KV331 Audio One

Smooth modulator
Like the oscillators and ilters, all six of
SynthMaster One’s primary modulation
sources – two LFOs and four envelopes – are
ever-present in the GUI. The LFOs have access
to the full Waveforms menu and are very well
speciied, with a choice of bipolar or unipolar
movement, and Mono, Poly or Random per-
voice phase, as well as adjustable fade-in,
and Noise and S+H modulation. The ADSR
Envelopes, meanwhile, feature variable
Attack, Decay and Release curves, velocity
sensitivity and a percussive One-Shot mode
that skips the sustain stage.
Making assignments beyond the hardwired
ones (LFOs and Mod Envs to ilters, Amp Env to
oscillator volume, dialled in with the amount
knobs in each section) is done by dragging and
dropping, or using the menus in the Modulation
Menus, where Via depth modulators are also
available. Alongside the LFOs and envelopes, all
other expected sources are onboard (MIDI
Velocity, Keytrack, polyphonic Aftertouch and
CCs, macros), along with Unipolar and Bipolar
Random, and Alternating (jumping between two
values with each successive note). The
modulation Target list covers every knob and
slider (including those of the efects), as well
as a number of unison parameters that can
only be got at through the Modulation Matrix:
Voices Mix, and Wave Index, Tone and Phase
Spread. A maximum of 12 sources can be
assigned to up to two targets each, and while
that might not seem like a huge number, bear in
mind that the hardwired LFO/envelope ilter and
amp routings don’t count towards it.
One for all
SynthMaster One does a superb job of
transferring the essence and spirit of its epic
stablemate over to a more hardware-style
single-screen interface, resulting in a
quintessential ‘workhorse’ instrument tooled
up for all kinds of patches. Basses, leads,
plucks, keys and other attacking sounds are
its forte, but it’s no slouch when it comes to
pads, strings and FX, either, with the
wavetables serving up a smorgasbord of rich,
expressive textural foundations. On the
downside, there’s no manual at the time of
writing (though the SynthMaster 2.8 one is
included), we’d like the option to load more than
one of each efect, and we look forward to that
previously-mentioned Phase knob getting
contextual legending in a future update.
Ironically, with SynthMaster 2.8 only
costing another $20 but ofering much more
in terms of features and spec, KV331’s
masterpiece could prove to be the stifest
competition for its own sibling. What One has in
its favour, though, are its unique, streamlined
wavetable oscillators and that intuitive,
hands-on worklow, which even die-hard
synthesists will ind more approachable than
2.8’s comparatively iddly ‘supersynth’ GUI.
Ultimately, each is very much its own
instrument, and SynthMaster One’s retro-
inspired charms and huge, mix-illing sound put
all thoughts of 2.8 out of your head once you
start using it. Welcome to the family!
Web www.synthmaster.com
An array of global tweaks are in the Settings panel, including analogue-style oscillator drift and custom scales
At the most basic level, SynthMaster
One’s Arpeggiator/Sequencer works
as a straight-up arp, with all standard
directional modes present and correct
– Up, Down, Up+Down, As Played, etc.
You get up to four octaves of range,
up to 16 volume-adjustable steps, the
gamut of playback speed note values
from 1/32 to 2/1 including dotted and
triplet options, swing timing, and gate
time control by extending/shortening
individual steps in the bar display or
twisting the Duration knob.
Rather more interesting, though, are
the other three arpeggiation and
sequencing modes. Ported over from
SynthMaster 2.8, the ingenious – if at
times mildly baling – Arpeggiate
mode hands you full control of the
note-to-note progression of the
arpeggio, specifying which note from
the chord should be played on each
step (1st, 2nd, 3rd, Last, one or two
steps above/below the previous step,
or Random), with Slide and Hold
toggles. Steps can be left empty, too,
for rests.
Sequence mode is a conventional
piano roll step sequencer boasting up
to four notes of polyphony and,
again, per-step Slide and Hold. You can
draw notes in by hand or activate
Record mode and play them in step by
step, either at their played velocities or
ixed at 127.
Finally, Chord mode plays back the
held chord, as opposed to its
constituent notes, in a rhythmic
sequence – just the thing for big
trancegate-style pads.
Making melodies
Here’s the Arpeggiator in Sequence mode, where four-voice patterns are recorded or drawn
Verdict
For Powerful wavetable oscillators
Intuitive GUI makes programming easy
Gorgeous ilters
High-quality efects
Great price
Against Phase knob is confusing
Only one of each efect per instance
No proper manual yet
With dual wavetable oscillators, stunning
ilters and fast-paced interface,
SynthMaster One sounds fantastic and
stays out of your way while you work!
9/10
Alternatively
Synapse Audio Dune 2
207 » 9/10 » $169
More powerful, higher-priced,
streamlined wavetable architecture
u-he Hive
221 » 10/10 » $179
Similar architecture and
layout, but no wavetables
“SynthMaster One’s
retro-inspired charms
and huge, mix-illing
sound put all thoughts
of 2.8 out of your head”
92 / COMPUTER MUSIC June 2017
> reviews / kv331 audio synthmaster one
CMU243.rev_synthmasterone.indd 92 3/31/17 1:44 PM