H.G. Fortune has released ScapesWizard, a new virtual synthesizer designed for soundscapes, atmospheres and textures in motion.

Here’s a video demo of ScapesWizard in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjQQV3R2GZ8

Description:

ScapesWizard is a machine for soundscapes with a very different control concept by triggering different samples via keyboard, or, using LazyPlay play a pool of waves in sequence or at random driven by inbuilt clock or triggered by keyboard to advance manually.

There are three different soundengines: Slow Motion Scapes (Osc 1&2), OneShots and Loops (Osc 3), and Space Rumble Background Noise. Each engine has got some dedicated soundmodifiers partly with special controls. But the most important feature is you can trigger i.e. switch samples with a dedicated tune setting via keyboard which is ideal for live interaction too!

Basically you have a keyboard split to trigger samples of Osc 1 & Osc 2 (alternating or Osc 1 only) from C2 to B3 (left side) and Osc 3 from C4 to B5 (right side). So simply give a key a short push and the resp. sample will play until it’s changed. For Osc 3 looped sampled can be faded out by giving key C6 a short push, and even you can retrigger it via key F6.

You have 2 x 24 samples (= 2 x 2 octaves) in direct access via keyboard. To each keyrange (from C2 to B3 and C4 to B5) a different waveset out of 5 can be assigned. This makes the plugin suited very well for usage with trigger pad controllers. Also for live interaction pitchwheel can be used for Osc1 & Osc2 with a range of +1/-1 octave and for Osc 3 the same for Modwheel.

The basic usage is intended to have a setting ‘in motion’ and then play different samples. Although there seem to be very few control elements most of these have a double function: left side is setting a dedicated value while right side adjusts modulation amount. Note those knobs with a marker at top/mid.

There are four LFOs adjustable in Rate plus a Variation knob changing the waveforms for all 4 LFO. You will notice there are no LFO selectors at all present. This is due to the fact that no LFO is used directly. Always there is used a mix of 2 LFO controlled i.e. mixed by a 3rd LFO to achieve more complex modulation waves giving more variation. Anyway the small ‘planets’ in the mid display show motion & amount of the resp. modulation.

ScapesWizard Pro for Windows (VST) is available for 29 EUR through 1 January, 2011 (50% off the normal price). A demo version is available.