Acustica Audio have released Expanse-5 (XP-5), available at the intro price of €99.00, increasing to €169.00 after the promotion. July 14th.
Expanse-5 (XP-5) is a deeply expressive virtual analog synthesizer born from Acustica’s groundbreaking MAREA series, XP-5 faithfully captures the soul of a legendary, five-voice polysynth of the late analog era—celebrated for its rich tone, musical flexibility, and iconic presence in countless recordings.
Faithful to the principles of classic subtractive synthesis, XP-5 captures the essence of that era while pushing the boundaries with modern enhancements. From an oversampled, high-resolution architecture to advanced modulation and spatial features, XP-5 blends vintage character with cutting-edge digital precision—offering a timeless sound redesigned for today’s creative workflows.
At its core lies MUST (Modular Unified Synthesis Technology), Acustica’s proprietary engine designed to deliver ultra-low latency, efficient CPU usage, and pristine audio quality. This cutting-edge architecture ensures that XP-5 delivers not just authenticity, but also the reliability and flexibility demanded by today’s music producers and sound designers.
XP-5 is more than just a digital re-creation—it’s a tribute to a synthesizer that shaped the sound of countless award-winning albums across genres. This instrument, often considered the pinnacle of analog polysynth design, was beloved for its lush textures, intuitive layout, and ability to inspire. XP-5 encapsulates this heritage, offering the same expansive tonal range and luxurious analog character, now enhanced with modern digital control and refinement.
Originally conceived with five voices—one for each finger of a performing hand—the instrument’s unique architecture promoted expressive polyphonic play. XP-5 retains this spirit but pushes beyond the limitations of the original, offering enhanced stereo capabilities and expanded voice count. This allows for richer, wider, and more immersive soundscapes.
Expanse-5 (XP-5) is not just another digital emulation. It represents a breakthrough in synthesizer architecture—engineered from the ground up to run entirely at oversample rate, without reliance on block-based processing. Every module—from oscillators to filters, envelopes, LFOs, and performance controls—operates continuously at elevated internal frequencies, ensuring unmatched temporal precision and audio fidelity. The result is a seamless synthesis environment where modulation, signal shaping, and sound generation happen sample-by-sample, in real time.
Running the entire signal chain at oversample rate delivers tangible sonic benefits:
- Extreme detail and transients, ideal for sharp percussive sounds and fast envelopes.
- Clean modulation and PWM, free of stepping, zipper noise, or aliasing.
- Consistent phase behavior, crucial for stereo imaging and analog-style motion.
This architecture allows XP-5 to preserve the sonic integrity of its analog inspiration while offering far greater resolution and responsiveness. This minimizes aliasing, enhances transient clarity, and enables smooth, analog-like modulation across the entire signal chain.
XP-5 is powered by a revolutionary technology known as Modular Unified Synthesis Technology (MUST).
MUST is a hybrid synthesis technology that integrates the precision of analog circuit behavior modeling with Acustica Audio’s signature convolution-based approach. It incorporates advanced features such as nonlinear convolution, dynamic Volterra series, and time-varying models to faithfully reproduce the complexities and nuances of analog hardware.
This innovative combination delivers exceptional sound quality and unmatched realism, providing cutting-edge functionality and dynamic responsiveness. With its state-of-the-art design, MUST establishes a new standard in virtual instrument synthesis, seamlessly blending the authenticity of vintage sound with the versatility and performance demands of modern music production.
Features include:
- MUST-Powered Engine – Hybrid synthesis core combining convolution and analog-style modeling.
- Full Oversampled Architecture – Entire signal path runs at high internal rates—no block processing, resulting in cleaner sound, smoother modulation, and minimal aliasing.
- Scalable Polyphony – Polyphony ranges from 2 to 10 voices, starting with 5 by default—just like the original. Superstereo takes it further by expanding the voice field for a wider, fuller sound.
- Dual Oscillators – With cross-mod, sync, PWM, noise, and fine detune.
- Multimode Filters & VCA – Classic subtractive behavior with envelope, key follow, and velocity control.
- Superstereo & Age – Adds stereo depth and analog imperfection with adjustable drift.
- Advanced Modulation – Fast envelopes, audio-rate LFOs, and intuitive routing.
- Studio-Grade Effects – Includes chorus, delay, reverb, EQ, and a powerful multiband saturator.
- Performance Toolkit – Real-time MIDI learn, portamento, arpeggiator, and visual feedback.
- 450+ Pro Presets – Curated by sound designers, producers, and musicians
Watch the launch video HERE.
Expanse-5 is available to PC and Mac users (VST3, AU and AAX).
For more information on Expanse-5, click here:
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