Native Instruments has just announced the release of Absynth 2.0, (in stores July 11, 2003) Absynth 2 is the newly updated version of our favorite Mac & PC Virtual Synthesizer. The new version builds on Absynth's already solid architecture plus Mac OSX users will be happy to find they can utilize this monster of a synth.

According to Native Instruments ABSYNTH 2.0’s revised DSP core delivers warm and sparkling sounds, with many optimizations for efficient operation. Antialiasing can be switched on or off per oscillator to choose between smooth analog highs, or cool digital jitter. ABSYNTH 2.0 runs completely in stereo, and each oscillator can be dynamically panned by its powerful envelopes. Several new filter models are available, including an exceptional two and four pole lowpass and a multi-pole allpass filter for phasing and resonant effects. Also ABSYNTH 2.0 includes more than 800 evocative, expressive, and musical presets that cover an astonishing range of territory. Yummy!

For a list of the updated features check out the Native Instruments Product info page for Absynth 2.0

We can't wait to get our hands on it! Review to follow soon! In the meantime check out our review of absynth 1.34

It's getting tougher and tougher to justify using our G3 Mac. Now that Absynth is cross platform and out for the multitude of PC Users, there are fewer reasons to fire up that Mac (hurry up Pluggo - come over to the PC now!).

In short, Absynth was so darn spectacular that it often prompted working on the Mac, as until now it was not available for the PC. As the PC has become the primary composing medium and test platform for Beat Mode Labs, it was a happy day when I received the PC version. It is every bit as functional as the Mac version and happily works in our favorite applications, including Fruity Loops, Cubase VST 5.1 and others.

Instead of writing a seperate review for the PC version, we've opted to keep the original text and just add the above notes, and corrections as needed. Absynth PC is every bit as good as the Mac version and truly cross platform. Whether you work on a PC or Mac you now have the power of this unique and flexible synthesizer powerhouse at your disposal!

The invitation on the box of the hot new semi modular software synthesizer from Native Insruments is quite appropriate. Yes, Absynth is now available in a retail box! You may remember the original Rhizomatic Absynth from it's early days on the net as a download only program... Well Native Instruments hooked up with the Absynth developer and has packaged an all new boxed retail version of Absynth and it rocks!

Absynth works both as a self contained standalone program, as well as a plug in software synthesizer working as a VST instrument in your favorite sequencing applications like Cubase and Logic. It has interface support for most popular plug-in formats including MAS, DirectConnect, VST 2.0 and DXi. Absynth is currently available for the Mac OS and PC.

This was our first hands on exposure to the recently released soft synth. We had no previous experience with it, but were really looking forward to exploring the "organic textures and rhythmic madness". We've really been looking forward to getting our hands on this one. What is it? ABSYNTH is a MONSTER!

Installation of Absynth on our Mac G3 450 beige desktop running OS 8.6 was a breeze. (PC INstallation was equally painless - install it and use it!) After following the simple onscreen prompts it was installed and ready to go. After installing Absynth from the cd-rom we opened the standalone version, entered the serial # when prompted and immediately it worked with the built in keyboard. Then a quick adjustment to the device setting and Absynth was now working with our K5000S controller (along with OMS). This was as painless as an install could be . Instant gratification with zero problems. That's the way it should be!

A quick cruise through the presets prompted an immediate wow! Gigantic lush full sound emanated from our system. The sound quality of Absynth is simply fantastic. The sound moves! And the presets are phenomenal! Again instant gratification! We were mesmerized by the batch of presets we were greeted with. Synth sounds and percussive sequenced stuff that was evolving and instantly playable. Like nothing we have ever heard. Only have we been this moved by Reaktor, which is still a whole other animal. The mod wheel was set up and ready to mutate on most presets with some amazing variations. Not just that wimpy modulation stuff you often get with most presets. Pushing the up and down arrows on our Mac keyboard seamlessly moved us to the next patch. And guess what... there are 128 preset patches instantly loaded and available! And there are no glitches or lag time when switching presets. Also we like the way patches cut off nicely instead of like on some synths where the transition is obnoxious. We simply got lost in the variety of sounds included in the presets.

In addition to the 128 default factory presets there are 10 other banks of presets included with Absynth. They include: "Atmospheric & Weird", "Drums", "Ethnic Ambient & FX", "Loops & Sequences", "Pads", "Percussion" and "Synth Bass & Acoustic". These are not all stuffed with 128 presets (and some are in the default bank as well), but each bank is loaded with all new sounds for instant inspiration. Just using the presets included with Absynth alone you will find endless sounds to inspire your creativity. And then when you find how easy it is to tweak and customize the patches you will simply get lost in the sonic possibilities. Absynth is truly one of the most inspiring pieces of music gear or software we have ever bumped heads with. It's amazing the quality of the sounds and the rich fullness. Yes, we have heard some great emulations and samples with other instruments, and some of the sounds are familiar (kinda), but Absynth has a unique character and beauty that just jumps out of the speakers.

Musicians in search of new fresh sounds will find that the potential of Absynth is unlimited. From mind numbing technoey and new agey sounds, rhythmic synth patches, to beautiful soundtrackish and bizarre textures. Absynth truly is capable of livening up any genre of music.

After testing Absynth thoroughly in standalone mode we loaded up Cubase VST 24 version 4.1 r2 and opened up Absynth as a VST Instrument. It once again requested the cd-rom and we input the serial number and were soon playing with Absynth as a VST instrument. No snags at all.

After verifying that Absynth worked in the 4.1 r 2 version of Cubase we decided it was time to finally upgrade to Version 5 of Cubase VST 32 (more on Cubase in a separate review to come). Once again Absynth worked beautifully with no problems.

So, if you are looking to add unique and fresh sounds to your electronic adventures, we heartily recommend Native Instruments Absynth. The presets alone are worth the price of admission. And if you like to tweak and edit patches, Absynth is a joy to work with. We had so much fun just mutilating the factory presets and came up with whole new sounds with little effort. The concepts are a little deep to understand right off, but even just by tweaking various parameters you can come up with all new sounds. So despite the complexity and deep levels of editing available in Absynth, even the synth programming novice will have a good time with just the presets and tweaking parameters as we did.

Absynth 2.0 $299. List