to locate whether for live performance or within a professional studio environment.
Filters
IMS has no need for a separate filter section because its oscillators are capable of authentically reproducing the filter sound of other synthesizers by using one of the factory impulse presets or simply by importing one of your own impulses. Not only is RayBlaster capable of modeling the sound of existing filters – it also makes it possible to create completely new ‘fantasy’ filters that are exclusive to RayBlaster. This renders its filter capabilities virtually unlimited.
Waveforms, Samples & Resynthesis
In addition to importing filter characteristics into RayBlaster’s oscillators, you can also import the waveform of any other synthesizer into RayBlaster. This gives you an unlimited number of possible waveshapes, all of which are capable of being morphed in real-time. You can resynthesize short samples like a drumloop or a vocal phrase.
RayBlaster also offers you many possibilities to synchronize complex sounds to BPM as well as providing the ability to manipulate the pitch, timing and the timbre of all your sounds in real-time.
Effects
RayBlaster comes with a wide variety of effects that were developed and fine-tuned to complement RayBlaster’s Impulse Modeling Synthesis. 18 different stereo effects are included, all carefully crafted to offer the highest quality possible: Reverbs, Delays, Chorus, Ensemble, Phaser, Flanger, Rotary, Compressor, Amp-Sim, Equalizer, Surround-Encode, Vocoder & TranceGate.
Main Features
• A revolutionary new method of synthesis
• Provides access to completely new sonic territory
• High-end sound quality
• Create professional and distinctive sounds that are impossible to produce with any
other synthesizer
• Allows your music to stand out from the crowd!
• Delivers professional sound quality that is never muddy and fits well into any mix
• Sounds more appealing, fat and louder than conventional synths
• Allows for independent control over pitch, timing and timbre
• Filter import: Mimic filters of other synthesizers or create your own fantasy filters
• Resynthesis allows easy import & manipulation of your own sounds
• Huge sonic range and very flexible
• Easy to use & fun to play
• Over 500 ready-to-use sounds created by professional designers
• Psychoacoustic processing
• Expandability
• Low CPU hit: use multiple instances without bringing your system to a halt
• Fair price
Pricing & Availability
Rayblaster is available now for €149 / $199 in the following formats:
PC: VSTi 32 bit, VSTi 64 bit, Standalone 32 bit, Standalone 64 bit
Mac: VSTi 32 bit, VSTi 64 bit, AU 32 bit, AU 64 bit Universal Binary for 32 bit Intel, 64 bit Intel and Power PC
Additional information is available at http://www.tone2.com.”
