Spectrasonics Omnisphere 1.5 & Omni TR For iPad
By Paul Dakeyne
| Posted in Music Technology
Spectrasonics have just announced a significant update to their ‘Power Synth’, Omnisphere, plus a new iPad app called Omni TR. This app allows wireless remote control for Omnisphere, which in turn accesses another major new feature, named ‘The Orb‘. Both of these are due for release on February 15th, with the 1.5 software update being free to registered owners of Vs1. To the details then.
Update
Omnisphere 1.5 has brand new sound design capabilities which can be applied to the majorly updated patch library
and also includes such user-requested features as the new five column browser view, support for polyphonic aftertouch and deeply expanded additions to the synthesis engine and user interface
The Orb
The above mentioned ‘Orb’ is quoted by Spectrasonics as “offering stunning real-time synthesis manipulation capabilities” and offers an intuitive, performance interface. Basically formed on a circular control area, the user manipulates sound (in both subtle or extreme ways) via mouse movement, their usual ‘controller’ or via the iPad’s Omni TR app, representing the ‘Orb’ itself.
By default, ‘The Orb’ addresses every Omnisphere patch instantly, with no user mapping or set up required, morphing between automatically generated parameter scenes in the software’s STEAM engine. If the auto patching is not to the users taste, a unique ‘roll the dice’ button can be pressed, instantly creating a totally different sonic pallette of “intelligent sonic modifications” to explore. Creative serendipity pretty much assured there then.
Omni TR for iPad
The ‘Hands On’ expression continues then with the Omni TR (touch Remote) app which, using the iPads tactile surface, looks like it could really bridge the gap closer between hardware and software in a much improved multi-touch experience. The GUI has a high contrast interface, great for live stage performance, with Omni TR itself bestowing such control advantages as activation of patches, filter tweaking, re-mixing, bending, spinning and much more.
Finally, here’s a bunch of other Omnisphere Vs 1.5 highlights:
- Harmonia: New zoom page shows all Harmonia parameters per layer adding up to 10 oscillators per patch with new independent modulation options for Levels and Fine Tuning on each Harmonia oscillator.
- Waveshaper: New zoom page with extreme new processing modules including polyphonic ‘Crusher’ and ‘Reducer’ sections with ‘Force’ and ‘Animation’ controls that can all be modulated.
- Granular Synthesis: New ‘Speed’ and ‘Position’ modes. New zoom page with new ‘Granular Visualizer’ showing a graphic model of the effect of parameter edits which makes Granular synthesis easier to use.
- Over 700 brand new patches created by renowned Spectrasonics sound development team = over 5,000 patches and 8,000 total sounds
- Five-Column Browser view displays more sound categories and attributes simultaneously
- “Recently Added” Browser sorting option
- Added support for MIDI devices which send polyphonic aftertouch
- New ‘Clone Part’ feature allows easier editing/setup with multichannel MIDI controllers
- New MIDI Learn hardware control mode follows Live Mode selection
- Modulation Envelope points can be key-command snapped to semitone when modulating pitch
- User-assignable Legato Interval rule added
Check out the video below to get a sneak preview of just what the combination of Omni TR and Spectrasonics Omnsiphere Vs 1.5 is capable of. Sound designers, ‘atmospheric’ heads and electronic doodlers – eat your heart out.
Tags: instrument, iPad, Omni TR, Omnisphere, spectrasonics, synth, The Orb, Vs 1.5