Newsletter

News Archive

30.1.2012 Collaboration with Planet Bass Records

We have a new business partner: Planet Bass Records.
We will collaborate with this record label and help talented Tone2 customers to get record contracts. We plan to do also sponsoring and contests where you can win free software.
Planet Bass is one of the leading importers/exporters of commercial Trance, House, Electro, Techno & Ambient music.



6.1.2012 Dance & Trance soundset for ElectraX released

The Dance & Trance soundset offers a hand-picked selection of over 400 meticulously programmed sounds for ElectraX, designed by a team of professional sounddesigners.
With its anthemic leads and gates, massive basses, pulsating arps, multi-layered sequences and lush warm pads Dance & Trance is the perfect sound library for your Electronic productions.



6.12.2008 FilterBank v3.3 released (PC/Mac) (free for all FilterBank3 customers)

New features:

• 64 Bit version for PC
• Standalone Synthesizer version for PC

Improvemets:

• PC installer automatically detects VST directory
• Improved compatibility for Windows7 and Vista Systems
• Improved stability
• Various workarounds for several host bugs
• Faster loading
• Improved performance

12.10.2011 Wavetables expansion for ElectraX released

The Wavetables Expansion is available now! It’s an inspiring package of additional sounds and waveforms.
The expansion delivers a wide palette of action packed sequences, multi-layered arps, complex soundscapes, deep pads, gritty basses and rich synth sounds.
Wavetables is suitable for Electronic, IDM, Soundtrack, Dance, Atmosphere, Pop, Ambient, House and a wide variety of other music genres.

• 200 unique presets with over 300 sounds using new wavetables
• Professional sound designers
• 236 selected, licensed waveforms in high-end quality
• Over 60000 new timbres because all waveforms can be morphed
• Waveforms are in WAV format and compatible with any sound editor
• Easy-to-use installer and comfortable integration to the user interface.

1.9.2011 AkustiX enhancer has been released

AkustiX Enhancer is available now! It’s a collection of six essential enhancement tools combined into one intuitive user interface.
Ideal for tracks as well as full mixes AkustiX features six powerful effects: Psycho EQ, Ultra Stereo, Phase Enhance, Multi Exciter, Smart Filter and Stereo Width.
Each effect is based on the latest developments in research and offers multiple ways to enhance the sound of your recordings drastically by using psycho-acoustic processing.
AkustiX is easy to use and works well with nearly all kinds of material. It's a one-click solution to make your mix sound professional without knowing about mastering-voodoo.

• Six essential effects to complement your track and mastering process
• Add brightness, transparency, fatness, vibrancy and depth to your mix
• Restore and revitalize old recordings
• Drastically enhances stereo mixes
• Exclusive new technology based on the latest in psychoacoustics research
• Elegant and intuitive user interface
• High-end quality processing
• Powerful spectrum analyzer & phase meter to visualize imaging and phase
• Suitable for mix, mastering and signal restoration purposes
• Ships with professional presets for a broad range of mix & mastering tasks
   

31.7.2011 Morphing soundset for ElectraX released

Morphing is an inspiring collection of 200 hand-picked presets for ElectraX programmed by a team of professional sound designers.
The Morphing soundset focuses on ElectraX' extensive capabilities to morph oscillator shapes and wavetables to deliver a wide palette of complex soundscapes, warped arps, evolving pads, powerful basses and massive synth sounds.
Morphing is suitable for Electronic, House, Soundtrack, Dance, Ambient, IDM and a wide variety of other music genres.



8.7.2011 BiFilter v2.3 released (PC) - free for all BiFilter2 customers

New features:

• 64 bit version for PC

Improvements:

• PC installer automatically detects VST directory
• Improved compatibility for Windows7 and Vista Systems

20.6.2011 ElectraX v1.2 released (PC & Mac) - free for all ElectraX customers

New features:

• 'Load patch to synth' allows to stack up to 4 patches for fat multitimbral sounds
• 'Copy' button now includes the option to create 4x stereo unison patch
• The filter section has been extended with multiple unique Fractal Filters. These innovative, new filter types are exclusive and not available from any other company.
• Analog modeled 'Moog' filter (Analog controls self oscillation and non-linearity)
• Analog modeled State Variable Low-pass with 'Filter-FM' (analog controls FM amount)
• Nonlinear 12dB Low-pass 'LP Shaped' filter
• Native PC 64 Bit standalone version
• 20 additional patches
• The oscillators now support drag&drop for wav and resynthesis import
• Samples longer than 10 seconds can be loaded now
• Loop/Single is automatically set on sample import
• Octave/Semi is automatically detected from sample name (e.g. Piano_A-3.wav)
• Last directory is remembered on wav load and fxp load/save
• Mod Matrix destination 'Start' sets OSC start phase or sample start point
• Mod Matrix destination 'Mix' crossblends between filter1 and filter2
• Mod Matrix sources 'Midi CC', 'Breath', 'Foot', 'Expression', 'Hold'...
• Mod Matrix source 'VoiceNr' returns a value which depends on the current voice number
• Mod Matrix source 'NumKeys' counts the number of pressed keys for more dynamic expression
• Mod Matrix source 'KeySat.' returns a saturated version of key follow
• Mod Matrix source 'Impulse' returns a 1ms long impulse suitable for attack sounds
• Mod Matrix: 12 additional analog 'Decay' envelopes as source

Improvements:

• Improved graphics with 4 new skins
• FM on/off, OSC on/off, Distortion type and Sync can also be changed during playback
• Oscillators that are FM modulated by a deactivated source do no longer output noise
• Many improvements in sample handling
• Up/down controls now display an arrow and are more smooth to handle
• Improved sound when using glide mode
• ElectraX is more robust against broken Midi data which is sent by hosts
• Improved CPU compatibility
• Waiting icon is now displayed during patch load
• 'Analog' psychoacoustic mode has been improved
• Smarter installer

Changes:

• Trancegate is now only available as Insert Effect

Fixes:

• Fixed a crash which could happen if patches were loaded during playback
• Fixed a possible problem with could result in hanging notes
• Fixed a rarely appearing problem where the plugin did not output sound
• Fixed a rarely appearing GUI freeze
• Fixed a click in sample playback
• Fixed a possible glitch in the filters

23.5.2011 Vintage soundset for ElectraX released

Vintage is an inspiring collection of 220 presets with for ElectraX programmed by a team of professional sound designers.
With its oldschool synth sounds, phat basses, expressive pads, multi-layered sequences and dark atmospheres Vintage is packed with a rich blend of classic sounds, delivering the complete range from analog to digital with a fresh twist.
Vintage is suitable for Electronic, Pop, Techno, House, Soundtrack, Dance, IDM and a wide variety of other music genres



18.4.2011 Warmverb Multi-FX v1.2 released (PC & Mac) - free for all Warmverb customers

New features:

• 64 Bit support for PC
• SSE2 support

Improvements:

• Slightly improved performance
• Improved compatibility for Windows7 and Vista Systems
• Smart installer which automatically fixes possible Windows7 compatibility problems of VST directory
• Improved host compatibility
• Important Popups are always displayed on top
• Many minor improvements

Fixes:

• Removed a small click after silence
• Fixed high CPU of demo version on Mac
• Fixed a possible crash on Mac

31.3.2011 Voltage! soundset for ElectraX released

Voltage! is an inspiring collection of 200 presets for ElectraX, ingeniously programmed by professional sound designers and suitable for a wide variety of music genres including Techno, Trance, Electronic, Dubstep, House, Dance, Progressive...
With its multi-layered arps, deep sequences, smooth leads, exciting Pads and massive bass sounds Voltage! is the perfect complement to your ElectraX experience.
The high quality sounds are a hand-picked selection created by a large number of professional sound designers.



28.2.2011 Gladiator v2.3 released (PC & Mac) - free for all Gladiator2 customers

New features:

• 64 bit version of VST plugin for PC
• Standalone version for PC
• SSE2 support
• Scrollbars in standalone version for low resolution displays
• Gladiator now ships with 1135 sounds (30 new ones have been added)
• Progression and Workstation soundset have an own section in 'category'

Improvements:

• Improved compatibility for Windows7 and Vista Systems
• Improved sound quality: Better psychoacoustic processing and cleaner sound
• Smart installer which automatically fixes possible Windows7 compatibility problems of VST directory
• Slightly improved usability and workflow
• Slightly lower CPU
• Important Popups are always displayed on top
• More precise fine tuning of knobs with shift+leftMouseButton

Changes:

• Editor is large by default
• The soundsets can now be installed by placing Workstation.glb or Progression.glb within the plugin directory

Fixes:

• Minor GUI and audio fixes
• Workarounds for some well-known host bugs
• Fixed a bug in 'sin spirit mode'

31.1.2011 ElectraX v1.1 released (PC & Mac) - free for all ElectraX customers

New feature:

The arpeggiator has been extended.
'S' restarts the note-order-sorting. This is very usefull to syncronize rhythmic patterns and to get a more harmonic beat which does not rely on the number of pressed keys. We recommend to put an 'S' in the 1st or the 8th slot of the arp and play it life!

Improvements:

• Improved host compatibility
• Improved usablity and workflow
• Improved compatibility for Windows7 and Vista Systems
• Improved Midi learn
• More easy installation

Changes:

• Less popups
• Demo test time has been extended

Fixes:

• Workarounds for various host bugs
• Fixed a possible crash and some GUI glitches
• Installer automatically fixes possible Windows7 compatibility problems of VST directory

1.12.2010 ElectraX released

Tone2 are pleased to present its new sonic warrior: ElectraX!

Explore the vast musical universe of multi-synthesis oscillators, analog modeled filters, chaotic fractals, samples, psychoacoustic processing, flexible modulation and an immense sonic range.
Combine multiple polyphonic or monophonic synthesizers and 13 different synthesis methods to create incredible results while the well-designed preset management system provides access to a large library of sounds carefully crafted by professional designers.

Feature summary:

• Four full-featured synthesizers in one interface
• High-end sound quality with multicore processor support and low CPU usage
• 13 different combinable synthesis methods
• High flexibility and easy to use Psychoacoustic processing
• Analog modelling
• 4x multitimbral
• 64x4 voices
• 560 presets by professional sound designers
• 23 exclusive analog modeled filter types
• 45 oscillator types
• More than 1000 waveforms
• 18 effect types including on-board vocoder; Master effect section with Equalizer
• Flexible modulation
• Customizable user interface with 4 skins
• Flexible preset management

Features per synthesizer

• Monophonic, legato, polyphonic, glide play modes
• 3 multi-synthesis oscillators
• Multiple synthesis types: VA, FM, AM, Phase Distortion, Samples, Resynthesis & import of custom Wavetables, Ultrasaw, PWM and Sync.
• Exclusive Fractal Synthesis
• Dual multimode filters
• Dual multimode distortion/waveshaper
• 3 LFOs (global or per voice) capable of running into the audio range
• Step LFO, BPM syncable
• Four Envelope generators
• Arpeggiator
• Insert effect, BPM syncable
• Key splitting

3.10.2010 Workstation soundset for Gladiator 2 released

Workstation is a Gladiator 2 soundset featuring 155 new and exciting presets designed by Bastiaan van Noord, showcasing what Gladiator's Harmonic Content Morphing synthesis is capable of.
A collection of warm & lush pads, beautiful soundscapes, pumping basses and fierce synth sounds, suitable for a wide range of music genres, including Progressive, Electronica, IDM, Minimal and Cinematic.



12.7.2010 Progression soundset for Gladiator 2 released

Progression is a Gladiator 2 soundset featuring 128 new and exciting presets designed by Marco Scherer.
It’s an exclusive collection of lush pads, animated arps, pumping basses and fierce synth sounds, suitable for Techno, Minimal, Psytrance, Progressive, Goa, Electronic and a wide variety of other music genres.



18.3.2010 State of Art expansion for Gladiator 2 released

State of Art adds exciting new features and a collection of 315 ingeniously programmed sounds by professional sound designers.

It contains a large number of unrivaled sounds which can exclusively be created with Tone2’s innovative HCM synthesis.
The presets are suitable for a wide range of genres including Ambient, Experimental, Progressive, Atmosphere, Film Score, Chillout, EDM, Dance, Trance and Electronica.
A must have if you're looking for new sounds, or want to expand Gladiator with more features.

Expansion highlights:

• 315 inspiring, unique presets aimed at miscellaneous genres of electronic music
• 26 additional waves for OSC5
• 8 additional high-end filter types
• 2 additional analog modeled distortion types
• Waveshaper
• Trancegate
• 7 additional effects

1.2.2010 Our new forum is online

The forum is an optional and free support service which is available for all Tone2 customers. Registered users get access to exclusive contents.



10.11.2009 Dance & Trance Expansion for Gladiator 2 released

Dance & Trance adds a large number of exciting new features and a collection of 324 ingeniously programmed sounds by professional sound designers.

It is suitable for a wide range of genres including Dance, Trance, House, Electronica, Ambient, Disco, Synthpop, Drum & Bass, Breakbeat, Industrial, IDM and Techno. 
It’s a must have if you're looking for new sounds, or want to expand Gladiator with more features.

Expansion highlights:

• 324 inspiring, unique presets aimed at miscellaneous genres of electronic music by 8 professional sound designers
• 8 additional high-end filter types
• 2 additional analog modeled distortion types
• A innovative new waveshaper
• Trancegate
• 7 additional effects

25.9.2009 Gladiator v2.2 released (PC/Mac) (free for all Gladiator 2 customers)

New: Midi learn support

PC: Shift + strg/control + left mousebutton on a knob activates Midi learn mode. If Midi learn is activated the next incoming Midi controler command is assigned to the knob. The Midi learn configuration of all controlers is stored in an automatically generated file 'gladiatormidi.cfg' within the vst directory. If 'gladiatormidi.cfg' is deleted it automatically resets to the default assignments.

Mac: Shift + Apple + left mousebutton on a knob activates Midi learn mode. If Midi learn is activated the next incoming Midi controler command is assigned to the knob. The Midi learn configuration of all controlers is stored in an automatically generated file 'Library/Audio/Plugins/gladiatormidi.cfg'. If 'gladiatormidi.cfg' is deleted it automatically resets to the default assignments.

New features, changes, fixes and improvements:

• Smoother overall sound with more 'analog hardware-like' feeling
• More punchy envelopes
• Drastically improved sound of Chorus and Ensemble effect. Replaced them with an 'analog modeled' version.
• Additional lowpass filter: LP Superfat
• New modifier: 'Time Delay' delays an oscillator spectrum
• New modifier: 'Pitch Harmonizer' stacks up to 16 additional harmonics to an osciallator spectrum
• New modifier: 'Pitch Octaver' stacks up to 8 oscillators which are tuned in octaves
• Improved Moog filter: Analog modelling with self oscillation support for high resonance
• Smoother filter sound: Comb+, Double Comb
• Improved LP 12dB Analog, BP 12dB Analog, HP 12dB Analog: More silky treble
• 35 additional sounds
• Reworked and resorted factory presets
• Slightly improved psychoacoustical processing
• Full version: User name is shown above preset browser
• Improved robustness against user errors and corrupt installations
• A warning is displayed if a user tries to register with the wrong keyfile
• Renamed filters: "Comb1"->"Comb+","Comb2"->"Double Comb"
• The hotkey 'm' resets the mod matrix (Note: Not all hosts support this)
• Gladiator banks (glb files) contain now up to 4096 presets
• Fixed (Fullversion on Mac): Username sometimes was not displayed correctly
• Fixed a rarely appearing crash that could appear with certain system configurations (PC)
• Two spectra were missing because of invalid filenames (Mac)
• Fixed a possible crash with Midi CC 121

7.8.2009 FireBird+ v1.11 released (free for all FireBird+ users)

Improved sound quality:

• More 'punchy' envelopes
• Cleaner filter sweeps
• 'Smoother' overall sound with more 'hardware feeling'
• Slightly reduced reverb mix for combi effects

New features:

• 137 additional sounds from Bastiaan van Noord (Abstracts) and Xenos
• Additonal patterns for ARP
• Arrow up/down key selects previous/next preset
• Included spanish handbook

Further improvements:

• Improved host compatibility
• Faster loading
• Reduced CPU spikes
• Installer automatically detects vst directory

13.6.2009 The Electronic expansion for Gladiator 2 released

The 'Electronic expansion' is a big preset and feature expansion pack for Gladiator 2. Designed by the professional sound designers Markus Feil, Bryan 'Xenos' Lee and Bastiaan van Noord, 'Electronic' is a collection of more then 300 sounds and new add-on features.

Impressive arpeggiator sequences, resonant basses, groovy drumlines, vocaloid sounds, cutting leads, chiptune sounds, techno stabs, rhythmic trancegates, deep housechords, atmospheric pads and ambient textures are among the many types of electronic sounds featured inside this expansion. A must have if you're looking for new sounds or if you want to expand Gladiator with more features.

Expansion highlights:

• 300+ inspiring, unique presets aimed at miscellaneous genres of electronic music. The additional sounds can be accessed directly from the interface.
• Stereo Trancegate: Featuring no less then 22 patterns for rhythmic gate effects
• Reverb Ultra: Reverb Ultra uses a new high-quality reverb algorithm, its soft and diffuse sound make it especially
  suitable for larger rooms and sculpting the proper ambience.
• Three new early reflection effects: Early reflection, reverse reflection and gated reflection
• Aliaser: A LoFi retro-effect that works by mirroring the signal's spectrum at the cutoff frequency
• Stereo Enhance: A stereo width effect, equipped with a High-Shelf filter to expand the stereo field while keeping the
  lower frequencies intact.
• Three additional skins as free bonus content: Black, gold and red skin

11.6.2009 Gladiator v2.1 released (PC/Mac) (free for all Gladiator 2 customers)

Improvements in sound quality:

• Drastically improved low notes oscillator sound
• Improved reverb sound: Softer and more diffuse reverb tails
• Improved psychoacustical processing
• Improved spectral slope of low frequencies to reduce gibbs effect for more 'analog' sound
• Improved sound quality of intelligent microtuning (IQM): Warmer sound for long release times
• Extended dB range of master volume knob
• Reworked existing factory presets: Warmer sound

New features:

• 3 new phase modulators for analog sounding pulsewidth modulation: PWM, PWM alt, phase shift
• Added song position sync support for LFO 1/2 ('bpm' has to be set to 'on' and 'retrigger' to 'off')
• Added split keyboard support; new modulation sources: Low keys, High keys
• Added new 'split' arp mode which applies ARP on high keys only and leaves low keys for basses
• 18 new factory sounds

Changes, fixes and improvements:

• Faster loading time of PC full version
• Demo version: Nag Voice only every 9 minutes instead of every minute
• Improved host compatibility: Cubase 4 & 5, Orion, Fruity Loops, Logic
• Fixed (PC): Wrong version number was displayed in Cubase
• Fixed: Microglitch in volume envelope
• Fixed (Full version, Mac): 'Demoversion' instead of user name was displayed for 2 seconds after loading
• Fixed (PPC Mac): 'Spec format' and 'Spec clean' modifier could output silence
• Fixed (FUll version, Mac): 'save all' could crash Gladiator2
• Changed (Mac): Focus of mouseover when 'show editor' was set to 'off'

7.5.2009 Warmverb Multi-FX v1.1 released (PC/Mac) (free for all Warmverb customers)

Changes, fixes and improvements:

• Added Trancegate effect:
  - dry/wet mix
  - beat
  - speed (synced to BPM and song position)
  - soften (from an edgy square-like shape to a soft sinoid shape)
  - offset (defines the relative position of the rhythm)
• Added early 3 reflection effects:
  "Reflect \" Early reflections
  "Reflect /" Reverse reflections, reverse Reverb
  "Reflect -" Gated reflections, gated Reverb
  Effect parameters:
  Time, Density, Damp, Pre-delay
• Added Aliaser effect
• Bypass switches for effects
• Additional serial routing scheme: IN->FX1->FX2->EQ->FX3->FX4->OUT
• 43 new presets
• Improved sound of 'Reverb large' and 'Reverb ultra'
• Vocoder can be tuned by sending midi notes to Warmverb.
• Improved performance
• Blue glow for activated buttons
• Stereo enhancer swapped left and right channel

3.5.2008 Abstracts FireBird+ expansion updated (free for all Abstracts customers)

Abstracts and its demo have been updated, the expansion now features 600 presets and the demo bank now has 128 presets.



17.2.2009 Gladiator 2 released

A revolution in synthesis! The award winning HCM synthesis offers new aural territory and a huge sonic range in high-end sound quality.

“Finally, a company that makes a synthesizer that offers a new synthesis technique. HCM is not just some meaningless “buzzword” that’s a rehash of more of the same... It gives a new direction in dynamic expression.” (Recording magazine 10/2008)

Gladiator 2 supports an exhaustive list of synthesis types:

• Harmonic Content Morphing (HCM3)
• Frequency Modulation (FM)
• Amplitude Modulation (AM)
• Phase Distortion (PD)
• Pulse Width Modulation (PWM)
• Phase Modulation (PM)
• Oscillator sync
• Wave shaping
• Supersaw
• Resynthesis playback
• Vocoding
• Additive
• Sample playback

Features

• High-end sound quality: Analog, warm, transparent and fat
• Huge sonic range, unique sound
• Different synthesis types can be combined
• Low CPU, high reliability
• Semi-modular, high flexibility, expandability
• 1050 professional sounds
• Real stereo, Dolby Prologic II encoding
• Up to 18 oscillators per voice, 4x stereo unison
• 110 different oscillator types with 36865 waveforms
• Aliasfree, 162x oversampling
• Psychoacoustical processing
• 41 unique filters (Analog, vocal, comb, Moog, phaser, EQ, ...)
• 20 different effects
• 7 distortion types with warm, analog sound
• Programmable arpeggiator, step LFO and trancegate
• BPM syncable
• IQM for clearer chords (intelligent microtuning)

10.9.2008 Abstracts FireBird+ expansion released

Expand your mind and Firebird!

Abstracts is a collection of 440+ patches, an extensive 30 page manual including step by step tutorials with tips and hints for Firebird+ and a patch list with descriptions and tags for easy access to your sounds.

Featuring deep basses, ambient textures, rhythmic elements, leads and evolving pad sounds, Abstracts showcases the true strength of Firebird's Harmonic Content Morphing synthesis.

The sounds are designed to be as usable as possible, ranging from bread and butter leads to complex ambient soundscapes, every patch is setup to cover keyboard controllers like Mod wheel, Pitch bend and velocities.
Next to the usual fxb format, presets inside the expansion banks are included as single fxp files, sorted by categories as well as sorted by bank. Of course 'no FX' versions of all the banks are also included
Inside the expansion you will also find 210 percussion and effect samples in wav format (60mb), taken from the included percussion, effect and variation patches of these sounds.

1.8.2008 Warmverb Multi-FX v1.0 (Mac) and v1.01 (PC) released (free for all Warmverb customers)

The Mac version is available now as VST/AU universal binary.

Fixes and changes in v1.01 (PC):

• Plugin does not longer output a feedback noise in hosts which do not clear output buffers
• Effect buffers are cleared on 'stop/suspend'
• Full version does not longer crash if 'cancel' is pressed in keyfile dialogue.
  
   

27.7.2008 Warmverb Multi-FX v1.0 released (PC) - Mac version is coming soon

Do you want to flange a feedbacked reverb tail and pass it through a vocoder?
Warmverb is a multi effect unit which gives you the flexibility to create unique custom effects in high-end sound quaility.

Features:

• High-end quality reverb algorithms
• 150 professional factory sounds
• 35 different effect modules
• Modular design
• Feedback module
• Real stereo architecture
• Smart sleep: Low CPU mode
• 8x oversampling
• Anti-aliasing
• 64 bit processing
• 22-192 kHz sample rate supported

2.2.2008 Gladiator v1.2.2 released (PC/Mac) (free for all Gladiator customers)

Changes, fixes and improvements:

• New feature: Shared memory support: Additional Gladiator instances need 30 MB less RAM. The memory usage of the first instance is now 89 MB, further instances need 59 MB. RAM is now deallocated instantly in all hosts.
• New feature: Additional routing destinations: EQ and FX parameters
• New feature: Bank select support
• Compatibility fix: Tweaked presets are now restored correctly after loading in all hosts.
• Compatibility fix: Acid did output mono sound
• Changed: Program select can now access all presets
• Changed: Various changes and fixes in glide mode and legato
• Improved: Faster loading
• Improved: Midi event handling
• Improved: Labels for outputs
• Fixed: Editor button could display wrong value after loading
• Fixed: Mute button did not work properly on AM
• Improved (Mac): Drastically improved performace
• Fixed (Mac): Crash on saving presets when the user selected an empty directory
• Fixed (Mac): Potential crash on exiting the plugin

17.1.2008 FilterBank3 v3.2 released (PC/Mac) (free for all FilterBank3 customers)

Changes, fixes and improvements:

• Faster loading and saving
• Fixed hanging notes is Sonar and other hosts
• Bigger display of values
• Larger threshold of limiter
• Improved performance
• Added licence ageement
• Improved sound: Less aggressive treble
• Dry/wet knob did not work in FX version
• Improved timing
• PC: load/save window does not longer vanish after moving it
• Mac: Fixed a crash on creating a directory in save dialog

15.1.2008 BiFilter v2.2 released (PC/Mac) (free for all BiFilter2 customers)

Changes, fixes and improvements:

• Improved performance
• Inverted up/down buttons
• Stop/play in host could make filter sweep to unwanted values
• Filter did not react on very slow sweeps
• Added licence ageement
• Mac: Automation did not work in AU version (depended on Quicktime version)
• PC: Msvcr71.dll was necessary to run plugin
• PC: Moving the Load/save window does not longer make it vanish
• PC: Added version info to dll file
• Mac: Fixed a crash on creating a directory in save dialog

7.1.2008 Gladiator for Mac released

The Mac version of Gladiator is available. It is available as universal binary for Intel Mac and Power PC. It supports audio unit (AU) and VST 2.4.


7.1.2008 Gladiator v1.1 released (free for all Gladiator customers).

New features, changes and fixes:

• Drastically improved time for saving/loading songs in Cubase and other hosts
• Opening the plugin is 250% faster. When the plugin is started for the first time it creates cache files (.1 .2 .3 .4) within the Gladiator_data directory. These cache files help to improve the performance.
• Drastically reduced the harddisc space for saving songs in Cubase and other hosts (previously 1,5 Mb per instance, now 850 byte).
• Removed a glitch after switching through presets.
• Slightly reduced memory usage.
• LFO1/2 "retrigger off" was renamed to "random phase"
• The word "preprocessing" appears in the HCM windows.
• Improved sound: Very low played oscs have more "treble".
• Improved sound: IQM light is switched to "light" by default. Gladiator sounds less static.
• Fixed a buffer overflow in the “Time Varismooth” modifier
• The preset format has changed: Hosts save in chunk format now (fxb/fxp). Gladiator presets are now glp/glb files.

14.12.2007 Gladiator v1.0 released

Gladiator is one of the most powerful synthesizers ever. This is a tough statement, but you should read this...

What is Harmonic Content Morphing (HCM) Synthesis?

This new synthesis method is based on a large and expandable repertoire of standard waves like pulse, unique synthetic waveforms as well as resynthesis waves like trumpets, organs, pianos and voice samples. These waves can be modified in real-time by e.g. FM modulation, altering its harmonic structure, syncing, waveshaping,...
Any modification of a wave can be modulated producing lively shimmery sounds (recall: with only one oscillator!). In total there are more than 30000 different spectra available for combination and modulation.

Example:

You can take a Hammond organ, FM modulate the organ with a sawtooth, create a hypersaw and amplitude modulate this signal with a BPM synced vocoder drumline.

What is the advantage of Gladiator compared to other synthesizers?

• Real high-end sound quality: Analog, warm, transparent and fat
• Huge sonic range: From classic to unique science fiction
• Excellent value for money
• Low CPU and high reliability
• Gladiator can replace a complete room full of hardware
• Flexibility and expandability
• 750 professional sounds from Vengeance and others
• Gladiator was created by professional dsp scientists

Synthesis features

• Advanced HCM (new synthesis, unique sounds)
• FM
• AM
• PWM (can be applied on every waveform)
• Sync
• Phase modulation / PM
• Vocoder sounds (512 bands)
• Waveshaping
• Supersaw (can be applied on every waveform)
• Additive sounds (512 harmonics)
• Resynthesis sounds
• Phase distortion
• Sample playback
• Real stereo
• 18 oscillators per voice
• 74 different oscillator types with 30208 waveforms
• Additional user defined waveforms with modifiers
• Aliasfree / 162x oversampling (sample playback)
• Modular routing

Filters and effects

• 40 different filters in high-end quality (Analog, vocal, comb, elliptic, phaser, lowpass, highpass, bandpass, notch, EQ, ...)
• 20 different effects in high-end quality
• 7 distortion types with warm, analog sound
• Programmable arpeggiator, step LFO and trancegate
• BPM syncable
• IQM for clearer chords (intelligent microtuning)
• 4x stereo unison

15.11.2007 FireBird+ v1.9 released (free for all FireBird+ customers)

New features:

• Keyboards with nonstandard pitchwheels are not longer out-of-tune
• Software disclaimer in installer

Improvements:

• Reduced loading time
• User errors and previously installed warez versions of FireBird do not longer mute the output
• Improved host compatibility. Workarounds for several buggy hosts (gui resizing)

Changes:

• Warez versions of reFX/Tone2 products do not longer cause a warning message

Bug fixes:

• Wrong display of fatness value
• “Moog analog filter” created a loud noise on low cutoff values
• Wrong display of “Reverb high-end” parameters

15.8.2007 FireBird+ v1.8 released (free for all FireBird+ customers)

New features:

• 3 new reverb types with high-end sound quality: RevHiEndA, RevHiEndB, RevHiEndC
  FireBird+_v1.8_Reverb
• new analog modeled filter with asymetric resonance shape: LP syncie
  firebird+_v1.8_analog_filters

Improvements:

• Improved sound quality of effects: Reverb A, Reverb B, Del+Rev A, Del+RevB, Ens+Rev
• Drastically improved filters (completely new algorithm): LP analog, BP analog, HP analog, BR analog
  firebird+_v1.8_analog_filters
• Improved frequency/gain response of filters:
  LP 30dB, LP Fat, LP Oct, HP 30dB, HP Fat, LP SVF, HP SVF, BP SVF, BP 15dB, Lowshelf, Highshelf, Equalizer,
• Improved sound of filters:
  Vocal IEAOU, Vocal A, Vocal U, Vocal E, Vocal I, Vocal O
• Changed default settings of knobs (Strg+mouseclick)
• Better display of automation parameters
• Less glitches when the engine hits the maximum number of voices
• Less CPU spikes on randomizing

Bug fixes:

• BR analog was not working
• Wrong update notifications
• Fixed LFOs: Sin, Cos, Rand Sine

9.8..2007 FilterBank3 v3.1 released (free for all FilterBank3 customers)

New features:

• MAC version available (Universal Binary, VST and AU)
• 114 additional presets (Thanks to Bastiaan van Noord)
• exact value of cuoff is displayed in Hz now
• username is displayed on startup
• Pitchwheel support in synth version

Improvements:

• Labels and values for automation parameters available
• Improved old presets
• Limiter sounds softer
• No clipping of out-of-range input signals
• Improved FilterBank2 preset compatibility
• Improved frequency/gain response of filters:
  LP 30dB, LP Fat, LP Oct, HP 30dB, HP Fat, LP SVF, HP SVF, BP SVF, BP 15dB, Lowshelf, Highshelf, Equalizer,
• Improved sound of filters:
  Vocal IEAOU, Vocal A, Vocal U, Vocal E, Vocal I, Vocal O

Bug fixes:

• Plugin rarely crashed on closing/opening the interface
• Lowest line on display was not erased on startup
• Plugin could have crashed on copy/paste/random/reset
• Plugin could have been muted after pressing random
• Fixed a mistype inside the STEP sequencer
• Passes Auval tests on MAC

20.7.2007 FilterBank3 released

Tone2 FilterBank3 is more than a filter plugin - it is a complete VST synthesizer and a flexible multi-effect unit. The modular design and flexible modulation routing give you nearly unlimited possibilities. With self-oscillating filters, oscillators and feedback it can create complete sequences and textures. FilterBank sounds are impressive and absolutely unique. The built-in step sequencer can create rhythmic sequences with some mouse clicks.

• 58 high-end stereo filters
• semi - modular architecture
• flexible routing
• 2 anti-aliased OSCs/LFOs with BPM Sync and 11 wave shapes
• alias free FM and AM
• 12 over sampled types of distortion
• 20 types of surround delay, reverb
• can be loaded as synthesizer as well as effect
• vocal filtering, equalizing, phasing, flanging, compression
• feedback
• step sequencer
• Midi learn
• autosync to BPM
• realtime frequency display
• envelope follower
• Tool tips and help functions
• VST 2.4 / AU, stereo, 64 Bit accuracy

24.4.2007 FireBird+ v1.7.2 released (free for all FireBird+ customers)

Bug fixes:
- Fixed an occasional crash on closing (Sonar and others)
- Fixed an occasional crash which appeared after longer usage
- Fixed a memory leak

New features:
- FireBird’s interface will no longer remain gray if key file is missing

Improved performance:
- reduced CPU spikes
- reduced overall CPU requirement


13.4.2007 FireBird+ v1.6 released (free for all FireBird+ customers)

Improved host compatibility:
- Some versions of Steinberg products (Cubase V-STack) did not route Midi to FireBird

Improved performance:
- faster loading times
- faster opening/closing of GUI
 

5.4.2007 FireBird+ released (v1.5, major update, includes oscillator and filter expansion)

26 new multi-Oscillators

16 new filters:
LP Analog2 ,LP Moog ,LP Elliptic ,HP Elliptic ,HP Analog ,BP Analog ,BR Analog ,EQ Peak 1 ,EQ Peak 2 ,EQ Block ,Vocals2 ,VOC A ,VOC U ,VOC E ,VOC I ,VOC O

3 new ARP rhythms

Additional Midi CCs supported

Further improvements:
- Lower CPU usage
- Reduced CPU spikes
- Updated English handbook
- Smoother sound on FAT4x
- Less memory needed (4MB)
- smaller dll file
- Windows Vista registry compatibility: HKEY_CURRENT_USER is used instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Changes:
Midi CC 11 (expression pedal) changed to 115

Fixes:
- FireBird did not load if MSVCR71.dll was missing in Windows. This file is not longer necessary.
- Fixed a random crash which was caused by loopmode "???????".
- Cubase switched to bypass on heavy CPU load.
- Cantabile compatibility.
- Phrazor compatiblity.
- Sonar and others: FireBird did not produce sound if interface was closed.
- Renoise and other hosts: Stop/Play in host caused a CPU spike and audio dropouts.
- The first patch "welcome" was clicking.
 

14.3.2007 FilterBank2 updated to v2.5 (free for all FilterBank2 customers)
- 9 new filter types: Analog LP SVF,analog HP SVF,analog BP SVF, analog BR SVF, Allpass 30dB, EQ block, Vocals2, 5 stage combfilter, Moog lowpass analog
- Improved existing filters: Higher accuracy, normalized filter gain, higher performance
- Improved GUI: Smooth knob movements, no flickering on redraws
- Default midi CC# assignments, all parameters can be accessed by midi now
- All notes off supported
- Improved host compatibility (Sonar and others)
- Manual updated


9.3.2007 a new FireBird expansion ‘Electricity’ is available. The soundset was designed by the professional sound designer Marco Scherer from plasticage music.


1.3.2007 FilterBank2 v2.5 beta finished (available for beta testers only)


26.2.2007 BiFilter2 for MAC released
- supports Intel MAC and Power PC (universal binary)
- supports AU and VST 2.4 interface
- supports OS X 10.3 or higher
 

25.1.2007 BiFilter2 for PC updated to v2.1(free for all BiFilter2 customers)
- registration of the full version does now work on all hosts
- minor fixes and improvements


3.1.2007 BiFilter2 for PC released.


25.10.2006 the second FireBird expansion ‘Spectrals’ is available.


23.10.2006 Italian manual for FireBird available.


08.10.2006 FireBird updated to v1.2.1 (free for all FireBird customers)
- fixed a bug which caused huge latency


06.10.2006 FireBird updated to v1.2 (free for all FireBird customers)
- additional effect: surround encoder (encodes a Dolby pro logic 2 compatible surround signal into stereo mix)
- faster preset switching, reduced CPU spikes
- msvcrt71.dll and gdiplus.dll no longer necessary to run FireBird
- more detailed automation parameter values and displays
- sound banks are also installed as separate fxb files
- improved host and sound card compatibility
- lots of small fixes and improvements


19.09.2006 the first FireBird expansion ‘Uniquity’ is available.

16.09.2006 FireBird updated to v1.1 (free for all FireBird customers)
- Improved default skin and 10 new skins. Skins can be selected on setup
- Program change support
- Intelligent micro tuning type can now be setup in 4 steps
- Midi CC support
- All notes off/omni off support
- Midi CC map is displayed on setup screen
- Sustain pedal support
- brushed aluminum knobs


25.08.2006 FilterBank2 updated to v2.4 (free for all FilterBank2 customers)
- improved filters
- Midi program change support
- random button
- minor fixes and changes


01.07.2006 FireBird v1.0 released


28.04.2006 FilterBank2 updated to v2.3 (free for all FilterBank2 customers)
- 37 new presets for the VSTi version
- improved performance
- a warning message box appears when the limiter is active


12.04.2006 BiFilter updated to v1.61
- New Filters: State variable lowpass, State variable highpass, State variable bandpass, Resonator, Comb filter 3 stage, Comb filter 6 stage, Moog lowpass 24 dB, Moog lowpass 6 dB, Moog highpass, Moog bandpass, Moog notch, Moog notch lowpass
- New FX: AM, FM sine (anti-aliased), FM triangle (anti-aliased), FM saw (anti-aliased), Resampling
- Higher performance


11.04.2006 FilterBank2 Synth & FilterBank2 FX v2.2 uploaded (free for all FilterBank2 customers)
- Higher performance
- New routing mode: AM Filter1 / Filter2
- New OSCs/LFOs: PWM, Layer, Strings
- 15 new presets


02.04.2006 FilterBank2 Synth & FilterBank2 FX v2.1 released (free for all FilterBank2 customers)
- Add a limiter routed to the output, to protect your ears and equipment
- FilterBank will be also playable as VSTi
- FilterBank VSTi automatically switches to "sleep mode" and needs no CPU
- The patches are rearranged and sorted. Self-oscillating patches are now in the VSTi version
- Envelopes and LFOs in the VSTi version are triggered by note events


23.03.2006 FilterBank2 released.


20.01.2006 BiFilter v1.5 released


23.12.2005 BiFilter v1.0 released