Future Retro has announced that their new Vectra Synthesizer is now available to pre-order.

The Vectra is a unique digital-analog hybrid synthesizer that features four oscillators, white and pink noise sources, four ring modulators, a four-channel mixer, five LFO’s, six morphing envelopes, six primary multimode analog filter types, a main analog VCA, and numerous internal modulation routings and VCA’s controlling modulation amounts.

The Vectra’s synthesis architecture is designed to allow the greatest flexibility in recreating multiple synthesis techniques of the past, while introducing several new innovations and methods. According to the company, it’s like having a powerful self-contained semi-modular synthesizer, with approximately 500 internal signal routings and around 256 storable sound parameters.

The digital oscillators feature the highest degree of tuning stability, while offering both traditional virtual analog waveforms and 500 digital waveforms. The oscillators have deep capabilities, like oscillator Sync, PWM, their new waveform Phase Slice, and Fade features, independent glide times per oscillator, constant beat detuning, monophonic and eight paraphonic voice modes. Plus FM, AM, Ring-modulation, and dedicated LFO’s, Envelopes, and VCA’s per oscillator.

The four-channel mixer is unique in that it provides an even balance when mixing multiple sources, either manually with the joystick, or applying automated vector mixing, or mixer modulation.

The five LFO’s provide 500+ waveforms to choose from, and range from sub-audio to well into the audio range. Their frequency can be stationary or track keyboard notes with glide. Waveforms can sync to any waveform phase at a note-on, and they can be frequency modulated as well. In short they can be used as LFO’s, complex envelopes, or audio rate oscillators.

The six morphing envelopes offer initial Delay, Attack, Hold, Decay, Sustain, Release, as well as a loop time when set to Repeat. They provide envelope times from 0ms to 14.7 seconds per each stage. Each envelope provides multiple envelope curve selections, and can be one-shot, normal envelope types, or looping. And all six envelopes can morph and modulate between two individual values per each envelope stage.

The analog multimode filter provides six primary filter types being: 4-pole low-pass, 2-pole low-pass, 1-pole low-pass, 2-pole band-pass, 2-pole high-pass, 2-pole notch, with some additional selections to define a filter’s self resonance response, and also to recreate a very unique characteristic of the EMS VCS type filter modulation. The filter can track notes played on the keyboard, has a dedicated LFO, Envelope, and one additional modulation source.

Finally, there is an analog VCA, which features a dedicated morphing envelope as well.

The Vectra also features a 29-note capacitive touch keyboard, with Note-On/Off, Pitch, Velocity, Aftertouch, Auto-Glide features, with Pitch-Bend and Mod-Wheel controls. The Vectra keybed incorporates allows gliding through chromatic notes, major keys, or minor keys. The keyboard also provides 29 selectable musical Scales, with linear transposition, and scale transposition.

The Vectra also includes an integrated arpeggiator and sequencer. You can begin arpeggiating and then edit the arpeggiation, just like you would a sequence, or play a sequence and jump into playing an arpeggiation. All arpeggiator and sequence data is stored with each individual sound file, and a total of 999 sound and sequence files can be stored on the memory card.

The arpeggiator can play notes momentarily, or up to 16 notes can be entered in any order, and held. You can then edit and manipulate the arpeggiator data just as you can do for any sequence, changing the Rhythm, or Velocity parts, entering new notes in real-time, editing any number of steps simultaneously, or applying Fills to introduce variations.

The sequencer can play internally, or sync to external sequencers, and play the internal sound section or external MIDI sound modules. Tempo range is from 10-250 BPM, with adjustable swing timing. The sequencer also provides 29 scales, linear transposition, scale transposition, octave reiteration range, 29 selectable play directions, adjustable loop point, and multiple time signatures. You can enter Pitch, Velocity, and Rhythm (note-off/on, glide, sustain) part information using the Arpeggiation mode, Step editing (where any number of steps can be edited simultaneously), Real-time recording, and Auto recording (when sequencer is stopped). The Fill mode allows multiple ways to quickly introduce variations into your sequences, and perform your music in new ways.

MIDI allows you to play any external sound modules using the internal keyboard, arpeggiator or sequencer, sync or send sync to external MIDI sequencers, and of course you can also play the internal sound section using any external MIDI keyboard or sequencer. The MIDI channel can be changed on the fly as well.

The Vectra also features four joysticks that let you alter multiple parameters simultaneously. One is dedicated to Pitch-Bend and Mod-Wheel control, another for the four-channel Mixer, another for the filter Cutoff and Resonance, and the fourth can be assigned to control multiple parameters simultaneously.

Eight encoders with built in switches are provided to edit sound parameters and settings. The Vectra includes an Assign mode where any eight synthesizer parameters can be assigned to these controls and tailored for each individual sound. The smaller display is the Scope and is used as visual aid to see waveforms, signal levels, and modulation signals. The large display will show all parameter values for the sound and sequencer.

Each unit will include a printed manual, micro SD card, and power supply.

Video Demo:

Pricing and Availability

The Future Retro Vectra is available to pre-order now for $1,100.