Coming Soon – Icarus3 By Tone2

Tone2 have announced they will shortly be releasing Icarus3, which finds a huge list new additions being added. Icarus3 is expected some time in April however there’s no confirmed information on that or pricing however don’t rule out the possibility of a FREE upgrade for Icarus2 users.

The update to v3.0 is the biggest update that Tone2 have ever released. It is downward-compatible with all previous versions. All existing song projects and patches can be loaded without any further steps necessary and do benefit from the enhanced sound-quality.

What’s new:

New factory content:

• Over 230 new patches that make use of the new features have been added. They were carefully crafted by professional sound-designers. You can recognize them as they got an ‘I3’ or ‘i3’ (Icarus3) in the name.
• The complete factory content has been reworked.
• All sounds are now properly sorted into the right categories.
• Several new categories have been added.
• Lots of sounds were enhanced and fine-tuned.
• A few mediocre sounds have been kicked to provide only top-quality content. You can download them optionally from the website.
• Additional Arpeggiator and Glitch-sequencer presets have been added.

New synthesis features – mixed stuff:

• New analog-modeled lowpass-filter with self-oscillation: LP Ladder 24dB.
• New analog-modeled lowpass-filter with screaming self-oscillation: LP MS-20 12dB.
• The random button creates more impressive patches. It now also randomizes the LFOs, the Arp and effects.
• Added a “Transient-shaper” to SETUP. It dynamically boosts high frequency transients to add punch and clarity
• The arpeggiator is now able to play two-tones. To access them click on ‘+’ and pick one of these chords: m2, M2, m3, M3, P4, d5, P5, m6, M6, m7, M7, P8
• The arpeggiator is now able to play triads. To access them click on ‘+’ and pick one of these chords: C, Cm, su2, su4, C5, C5x
• A new autochord mode as been added to the arpeggiator: C7 Tetrad.
• New modulation source: Random+- is a bipolar random sample&hold value that re-triggers on noteOn.
• New modulation source: FlipFlop+ is an unipolar value that alternates with every key press.
• New modulation source: White Noise+- is a modulator with bipolar white noise.
• New modulation targets: Mseg1 Speed and Mseg2 Speed can now be modulated by any source.
• The VST3 and AudioUnit version now also support MPE. If you want to use MPE make sure that your DAW properly transmits on all midi channels. Some older DAWs do support MPE only with VST2.
• The new arpeggiator mode ‘Dual Layer Root’ makes it possible to create multitimbral patches with an auto-accompaniment on the root note.
• It is now possible to combine monophonic oscillators with a polyphonic patch. If ‘Monophonic->Root Note’ the currently played chord is analyzed and the oscillator plays with the root note. This mode is usefull for creating glitter in pads or for auto-accompaniment with a bass sound.
• The wavetable editor has a new sweep mode “Warmth” which can softly fade the current waveform to a sine wave.
• There are now 3 different modes available which define the treatment of identical notes that are re-triggered in SETUP:
• Soft kill old voice: If a note that is still in release is played again, the old one will be faded-out quickly. This reduces CPU and results in a clear mix.
• Overlap voices: This is the behaviour that is common in other synths. It can result in a phasing sound.
• Soft-retrigger old voice: The old voice continues playing. This mode is useful for pads and analog sounds.
• Hard kill old voice: If a note that is still in release is played again, the old one will be killed at once. This reduces CPU but can also cause clicks.
• Clicky kill old voice: The new voice will start with a punchy sound.
• Overlap and sync phases: This mode was used in Icarus1 and 1 as a default. It forces all oscillator to be in phase with the old voice. It can cause a swelling sound.

New synthesis features – Hypersaws and Supersaws:

Icarus3 has been extended with many new Hypersaw modes. Unlike competing synthesizers ours do not occasionally sound ugly. We developed smart algorithms that carefully tweak the phase alignment to prevent occasional ‘phasing’ and huge volume peaks.

We are convinced, that Icarus3 has the best sounding “hypersaws” and “supersaws” available on the market. The following new modes are available in the list-selector above the DETUNE knob:

• “MegaSaw 6” plays 6 detuned oscillators with a special, very pleasant phase allignment. It is useful for lush pads.
• “MegaStereo 6” plays 6 detuned oscillators with stereo spread. It is useful for lush pads.
• “MegaStereo 12” plays 12 detuned oscillators with stereo spread.
• “SuperSaw 5” plays 5 detuned oscillators. It is inspired by the JP8000.
• “SuperStereo 10” plays 10 oscillators with stereo spread. It has a silky signature.
• “SuperStereo 14” plays 14 oscillators. It is useful for lush pads and very fat sounds.
• “Drift 1x” emulates the oscillator detuning of analog synthesizers.
• “Drift 2x” sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 2x unison.
• “Drift 4x” sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 4x unison.
• “Drift 8x” sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 8x unison.
• “Drift Stereo 2x” sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 2x unison and stereo spread.
• “Drift Stereo 4x” sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 4x unison and stereo spread.
• “Drift Stereo 8x” sounds like an analog synthesizer playing with 8x unison and stereo spread.

New synthesis features – Granular:

Icarus3 has been extended with Granular synthesis. With this mode you can time-stretch or pitch-shift a sample in high quality and very few artifacts.

The WAVE knobs controls the sample position. You can modulate it with any modulation source. This allows rhythmic textures.

The following new synthesis modes are available in the list-selector above the MORPH knob:

• “Granular classic” works well for pitch-shifting or time-streching. The MORPH knob controls the window size.
• “Granular BPM” syncs to BPM and creates rhythmic textures. The MORPH knob controls the speed.
• “Granular variable” allows a very tight timing with very small window sizes. The MORPH knob controls the window size.
• “Granular freaky” shifts the frequencies in weird ways. It is useful for creating freaky voices or disharmonic textures. The MORPH knob controls the frequency.

New synthesis features – FM:

We extended the FM capabilities of Icarus3. Unlike our competitor’s products the FM synthesis of Icarus does not suffer from any significant aliasing.

• Added 2 new FM synthesis modes with integer ratios: “FM Sine 4/1″,”FM Sine 5/1”.
• Added 2 new FM synthesis modes with subharmonic ratios:”FM Sine 1/2″, “FM Sine 1/4”.
• Added 4 new FM synthesis modes with fractional ratios for bell-style sounds: “FM Sine 3/2″,”FM Sine 5/2″,”FM Sine 3/4″,”FM Sine 5/4”

New synthesis features – Additive:

Icarus3 bas been extended with additive synthesis. These modes drastically extend the sonic range, especially with disharmonic and unusual sounds.

Unlike competing synthesizers our additive synthesis is not limited to sine-waves. It can handle any waveform or synthesis mode. We developed smart algorithms that carefully tweak the phase alignment to prevent the occasional volume peaks that competing synthesizers suffer from.

The DETUNE knob controls the spectral spread of the partials. The following new modes are available in the list-selector above the DETUNE knob:

• “Add Bell 4” stacks 4 oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• “Add Bell 8” stacks 8 oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• “Add Bell 16” stacks 16 oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• “Add Stereo Bell 4” stacks 4 stereo oscillators. The second pair is up to 2 octaves higher.
• “Add Stereo Bell 8” stacks 8 stereo oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• “Add Stereo Bell 16” stacks 8 stereo oscillators. It can morph between a bell and an organ sound.
• “Add Stretch 5” symmetrically spreads 5 oscillators in the spectrum.
• “Add Stretch 9” symmetrically spreads 9 oscillators in the spectrum.
• “Add Stretch 17” symmetrically spreads 17 oscillators in the spectrum.
• “Add Random ? 4” plays 4 oscillators with random pitch.
• “Add Random ? 8” plays 8 oscillators with random pitch.
• “Add Random ? 16” plays 16 oscillators with random pitch.
• “Add Stereo ? 4” plays 4 stereo oscillators with random pitch.
• “Add Stereo ? 8” plays 8 stereo oscillators with random pitch.
• “Add Stereo ? 16” plays 16 stereo oscillators with random pitch.
• “Add Partials 2” plays 2 partials with a spread of up to 4 octaves. Use the mousewheel with the DETUNE knob to lock it to integer ratios.
• “Add Partials 4” plays 4 organ-style partials. Use the mousewheel with the DETUNE knob to lock it to integer ratios.
• “Add Partials 8” plays 8 sawtooth or square partials. Use the mousewheel with the DETUNE knob to lock it to integer ratios.
• “Add Partials 16” plays 8 bright peek or hollow partials. Use the mousewheel with the DETUNE knob to lock it to integer ratios.
• “Add Stereo Par 4” plays 2 stereo partials with a spread of up to 4 octaves.
• “Add Stereo Par 8” plays 4 stereo partials with an organ-style.
• “Add Stereo Par 16” plays 8 stereo partials with a bright sound.

New synthesis features – effects:

• New effect-type ‘Unison’ which stacks 3,5,7 or 9 virtual voices. You can control the detuning and the stereo-spread.
• New effect type: Krautrock Phaser. A phaser inspired by the circuits of the “Schulte Compact Phasing A” devices.
• New effect type: Krautrock Stereo. A stereo version of the Krautrock Phaser.
• New effect-type ‘Haas Effect’ which creates the impression of positioning a sound source.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Digital XOR. The ‘drive’ knob controls the bit wise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Digital OR. The ‘drive’ knob controls the bit wise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Digital AND. The ‘drive’ knob controls the bit wise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Noise Mix White. The ‘drive’ knob controls the noise mix level.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Noise Mix Pink. The ‘drive’ knob controls the noise mix level.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Noise RingMod. The ‘drive’ knob controls the balance.
• New distortion-type for the filter section: Noise AM. The ‘drive’ knob controls the balance.
• New reverb-type “Sitar Resonace” that sounds like the sympathethic resonance of sitar strings.
• New distortion-type for the FX section: Digital XOR. The ‘value’ slider controls the bit wise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the FX section: Digital OR. The ‘value’ slider controls the bit wise scrambling.
• New distortion-type for the FX section: Digital AND. The ‘value’ slider controls the bit wise scrambling.

…plus lots more.

For more information on Icarus 2, click here:

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