Synoptic Releases Probe for Windows

Probe Main Window (Click for a close-up)

Sequencer Window (Click for a close-up)

The French software company Synoptic (www.synoptic.net) has released PROBE, a real-time, virtual analog synthesizer for Windows-based computers PROBE offers up to 16-voice polyphony, depending on processor speed, with a 100-note arpeggiator, 17-track sequencer, built-in effects, and a vocoder. (More detailed specifications are below.) Real-time performances can also be recorded direct to disk.

PROBE is designed to reproduce the sounds of the classic synthesizers such as the Minimoog and Prophet V with its proprietary anti-aliasing algorithms. Unlike vintage synthesizers however, PROBE includes full MIDI support so it can be used like a standard sound module, controlled from an external MIDI keyboard or a sequencer. Each button on PROBE's interface can even transmit or receive control change/NRPN messages, allowing for even more control. Users can also customize PROBE's interface by adding background images and altering colors of the buttons.

The retail price for PROBE is US$199.

Specifications

Synthesizer

3 Oscillators (VCO)

• Waveforms: sine, triangle, sawtooth 1 & 2, pulse, additive synthesis, live audio input
• Additive Synthesis, 20 harmonics
• Analysis / Resynthesis of sounds
• Morphing between two spectrums, controlled by ADSR or LFO
• Tuning: octave, coarse, and fine
• Portamento

• Lowpass and highpass modes
• Bandpass mode using both filters
• 6 / 12 / 18 / 24 dB/octave slope
• Resonance and self-oscillation
• Keyboard tracking

• Waveforms: sine, triangle, sawtooth 1 & 2, pulse, random, live input envelope
• Additive Synthesis, 20 harmonics
• Morphing
• Delay and frequency

• 4 independent links. For each of them:
• A modulation source (LFOs, ADSRs, VCO3)
• An external modulation (MIDI Modulation, Velocity, Poly Aftertouch)
• One or more modulation destinations (VCOs, VCFs, VCA)
• A modulation amount

Sequencer

• 16 patterns and 100 steps per song
• 17 tracks per pattern
• Analyze and import rhythmic or melodic patterns from MIDI files
• Tempo from 20 BPM to 360 BPM
• Mute and Solo modes
• .WAV files and realtime synthesizer support
• Free banks of .WAV files including drum kits (TR808, TR909 etc...)
• Graphic editing of velocities and durations for both .WAV file tracks and synthesizer tracks.
• For synthesizer tracks, graphic editing of synthesis parameters (resonance of the filter, frequency of the oscillator...)

Effects Processor

• Independent for each voice in multi-monophonic mode, up to 3 effects simultaneously
• Echo with delay, modulation and feedback (for phaser, chorus etc...)
• Stereo Reverberation (delay & feedback)
• Distortion (2 algorithms)