First available as PolyKB in 2010 before being updated to 2011’s polished PolyKB II followup,
finally making its innovative musical mark on the VI (virtual instrument) scene at the tail end of 2016 to widespread
critical acclaim as a more majorly updated ‘third time lucky’ reimagining of an ill-timed venerable vintage
analogue polysynth from France that surely should have made more of a musical mark of its own with advanced
waveform-morphing well ahead of its time, audio software company XILS-lab is proud to announce availability of
PolyKB III v3.5 — an authentic-sounding simulation of the ultra-rare RSF Polykobol II ‘white whale’ (which, sadly,
saw the demise of its innovative creators, completely out of touch with 1983’s arrival of Yamaha’s digital
dominance-triggering DX7 super-seller), albeit one on software steroids and now lifted to heightened levels of
expressivity and musicality, thanks to several significant improvements over previous versions .
Of course, central to PolyKB III v3.5’s matchless modus operandi is
its most revolutionary feature: free from aliasing,
continuously-morphing oscillators.
On paper, and in reality, it is this that still sets it apart from the
many ‘run-of-the-mill’ analogue synth software re-creations readily out
there since pushy
PolyKB III programmers
have instant access to hundreds of different analogue-modelled
waveforms — from triangle to pulse, through to sawtooth —
via VCO1, VCO2, and VCO3,
its flexible, free-running oscillators. On top of that, those
oscillators can also be controlled by all modulation sources, so —
unlike three-oscillator vintage analogue hardware synths, such as the
trailblazing Minimoog, for example — endless possibilities abound.
As is the case with the fellow French revolutionary RSF Polykobol II, to which PolyKB III v3.5’s
unique sound is indebted, hearing is believing. But since
Serge Fernandez’s RSF SA. Synthétiseurs merely managed 30 Polykobol IIs
before running into financial difficulties — hardly surprising given
its technical
complexity (with 500-plus parts) and attendant (22kg) weightiness with a
weighty price tag to match (equivalent today to €6,500.00
Euro), all of which
were far from in keeping with the then-dawning ‘art nouveau’ digital age
of dominating, desirable FM (Frequency Modulation) synthesis from
Yamaha’s considerably cheaper ‘analogue killer’, the DX7, hearing the
unique sound of PolyKB III v3.5 is a much more likely occurrence. Obviously, by
being priced at an MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) of €149.00
Euro, it is also a much more cost-effective proposition, as well as
saving
time and space as a multi-format (AAX, AU, VST), 32- and 64-bit 16-voice
virtual analogue soft synth plug-in (with switchable six
mono/unison/poly
playing modes) for Mac (OS X 10.7 and later) and Windows (7, 8, 10), fit
for today’s DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) usage.
Ultimately,
then, history has its way of making marks — musical or otherwise.
Several significant improvements over its predecessors ensure that XILS-
lab will once again be making its musical mark on the VI scene with PolyKB III v3.5. Indeed, its PATH function effectively ensures each note played
makes its own sonic story for all to hear. While the VOICE XY and SPACE XY panels have had per voice modulation since v2.0, enabling each note
to be different from the previous one with four XY modulation targets, together with true stereo placement, v3.5 permits PolyKB III users to freely
draw a modulation PATH for each note in the VOICE XY and SPACE XY panels.
Put it this way: now they can create all kinds of precise sweeps and
fast filter/envelope/oscillator modulations for each note, or anything
in-between, bringing about a huge range of totally new sounds, effects,
and
playing techniques. Think about it. Those three morphing oscillators
provide PolyKB III with more oscillator variety than any other existing analogue
synthesizer, including those allowing their users to swap between different banks of oscillators. Thanks to PolyKB III v3.5’s new PATH function,
users
can now freely draw waveform morphings, resulting in billions of new
combinations! Creatively, that same principal is also applied to all
parameters
of the two ZDF (Zero Delay Feedback) analogue modelled filters (VCF1 and VCF2). Imagination is the only limit!
Literally
thousands of onboard presets are often available to today’s
software-savvy VI users, so content management has fast become key to
fully
facilitating an enjoyable experience when playing synthesizers. Speedily
following in the improved footsteps of the latest versions of StiX by Xils — a
virtual analogue and multi-synthesis-driven drum machine with sophisticated sequencer plug-in — and XILS 4 —
effectively emulating a conceptual
‘blend’ of the legendary VCS4, a ‘dual VCS3’ analogue matrix modular
synthesizer prototyped by British trailblazing entity EMS (Electronic
Music
Studios) back in 1969 but never commercially released, with pioneering
British synthesist Tim Blake’s so-called ‘Crystal Machine’ (comprising
two EMS
Synthi AKS analogue matrix modular synthesizers with hard sync between
their oscillators, one connected to the keyboard and the other
connected to the sequencer), PolyKB III v3.5 also benefits from XILS-lab’s
integrated, single-window preset manager. From finding the right preset
in
seconds to creating custom tags, multi-selection/multi-tagging to
exporting/importing and managing banks, projects, and selections...
everything
needed to make working with PolyKB III easier, faster, and more intuitive is right there.
The way PolyKB III v3.5
looks has also been improved, courtesy of the revamped GUI (Graphical
User Interface) with reduced shadowing around
the knobs to improve legibility of function wording, as well as
redesigned tab selection and associated content. Not content with
improving looks
alone, a natural-sounding reverb now compliments already existing
effects, ensuring PolyKB III v3.5 always sounds as good as it looks!
PolyKB III v3.5 is available to purchase as a USB eLicenser or iLok (1 and 2 dongle hardware or software) protected plug-in at a price of €149.00 EUR — from XILS-lab here:
https://www.xils-lab.com/
PolyKB III v3.5 can be directly downloaded as a multi-format (AAX, AU, VST), 32- and 64-bit soft synth
and virtual effects plug-in for Mac (OS X 10.7 and later) and Windows (7, 8, 10) from here:
https://www.xils-lab.com/
Based in Grenoble, France, XILS-lab is
an audio software company, created and managed by Xavier Oudin. Having
created some of the best known
virtual instruments and effects plug-ins on the market for various
companies over the last 20 years, today he focuses on bringing his
passion for audio,
instruments, and music to bear on his own company.Working with
highly-skilled professional musicians and sound designers, the company
collectively
believes that a virtual instrument or effect is not simply a series of
mind-boggling mathematical algorithms designed and scrutinised over by
bookish
PhD engineers but rather a useful and useable musical tool made for
musicians. Moreover, XILS-lab loves to create virtual instruments and
effects that
inspire its users to create more imaginative music than they ever
dreamed possible!
© 2019 XILS Audio sarl
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