Ultra Analog VA-2 64-bit

[ChrisByrd]

I see AAS have just released Ultra Analog VA-2, and it's 64-bit!

It's available for $29 until Nov 3rd, an amazing bargain for fans of this excellent VI.

Update: this price might just be for existing users.

[Shooshie]

I see AAS have just released Ultra Analog VA-2, and it's 64-bit!

It's available for $29 until Nov 3rd, an amazing bargain for fans of this excellent VI.

Update: this price might just be for existing users.

Thank GOODNESS! I've really missed that. Now, if they'll do Tassman 4, I'll consider my 64 bit transition complete! Well, actually, it won't be complete until I have access to Miroslav again, but these are two of my major sound sources. Tassman and Ultra-Analog, that is.

I wonder if Apple has updated WaveBurner; does anyone know? That's another one awaiting 64 bits. But functionally I'll be pretty much up to about 98% after Ultra-Analog and Tassman4 both make it to 64 bits.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'll go visit the AAS site today.

Shooshie

[mhschmieder]

I use Ultra Analog by far the most of any AAS plug, so I'm real excited by this. Initially I had seen it listed for $39, but just now got an official email offering $29 for the upgrade. I will take care of it tonight...

[MartinBaird]

I wonder if Apple has updated WaveBurner; does anyone know? That's another one awaiting 64 bits.

Sadly, no more Waveburner Pro updates ever.

Martin

[jloeb]

Very happy to see. This synth's a great one.

[ChrisByrd]

Now, if they'll do Tassman 4, I'll consider my 64 bit transition complete! Well, actually, it won't be complete until I have access to Miroslav again, but these are two of my major sound sources. Tassman and Ultra-Analog, that is.
Shooshie

Yes, Miroslav and Tassman will complete the transition for me as well. I have used String Studio a bit in the past, but can manage without it for the moment. Good to have the new UA, though I've not had much chance to use it yet.

[dewdman42]

Yes this is a very underrated synth. It is kind of simplistic compared to a lot of other stuff out there, but somehow it just sounds good...has a certain smoothness to it.. I love the way it sounds. The upgrade pricing is a no brainer. Besides 64bit they also updated the GUI and added some new new FX capabilities...

[Tritonemusic]

I must say that the tiny GUI is disappointing. Haven't had a chance to really try actually playing the synth.

Not being a programmer, I wonder if it would be so hard to make the window larger. It's hard to believe nobody would have mentioned anything during the development process.

However, sound trumps graphics so I went for it just because I love the sound of VA-1 so much. In addition, I'm still using DP7.24, OS 10.6.8 so both versions are available to me in DP at the moment.

[jloeb]

Hmm.. thinking a bit harder about it now...

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... &start=135

Let's see how responsive you are, AAS... get on it...

[dewdman42]

hahaha just goes to show you. For myself $29 is not a lot. I love the way it sounds. I like the new gui and I don't mind that its small because it takes up less screen space and its a simple synth that doesn't need a huge window. I think they have done some smart things with their GUI's. Lounge Lizard also has a lot of this look to it, and Chromaphone...these are much improved gui's over their older stuff. I did like how UA1 had everything all laid out on one screen that is true... but on the other hand...its a simple synth and this takes up less real estate.

The truth is that AAS is hoping to sell more sound sets then the synth itself, so let's see where it all goes

[Shooshie]

I got the $29 email offer, but every time I click the link, I get a different price, the lowest of which so far has been $89. I thought maybe it would recognize me when I entered my information, but it wants me to pay full price! Geez; I've used Ultra Analog for years!

The interface doesn't look bad to me, but I can't comment on it until I try it, and I can't try it until I buy it, and I'm not going to buy it until they give me the upgrade price, so we seem to be at a stalemate here.

I read part of the thread at KVR, and I just can't see how it could possibly be as bad as they're making it out to be. But… I won't know until, well, you know. I won't repeat it all.

Shoosh

[edit: never mind… I just found the "pricing" link. I guess I'll go ahead and get this over with.]

[Tritonemusic]

Haven't read any of the KVR stuff. Just shared my initial impressions.

[Shooshie]

Ok, these are really INITIAL impressions, as it was only about two hours ago that I left my previous post. In that time I've bought Ultra-Analog VA-2, installed it, configured it, found a USB cable for my little UMA25S bus-powered keyboard that I use for things that need a lot of continuous controllers. It's small, and I tend to wear it from a strap like a guitar.

So, I've played it with my Kurzweil 2600, the UMA25S, and my WX-5. I've just dabbled with presets, linked some knobs and faders to controls on the UA GUI, and played whatever came out. So, this is not an official review; this is like walking into a music store, trying out a synth for a couple of hours, and then telling your friends what it felt like.

The sounds are typical Ultra-Analog sounds, maybe even more punchy than before, but also some very lyrical, beautiful sounds too. As always, you can quickly get into advanced synth stuff (for a simple, 2-oscillator synth) and alter the patches easily with the controls in the interface.

Push the Edit button, and you get a tabbed interface that is very logically laid out. Only the information pertinent to the current tab is visible, and while I've seen complaints saying the old interface is better, since you can see everything at once, I frankly do not see that as a handicap here. In fact, it's a most welcome change, IMO. I like that the interface is small and compact. I do not like synths that snake down your screen with every port and pot showing, when you only need to be working in one place at a time. So, the new interface is a matter of preference and opinion. Some will hate it; I love it.

Control-Click any control item on the GUI and you get a number of options, including MIDI Learn. That's the quickest way to get yourself fully immersed in UA, with a bank of knobs and faders all connected to interface controls so that you can play with them on your keyboard/MIDI controller in real time. Click "Learn MIDI Assignment" and the next MIDI event you send becomes the master of that control.

The tabbed editing interface is most welcome here. It not only keeps the window dimensions small, it also keeps you focused on the controls relevant to what you're currently editing. My intuitive grasp of this new interface puts me ahead of where I was with the old one, and that's after only a couple of hours of examination. This interface has more the feel of using something like MOTU's Mach Five. I "get" it instantly.

I've barely scratched the surface of the new sounds, but what I've heard resembles the old Ultra-Analog, but with seemingly more features. Can't say that for sure until I delve into it with more purpose than I did today.

This is a no-brainer purchase if you are into synths. The capabilities and audible results of the original Ultra Analog were always amazing, but the interface always felt limited. Now we have an even better Ultra Analog, sonically, but with the addition of an audio-gear designer's touch, putting everything within easy reach without cluttering the screen. Ultra-Analog now feels grown-up, come of age. I have a feeling that in 10 years people will be talking about this synth in revered tones now reserved for some of the pioneering synths of the 70s and 80s.

Ok, maybe this was a little more of a review than I expected to write. This is a familiar piece of gear to me, but it's just been given a boost of intuitive design. There will be people howling about the loss of their familiar interface, and I understand that. This is different. If the original's main attraction to you was its limited set of controls for each oscillator, laid out all at once in color groups, then the new one will be an initial disappointment, but if you give it a shot I think you'll come to like it just as well, if not better. For me, the attraction was instant. As soon as I started tying into controls with MIDI Learn, I realized I really liked it.

But it has changed, hugely. It's not the same interface. The Bank/Program menu method of browsing presets is something I like far better than the long list in the left-column of the previous version. I never completely felt like I got that, but I'm quite accustomed to banks and programs. The effects page seems drastically enhanced over the original. That's got to be a good thing. Really, it appears that all parts of it have been enhanced. I see things to be learned; there is much more for me to delve into.

I think this is a great upgrade! YMMV.

Shooshie

[mhschmieder]

I personally think the new interface is WAY superior in every way, from a usability point of view, except for some of the fonts being a bit too small. Signal flow and sound design is more intuitive to me with this interface; the old version was pretty to look at but in real world use reminded me of the Nord Modular software.

[David Polich]

Hmm.. thinking a bit harder about it now...

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... &start=135

Let's see how responsive you are, AAS... get on it...

Man, don't go by ANYTHING posted at KVR. Those guys hate everything
that comes along. They even hate Dave Smith's instruments!

KVR audio's regulars are the biggest collection of know-nothing
audio and music production posers on the internet. There, I said it, and I'll stand by it.