and these are the new specs overall for newcomers...Behold.... Changes since 1.2.2:
Surge v1.5
Filters
The new filters in version 1.5 are capable of self-oscillation and can sound anywhere between clean to dirty depending on how hard they're driven. They are incredibly fast which means that no matter how much they are modulated it is practically impossible to make them “blow up”. The previous filters are still available using the subtypes button which provide a broad sonic palette. A 4-pole band-pass filter has also been added, bringing the selection of types/subtypes up to 27.
Oscillator: FM2
This new oscillator uses 2->1 operator configuration and provides a quick way to generate harmonic sounds which are instantly useful in a musical context. It has a set of parameters designed to achieve this particular goal, providing an interesting alternative to FM3 which is the weapon of choice for 'scraping paint of walls'.
Oscillator: Window
This oscillator type combines a primary wavetable with a secondary “window” waveform which together provides a wealth of interesting formant-shifting and cross-modulation options.
Wide
This new setting is a serial filter-block configuration where everything is in stereo (oscillators, noise, filters).
Vocoder
A 20-band stereo-carrier vocoder has been added to the effect section.
Meta-controllers
The freely assignable controllers can now be named. They can also have their values edited directly in the GUI as well as automated by the hosting application.
More efficient
Through careful optimization in key elements of the DSP code using SSE/Altivec instructions the CPU-usage has been reduced by a significant amount. Memory usage has also been decreased.
Other changes:
- Larger FM depth range
- Tooltip fixes
- Touch-automation fix
- It wasn't previously possible to de-click the gate of the last step in the stepsequencer
- Sinus waveshaper is called Sine
- Level-meters of bypassed effects are cleared
- No "useless divider" in the right-click menu of some sound categories anymore
- Added check that the wavetables are loaded correctly in case of a broken installation
- Updated manual
- Added character parameter
- Added more patches
- Increased tidiness
- Oscillator detuning settable as an absolute value (by toggle on the sliders context menu)
- "Force integer" toggle removed. It has been replaced by holding down the ctrl modifier-key while dragging a slider.
- Multi toggle switches no longer jump when outside their area
- Audio input now works when surge is used as an AudioUnit
- Various bug & crash-fixes
Specifications (v1.5.0):
General
Synthesis method: Subtractive hybrid
Each patch contain two 'scenes' which are seperate instances of the enitre synthesis engine (except effects) that can be used for layering or split patches.
Quick category-based patch-browser
Future proof, comes as both a 32 & 64-bit VST plugin (Windows PC)
Universal Binary for both VST and AU (Mac)
Factory sounds
1010 patches
183 wavetables
Oscillators
3 oscillators/voice
8 versatile oscillator algorithms: Classic, Sine, Wavetable, Window, FM2, FM3, S/H Noise and Audio-input
The classic oscillator is a morphable pulse/saw/dualsaw oscillator with a sub-oscillator and self-sync.
The FM2/FM3 oscillators consists of a 1 carrier with 2/3 modulators and various options.
Most algorithms (except FM2, FM3, Sine and Audio-input) offer up to 16-voice unison at the oscillator level.
Oscillator FM/ringmodulation
Most oscillator algorithms (except FM2/FM3) are strictly band-limited yet still cover the entire audible spectrum, delivering a clear punchy yet clean sound.
Noise generator with variable spectrum.
Visual feedback of k
Filterblock
Two filter-units with arrangeable in 8 different configurations
Feedback loop (number of variations inside the parenthesis)
Available filter-algorithms: LP12 (3), LP24 (3), LP24L (1-4 poles), HP12 (3), HP24 (3), BP (4), Notch (2), Comb (4), S&H
Filters can self-oscillate (with excitation) and respond amazingly fast to cutoff frequency changes.
Waveshaper (5 shapes)
Modulation
12 LFO-units available to each voice (6 are running on each voice and 6 are shared for the scene)
DAHDSR envelope generators on every LFO-unit
7 deformable LFO-waveforms + 1 drawable/stepsequencer waveform
LFO1 allows envelope retriggering when used as stepsequencer
Extremely fast and flexible modulation routing. Almost every continuous parameter can be modulated.
Effects
8 effect units arranged as 2 inserts/scene, 2 sends and 2 master effects
10 top-quality algorithms: Delay, Reverb, Chorus, Phaser, EQ, Distortion, Conditioner (EQ, stereo-image control & limiter), Rotary speaker, Frequency shifter, Vocoder
System Requirements (Windows PC)
A computer running Windows 2000/2003/XP (32/64-bit) or newer
The computer's CPU must support the SSE instruction set. This is supported on Intel Pentium 3/4/M, Core, Core2 and AMD Athlon XP/64/X2 (and newer) processors.
256 MB RAM
A VST-compatible Host application
An x64-compatible CPU, OS and Host is required to use the 64-bit version
System Requirements (Mac)
Requires Mac OS X v.10.3.9 or later.
Any Intel Mac or a PowerPC Mac with a 1GHz G4/G5 or faster CPU
256 MB RAM
An AU or VST2.4-compatible Host application
This probably my favourite softsynth. It's capable of an amazingly large breadth of sounds, the FM osc types are pretty much synths in themselves, there are just an absurd amount of filter types, it's a far better wavetable synth than massive IMO...
The overall character reminds me a bit of my old nord lead 2x.
Anyway, probably the crowning achievement with this synth is how it handles modulation. All of those LFOs can be LFOs, Step Sequencers, Envelopes, or LFOs with Envelopes controlling their amplitude depending on your preferences (for the per voice LFOs. The scene LFOs that affect all voices together don't have envelopes)... And it's absurdly EASY TO USE doing crazy things like controlling feedback amount by an LFO that fades in quickly then slowly decays? I could rig that up in Surge in no time at all.